Tag Archives: Adam Maust

Sipping Surfside: Harrisburg Beach Club brings the shore to the Susquehanna.

May 31, 2022 | by Rachel Lindsley

Photo courtesy of Rachel Lindsley.

Sand? Check. Boat drinks? Check. Sunny, summertime fun? Check and check.

You may never confuse the Susquehanna River with the Atlantic Ocean, but the Harrisburg Beach Club is bringing as much of the shore experience to the capital city as possible.

At the point on City Island, you’ll discover a new hotspot where you can play in the sand[box], grab a drink, eat a meal and find a spot to relax with friends, with an unbeatable view of the Harrisburg skyline to boot.

Co-owners Bryan Donovan and Adam Maust opened the outdoor venue last November with a vision to provide a year-round, waterfront hangout spot for locals and visitors alike.

The cold-weather months can be rough in central PA, but, as the weather has warmed, the Beach Club has hit its stride. Swimming isn’t permitted, but, according to Maust, “we have sand, a beautiful view and live music for guests to relax, play and enjoy.”

The city’s beautiful, century-old bathhouse is the centerpiece of the Beach Club, which the business partners brought back to life as part of the venue’s construction.

“Before we stepped in, the bathhouse had been shuttered for more than two decades, and the beach was hidden behind a dilapidated area of the island,” Maust said. “We worked hard to bring this idea to life, restoring the bathrooms and changing areas for guests who would like to take in the sun while avoiding the water, since swimming is prohibited.”

The Harrisburg Beach Club is open seven days a week, from noon to 10 p.m. during the warmer months, weather permitting. Adirondack chairs and “comfort zones” line the lawn for casual lounging and to take in live entertainment—all free of charge. Patrons can listen to live music throughout the day as the Harrisburg Beach Club rotates artists and genres regularly.

“We pride ourselves on providing a space for local artists to play music,” Donovan said. “We have a broad selection of genres and announce the schedule weekly on social media.”

Only a few steps from the shore, beachgoers will find a bar serving specialty cocktails made with local Hidden Still spirits as well as Pennsylvania-made beers and wine. Want to taste before you buy? Harrisburg Beach Club also offers tastings of their partnered spirits on site.

For a more authentic beach day, parties can rent beach chairs and umbrellas just a few feet from the water. Reservations can be made through their website’s booking portal, where guests can choose a chair location and enjoy personal wait service from the bar and food truck. The owners also plan to launch an app reservation system that will guarantee groups a spot on the beach together, Maust said.

Around the corner from the beach, a food truck serves such savory items as Bourbon smash burgers, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and Coney Island dogs. Starting this month, the food truck will be open daily from noon to 9 p.m.

The Harrisburg Beach Club is a family-friendly venue and even allows canines, if on a leash. Kids can play in the sand, eat some lunch from the food truck or from home and run around in the grass with Fido while adults lounge and sip on spirits. Children under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

“We have worked hard to create a free destination that anyone can come and appreciate at the most beautiful spot in Harrisburg,” Donovan said. “From parents to adult couples and even dogs, too—there is something for everyone at the Harrisburg Beach Club.”

The Harrisburg Beach Club is located on City Island, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.harrisburgbeachclub.com. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @HarrisburgBeachClub.

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Harrisburg City Council passes 2022 budget, approves substantial development projects

December 14, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council legislative session on Tuesday.

Harrisburg City Council ended its session for the year with a lengthy agenda, including the approval of a budget and substantial development projects.

Council took a step in the city’s budgeting process, passing a 2022 budget that will serve as a placeholder until Mayor-Elect Wanda Williams takes office and likely reopens the spending plan.

The $79.2 million general fund budget, which includes no property tax increase, essentially mirrors the 2021 budget.

The administration proposed the placeholder budget in anticipation of Williams reopening it in the new year. The final budget must be adopted by Feb. 15.

Additionally, council gave the go-ahead to two large development projects in Harrisburg.

Developers Chris and Erica Bryce, along with Matt Long of Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, can begin work on their mixed-use building on the 1600-block of N. 3^rd and Logan streets. It includes a community center and 12 apartment units. They also plan to construct eight townhouses nearby. The project is one phase of many planned by the developers for the Midtown area.

At a work session last week, council President Williams expressed concern with what she saw as not enough affordable single-family housing in the plan. At the time, Long told council members that affordable housing would be part of subsequent phases.

However, on Tuesday, Williams and other council members said that they met with the developers privately to address their concerns. Council then unanimously approved the project.

A plan for the historic Hudson building on N. 6^th Street in Camp Curtin was also brought before council. Developer Adam Maust plans to transform the long-abandoned building into The Atlas, which may include office and retail space for local, specifically Black-owned businesses, he said.

However, city Solicitor Neil Grover stated that the project technically already had received automatic approval. A vote by council on each land development plan is required within 120 days of an application being submitted. According to Grover, a series of delays on the city’s part led to the project not going to council for a vote until after that deadline, rendering it legally approved.

Many council members were not happy with that result, expressing that they felt the city had made a mistake.

“How did we let something with so much public comment slip through the cracks?” council member Ausha Green asked. “It’s completely ridiculous.”

During public comment, some residents expressed concern with the transparency of the project, stating that there should be more collaboration with local neighborhood groups and residents.

Maust said that he has been working with local groups such as La Cultura and Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg to conduct surveys and outreach to the community.

“I’m really encouraged with what we are putting together that I believe will set a foundation for how projects like this should go,” Maust said.

In addition, the Atlas recently received a $2.5 million grant from the commonwealth’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), prompting additional questions from council members.

Although the project was deemed approved, council still voted on it, passing the land development plan by a vote of 6-1, with council member Shamaine Daniels voting against it.

Council also approved three new Zoning Hearing Board appointees, and one alternate board member. Matthew Pianka, Claude Phipps, Anna Bianco and James Hobbs (alternate) will serve, creating a quorum for the board.

Finally, council passed the 2022-2025 Basic Labor Agreement between the city and the local labor union for city employees, Local 521, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), District Council 90. It includes 3% raises for workers for each year for the next four years. Members will also receive a $3,000 bonus in 2022, $1,500 in 2023 and $1,000 in each of the following two years.

Of note, Tuesday was council Vice President Ben Allatt’s last meeting on council, as he declined to run for re-election this year.

Next up: Harrisburg City Council will reorganize on Jan. 3, with two new council members—Ralph Rodriguez and Jocelyn Rawls—joining. Also on Jan. 3, Williams will make the move from council president to Harrisburg mayor.

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State announces grants for development projects, including for Hamilton Health, the Atlas

December 7, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

The Atlas was one of numerous Harrisburg area projects to receive RACP grants.

Hamilton Health Center, the Atlas Building and Susquehanna Union Green were among the big winners locally, as the state today announced the recipients of major development grants.

Under the 2021 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), Hamilton Health will receive $2.5 million to build a new primary care facility as part of the mixed-use Steel Works development on Front Street in Steelton, a project of Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners.

The amount fully funds the $2.5 million application request.

Harrisburg-based Hamilton Health plans a 20,000-square-foot satellite location as the final component of the Steel Works project, which includes residential, commercial and retail components.

“We are extremely pleased,” said Jeanine Peterson, Hamilton’s CEO, when reached by telephone. “The funding will allow us to do this project.”

Peterson added that the funding is testament both to the need for its services in the Steelton/Highspire/Middletown area, as well as to Hamilton’s 50-year track record caring for the underserved in central PA.

The facility will become Hamilton’s seventh satellite location, Peterson said.

The Atlas Building in Uptown Harrisburg also will receive $2.5 million, as it continues renovating the century-old, long-empty, 50,000-square-foot building at N. 6^th and Maclay streets in Harrisburg. The grant will pay for both interior and exterior work for the commercial project, including a new sprinkler system, green space and parking, according to the application.

“I’m excited to move forward on the Atlas Building project,” said Adam Maust, principal of building owner, Mighty Group Holdings, in a texted statement.

The company received half of the $5 million requested in its RACP application.

The Vartan Group’s Susquehanna Union Green town center project also will receive $2.5 million, half of the requested $5 million. The money will help fund continued infrastructure and construction work on the commercial/residential project in Susquehanna Township, including stormwater, green space, sidewalk and roadwork components, according to its application.

Other RACP recipients in the greater Harrisburg area include:

Allenberry Resort & Lodging for various improvement projects ($2.5 million)
Carlisle Regional Arts Performing Center for renovations ($1.26 million)
Sadler Health Center Trindle Road Mechanicsburg for building renovations ($2 million)
Penn State College of Medicine Comparative Medicine Research Facility in Hershey II for construction and renovation ($3 million)
PSU-HBG Bio-Behavioral Research and Education Clinic in Middletown II for renovations ($419,032)
Swatara Township Municipal Complex Facility for a new public safety building ($600,000)
West Hanover Township Municipal Complex for construction of a new, 15,000-square-foot building ($1 million)

Generally, companies and organizations in the city of Harrisburg did not fare well in this year’s RACP round. Eight other projects based in the city applied for RACP funds, but received no money. These include:

The Bridge for re-development of the former Bishop McDevitt High School building ($4 million requested)
Dauphin County Library System for renovation of the Haldeman Haly House and expansion of the McCormick Riverfront Library downtown ($1 million requested)
Harrisburg Events Center for continued renovation of the historic King Mansion ($2 million requested)
Harrisburg Scottish Rite Cathedral for renovations and theater preservation ($1.02 million requested)
Harrisburg city for renovations to the City Government Center ($8 million requested)
400 Reily Street Management for a new apartment building and parking garage at 400 Reily St. ($5 million requested)
Market Street Quad LLC for a new pocket park on Market Street in downtown Harrisburg ($1.5 million requested)
Presbyterian Senior Living for renovations to their downtown Harrisburg apartment building ($2.5 million requested)

The commonwealth’s RACP program is intended for regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects, according to the PA Office of Budget.

For more information about the state RACP program, including 2021 applicants and awards, visit the RACP website.

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Surf’s almost up, as Harrisburg Beach Club is set to open next week

October 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Beach Club owners Adam Maust and Bryan Donovan

Summer is long over, but the Harrisburg Beach Club hopes people still want to have fun by the water as the outdoor venue is slated to open next week.

Co-owner Bryan Donovan today said that the beach club plans to open for business starting on Thursday at the point on City Island.

“We’re really excited to showcase the space,” he said. “We’ve put a lot of hard work into it, so we’re eager to show everyone what we’ve done.”

The beach club’s bar and tables are located outdoors, on the banks of the Susquehanna River and just outside the city’s historic bathhouse.

The century-old bathhouse, which had been shuttered for decades, is also part of the project. Before it could re-open to the public, the Tudor-style structure required extensive restoration, including renovating the first-floor bathrooms and changing areas.

The owners also made improvements to the outdoor space, including lighting, landscaping and construction of a large bar.

Harrisburg’s historic bathhouse, now part of the Harrisburg Beach Club

Donovan and co-owner Adam Maust announced their venture in late May, hoping to open in early July. However, various delays pushed the opening into early November.

Donovan said that they’re not too disappointed with the mid-autumn opening. To stave off the cold, they plan to deploy propane heaters and propane fire pits throughout the winter months. They also plan to add heat to the currently unheated first floor of the bathhouse, which will allow them to turn the changing rooms, unused during the winter, into an indoor gathering spot.

“It will be a challenge to battle the cold weather,” he said. “But we believe that getting the inside buttoned up will provide an opportunity for us.”

The main bar area of the Harrisburg Beach Club

Over the winter, the owners hope to attract patrons with food trucks, live music and special events. Longer-term, they expect to feature winter sports, such as ice-skating and ice curling.

The beach club is renting the bathhouse from the city. Over the past few months, some city residents have complained to City Council about the deal, objecting that the administration did not issue a request for proposals (RFP) for the space.

A renovated changing room inside the bathhouse

City Solicitor Neil Grover has stated that the city had the right to lease the space without an RFP or the explicit assent of council. Donovan said that their attorneys and financial professionals extensively reviewed all agreements to ensure legality.

In order to serve alcoholic beverages, the beach club will employ a satellite liquor license from Hidden Still Spirits, a Hershey-based distillery, which will provide liquors for the venue. The beach club also plans to offer beer and wine from PA-based producers, as well as coffee from Harrisburg-based Good Brotha’s. The bar features a 10-tap system, Donovan said.

He added that he hopes the beach club will benefit City Island, as well, adding a new attraction, especially during the cold-weather months.

“It will be a clean, casual, low-key touristy-type spot,” Donovan said. “Ideally, we would like to see the island become a 365-day-a-year destination for the community and for tourism.”

Once the Harrisburg Beach Club opens next week, regular hours will be Thursday and Friday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Harrisburg Beach Club is located at the point of City Island, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.harrisburgbeachclub.com.

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Developer teams with Camp Curtin group to decide direction of Atlas building project

July 22, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

The Hudson Building will become the Atlas 1923

As a historic Camp Curtin building is restored, the developer behind it is bringing a group of neighbors together to help decide its future.

The owner of the Atlas building on N. 6^th and Maclay streets has announced a partnership with the newly formed Harrisburg Atlas Building Collective (HABC), a group of local businesses, entrepreneurs and community leaders.

“Working with local leaders and businesses has always been a priority,” said building owner Adam Maust. “The vision we are working together on will create a lasting and significant footprint that will impact all of Harrisburg for decades to come.”

The local group will work with Maust to fill 40,000 square feet of space on the lower level and first floor of the renovated Atlas building with retail, food vendors and market space, among other vendors. Maust envisions the space looking like Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, possibly being open seven days a week.

HABC will go door-to-door this summer, speaking with Camp Curtin residents and holding events to hear from the community on what businesses they want to see in the Atlas.

“This is an unprecedented partnership and we’re looking forward to facilitating the much-needed access to goods and services of local residents as well as business owners,” said Tami Dykes, Camp Curtin Neighborhoods United vice president and one of the leaders of HABC.

Maust purchased the 60,000-square-foot Atlas building, formerly known as the Hudson building, in 2020. Since then, his team has been renovating and restoring the building with plans to possibly incorporate retail, grocery and food vendors, as well as office space and apartment units.

“I am trying to do this the right way and bring the community’s voice into this,” Maust said.

HABC will work to bring local business owners into the Atlas and provide services that the Camp Curtin neighborhood values.

“This is an opportunity to change the dynamic of development to be focused on the community and provide new ways to ownership,” said Basir Vincent, co-founder of the Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg. “The goal will be for the local community to have a major stake in a cornerstone being rebuilt in our community.”

For more information on the Atlas Building, visit their website.

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July News Digest

June 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

School District Superintendent Appointed

The Harrisburg School District has a new superintendent.

At a board meeting last month, district Receiver Janet Samuels appointed former Reading High School Principal Eric Turman as the district’s new leader.

“This is a very critical role,” Samuels said. “It encompasses providing our students with the very best, and our students so richly deserve the very best. When we think about the commitment and having a proven leader who excels—Mr. Turman is the leader who exudes those skills.”

Turman served as the principal of Reading High School in Reading for the past 10 years. He had been with that district for over 20 years, starting as a fifth-grade teacher.

After a nationwide search, the district announced Turman as a finalist in May. He began his new position with Harrisburg on July 1 and will serve as superintendent through June 2026. He receives an annual salary of $179,500.

“I’m delighted and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as your superintendent of schools,” Turman said at June’s board meeting. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer will help Turman transition into his role, Samuels said. Celmer has been with the district for nearly two years, but officials were looking for a permanent superintendent to fill the role as the district enters its third, and final, year of state-imposed receivership.

HBG Beach Club to Debut

A new destination is coming to City Island, as the Harrisburg Beach Club announced that it would open at the point, near the historic bathhouse.

Area businessmen Adam Maust and Bryan Donovan expect to open this month, offering patrons the opportunity to rent chairs and umbrellas, buy drinks and food, and socialize and relax. The city currently does not allow swimming from the beach.

Much of the beach area will remain outside of the Harrisburg Beach Club space, but even the part they’re renting from the city will remain open to the public, Maust said.

Built in 1921, the bathhouse marks its centennial this year, but has been mostly closed for a long time. The partners plan to use just the first floor for now, renovating the bathrooms and changing rooms.

Outside of the building, the club will feature two bars serving Pennsylvania beer, wines and spirits. They will offer beer from six local breweries on tap, as well as their own signature beer, Maust said. Food trucks will be on site for snacks and meals.

They plan to beautify the area with plants and flowers and fix and upgrade the existing sandboxes. The bars and other infrastructure are being built to be easily removable in case of flooding, Maust said.

Maust said that he envisions the Harrisburg Beach Club as a four-season destination, with cool- and cold-weather activities, such as an artificial skating rink, supplementing the summer high season.

Maust and Donovan both said that they hope their venture will help reinvigorate City Island as a destination. Over the years, the island has lost many of the small, tourist-oriented businesses once sprinkled around the 1-mile paved loop.

“Our vision is to bring people to the island to help other vendors there,” Donovan said. “This could be a catalyst for other things starting in the future.”

Maust said that he believes that people will be attracted by the uniqueness of the location, including the views of the Susquehanna River and city skyline.

“People will enjoy meeting up at an enchanted spot in the city,” he said. “We’re hoping to add value to spending the day on City Island.”

Midtown, Allison Hill Projects Get Go-Aheads

Several development projects in Harrisburg received their final city approvals last month, allowing them to begin.

During a virtual legislative session, City Council approved the land development plan for conversion of the former Salvation Army building in Midtown to a 16-unit, market-rate apartment building.

The “Lofts in Midtown,” by Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners, will convert the 10,920-square-foot building at Green and Cumberland streets to one- and two-bedroom units. A paved lot across the street will provide parking for the project.

Council member Danielle Bowers was the sole vote against the project, objecting to the fact that all units would be market-rate. In April, the city approved a package of bills to incentivize the construction of affordable housing in Harrisburg.

The building, built in 1954, has been empty since late 2019, when the Salvation Army relocated to its current location on the 500-block of S. 29th Street.

Council also approved a development project to construct six town homes on Allison Hill at Hummel and Kittatinny streets. Tri-County HDC plans to demolish a building currently on the property and construct affordable housing.

The project has received a $500,000 state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.

The project is part of the South Allison Hill Safety Plan, a partnership between several nonprofit organizations that aims to make the neighborhood safer. Gary Lenker of Tri-County said previously that he hopes to break ground on the project later this summer.

Cathedral Education Center Breaks Ground

A new Catholic education center took a key step forward with a ceremonial groundbreaking in downtown Harrisburg.

Surrounded by students of Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School, Bishop Ronald Gainer led the groundbreaking in a parking lot near the future Cathedral Education Center.

“This is a great day for our parish and for downtown Harrisburg,” Gainer said.

The project will renovate and combine two buildings: the 1951 Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School on Liberty Street and the 112-year-old Shanahan Center on North Street.

When the project is complete, the diocese plans to consolidate its two Harrisburg elementary school campuses at the facility—the Cathedral Campus, which serves pre-K and grades 5-8 in downtown Harrisburg, and the Holy Family Campus, which serves grades K-4 and is located on Allison Hill.

The pastor of St. Patrick Cathedral, the Rev. Joshua Brommer, said that the $5.7 million project will proceed in three phases.

The first phase is a three-story, 3,250-square-foot addition between the two buildings, which are currently separated by a walkway. The construction phase will combine the buildings and create a new school entryway and house an elevator.

The second phase will follow, turning the Shanahan Center into classroom, laboratory and dining space. A third phase will include the renovation of the existing elementary school building on Liberty Street.

When completed, the school will have 10 new classrooms, a STEM lab, art and music facilities and a new dining hall in 26,475 square feet of space.

The project architect is Mechanicsburg-based TKS Architects, with Harrisburg-based JEM Group as the general contractor.

Toni Morrison Bench Unveiled

Just a few days before Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, Harrisburg dedicated an African American historical marker.

Last month, a new bench, named after the late author Toni Morrison, was unveiled on the state Capitol grounds.

The bench sits near the recently erected Commonwealth Monument Project’s large bronze monument at 4th and Walnut streets. Officials hope it will serve as a place for people to sit and reflect on the history before them.

The bench is part of a network of 30 benches installed around the world by the Toni Morrison Society for its “Bench by the Road” project. According to Craig Stutman, project chair, the idea came from something Morrison said in an interview. She believed that there needed to be more monuments to African American history, Stutman said.

“Having a Toni Morrison Society Bench by the Road, right here, is a reminder to all of us of the importance of marking and remembering our missing histories,” said Gov. Tom Wolf, who spoke at the event.

The bench, along with the Commonwealth Monument, recognizes the history of the Old 8th Ward, a historically Black and immigrant neighborhood in Harrisburg that was destroyed to expand the Capitol grounds.

Also at the event, Commonwealth Monument Project officials presented Wolf with a bronze replica of a map of the Old 8th Ward.

Home Sales, Prices Up

Home sales and prices climbed in the Harrisburg area during May, according to the area’s realty association.

Last month, the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors reported that total sales shot up to 722 houses versus 357 in May 2020, as the median price rose to $239,950 compared to $205,000 a year ago.

Last year’s sales numbers were affected by the state-mandated industry shutdown during the month, due to the pandemic. A better comparison may be May 2019, when 720 houses sold at a median price of $191,850.

In Dauphin County, 347 houses sold in May for a median price of $210,000, versus 167 houses in the prior year for $176,000, GHAR said.

Cumberland County had sales of 335 homes in May compared to 149 in the year-ago period, while the median price increased to $265,000 from $233,000.

In Perry County, 33 houses sold versus 19 the year before, as the median price rose to $217,000 versus $154,700 in May 2020.

Houses were also selling much faster than in recent years. The “average days on market” dropped to 21 days, compared to 53 in May 2020 and 51 in May 2019, according to GHAR.

So Noted

Chad Saylor last month was appointed as a Dauphin County commissioner. Saylor, the county’s long-term chief clerk, replaced commission Chair Jeff Haste, who resigned in May to pursue a private-sector opportunity.

Comcast opened a new Xfinity store last month at Hershey Square, 1154 Mae St., Hummelstown. In addition to product demonstrations, customers can find about services or devices, learn about Xfinity apps, sign up for Xfinity services, pay bills at kiosks, return or acquire equipment, and purchase accessories for mobile devices.

Deborah Addo has been named the new executive vice president and chief operating officer of Penn State Health. Addo, the president at Inova Loudoun Hospital in Virginia, will join the health system in August and succeeds Alan Brechbill, who retired in 2020.

Harrisburg Academy last month named Lindsay Bowman as the next head of its middle and upper schools. Bowman, director of the academy’s centers for experiential learning and innovation, succeeds Benjamin Murphy, who left to pursue an out-of-state teaching opportunity.

Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC last month received renewal of its “5-Star Accreditation” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This distinction is achieved by fewer than 5% of chambers across the nation and signifies “transparent governance practices, sound financial controls, safe work environments, value in programming and effective communications,” according to the U.S. Chamber.

Harristown Enterprises last month celebrated the interior construction phase of its newest residential project in downtown Harrisburg, Menaker Apartments. The century-old Market Square building is slated to become 28 one- and two-bedroom units. The building last housed the Skarlatos Zonarich law firm, which has relocated to Strawberry Square.

Jennifer Wilburne has been named a Harrisburg School District board director, appointed by Receiver Janet Samuels. Wilburne, an official with the Wolf administration, replaces Jayne Buchwach, who resigned after moving out of the district.

Penn State Health last month opened two new medical facilities locally. Penn State Health Medical Group-Blue Ridge is located at 1540 Alexandra Lane, Harrisburg, and Penn State Health Diagnostic Center-Union Deposit is located at 4250 Union Deposit Rd., Harrisburg.

West Shore Home opened its new corporate headquarters last month in Mechanicsburg. Founded in 2006 as a locally based home improvement company, it now operates in 12 states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Widener University’s Commonwealth Law School last month announced the appointment of Michael J. Hussey as dean. Hussey, a long-time professor, has served as interim dean since 2020 and previously served as associate dean for academic affairs.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2455: L. Mahoney to A. Muhammad, $68,900

Balm St., 106: Lagr Properties LLC to SL Homes LLC, $32,500

Barkley Lane, 2526: G. Smilek to Wyco Investments LLC, $70,000

Bellevue Rd., 1915: J. Charles to D. Vanlee, $32,000

Benton St., 551: D. Thompson & Y. Brown to A. Taylor, $102,000

Berryhill St., 1309: Anpat LLC to J. Monegro, $85,000

Boas St., 409: P. Cannon & M. Hertrich to T. Devaraj, $210,000

Briggs St., 205: Trip Aces LLC to BD Property Management LLC, $137,000

Briggs St., 1617: Amos Financial LLC to Gamma One LLC, $48,500

Calder St., 115: Penn Real Estate Solutions LLC to JMW Property Group LLC, $108,000

Calder St., 215: M. & A. Zehring to C. Fee, $100,000

Chestnut St., 2120: JBAB LLC to D. & K. Thompson Leader, $265,000

Chestnut St., 2304: M. & K. Johnson to N. Dexter & D. Madsen, $254,500

Croyden Rd., 2933: A. Wood to M. Cabrera, $68,000

Derry St., 2459: C. Spinner to B. Ortega, $40,000

Derry St., 2526: E. Dale to T Wy Enterprise LLC, $45,000

Division St., 423: Ahmadiya Movement in Islam Inc. to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $110,000

Duke St., 2435: A. Clark to V. & T. Raskot, $124,500

Duke St., 2441: A. & R. Clark to V. & T. Raskot, $118,000

Ellersie St., 2346: D. Clark to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $76,500

Emerald St., 650: Spring Dell Investments LLC to Awesome Tenants LLC, $44,000

Forrest St., 603 & 605: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to A. Eiras, $139,500

Forster St., 1839: C. Arnold to Tender Loving Care Healthcare Services, $30,500

Fulton St., 1706: C. Dyno & L. Houser to K. & E. O’Conor, $170,100

Fulton St., 1943: C. & L. Banks to R. Mpinga, $114,900

Green St., 909: Schoolhouse 1 Holdings LLC to 909 Lofts LLC, $5,500,000

Green St., 1320: C. & S. Boettinger to D. Martin & N. Douglas, $175,000

Green St., 1419: Lancaster Real Estate Fund LLC to M. DeJesus, $139,000

Green St., 1526: M. Goldberg to S. Jusufovic, $147,000

Green St., 1601: M. Goldberg to S. Jusufovic, $141,000

Green St., 1828: M. Vaccarella to N. Luong & N. Nguyen, $170,000

Hanna St., 103: DLK Properties LLC to T. Kham, B. Kong & L. Kun, $136,000

Hoerner St., 110: S. Gllis to SPG Capital LLC, $45,000

Hunter St., 1610: P. Anandan to K. Williams, $64,750

Kensington St., 2030: D. Rosario to Two Three Two Investments LLC, $43,000

Kensington St., 2245: D. & T. Nguyen to H. Nguyen & Q. Lu, $45,000

Luce St., 2361: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $40,000

Manada St., 2029: F. Avila to M. Loja, $75,000

Market St., 1248: Cleotilde Inc. to C. Munoz, $55,000

Market St., 1901: M. & J. Buchwach to G. & C. Lutz, $159,900

Mercer St., 2419: A. Overcash to D. Franklin, $100,000

Mercer St., 2460: A. Meck to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,000

North St., 1846: J. Krum & L. Crum to A. Jones, $89,000

N. 2nd St., 1008: M. Kushner to Grentals LLC, $190,000

N. 2nd St., 1410: R. & R. Janes to Gamehenge Properties LLC, $221,000

N. 2nd St., 2127: A. Graffius to A. Nicols, $147,500

N. 2nd St., 2131: BCRA Realty LLC to C. & K. Potter, $149,900

N. 2nd St., 2220: G. Rhoads to Planet 3 Properties LLC, $46,500

N. 2nd St., 2434: P. Kessler to M. Juba, $270,000

N. 2nd St., 2538: M. Parsley to C. Dickison & L. Garner, $201,500

N. 2nd St., 2812: T. Brinkley to J. & K. Reed, $350,000

N. 2nd St., 3115: C. & C. Harris to B. Smith, $175,000

N. 3rd St., 2218: D. Lee to J. & N. Grant, $40,000

N. 3rd St., 2221: W. Geisel to W. & B. Hoover, $170,000

N. 3rd St., 3134: M. Cruz to R. Myers, $140,000

N. 4th St., 1416: P. Bayer to 1417 4th Street HBG LLC, $31,501

N. 4th St., 2135: R. Rammouni & J. Hamad to JP Investment Holding LLC, $76,000

N. 4th St., 2139, 1414 Regina St.: NJR Group LLC to JP Investment Holding LLC, $456,000

N. 4th St., 2543: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to S. Goddard, $139,900

N. 4th St., 2721: D. Chandler to K. Palmer, $100,000

N. 5th St., 3141: R. & R. Vallareal to L. & R. Biacchi, $185,000

N. 6th St., 2407: We Buy PA Inc. to D. Boyle, $36,000

N. 6th St., 2640: M. Woo to A. Gomez & N. Hernandez, $34,000

N. 16th St., 1207: M. Robinson to C. & S. Orellana, $36,500

N. 18th St., 68: LAGR Properties LLC to SL Homes LLC, $32,500

N. 18th St., 912: T. Evans to Dreams2Reality Services LLC, $50,000

Park St., 1813: J. String & M. Comp to J. Acosta, $38,000

Penn St., 1820: D. Kapil to Alex Manning Enterprises, $115,000

Penn St., 1920: T., M. & T. Sneidman to B. Taylor & A. Hibbard, $192,000

Penn St., 2130: Three Dog Properties LLC to R. Lane, $43,000

Pennwood St., 3129: T. & S. Kane to T Wy Enterprise LLC, $75,000

Race St., 562: S. Garnes to SJL Rentals LLC, $177,500

Race St., 608: Shipoke LLC & G. Dunbar to M. Parsley, $158,500

Radnor St., 618: D. Nelson to M. Temba and C. & J. Liu, $85,000

Ross St., 615: M. Cvetko to P. Melendez, $50,000

Rumson Dr., 2659: P. Chapman to Bermuda Land LLC, $97,000

Seneca St., 521: E. Spencer to M. & G. James, $89,900

S. 14th St., 450: Brothers Group LLC to Luciano Transportation LLC, $110,000

S. 14th St., 521: D&L Development Inc. to E. Milanes, $85,000

S. 17th St., 1012: P. Hollinger to G&H Holdings LLC, $70,000

S. 18th St., 6: CR Property Group LLC to 2020 Luong Family Trust, $135,000

S. 19th St., 533: V. & D. Morales to Best By LLC, $81,000

S. 19th St., 535: V. Morales to Best By LLC, $81,000

S. 27th St., 800: E. Dale & D. Housel to T Wy Enterprise LLC, $45,000

S. Summit St., 161: A. Jackson & M. Wade to HLI Properties PA LLC, $69,900

State St., 231, Unit 702: LUX 1 LP to W. Stansill, $155,000

State St., 1719: R. & A. Sharp to D. & J. Shaw, $85,450

Summit St., 24: S. & M. Turner to JAAE Rental Properties LLC, $45,000

Susquehanna St., 1823: G. & B. Hanthorn to WCI Partners LP, $90,000

Susquehanna St., 1841: M. Reuveni to SJL Rentals LLC, $120,000

Swatara St., 2022: J. & N. Thompson to E. Milanes, $62,000

Verbeke St., 212: Kingdumb Properties LLC to C. Fee, $101,500

Verbeke St., 224: S. Crossin to K. Sun, $210,000

Verbeke St., 1731: C. Jenkins to T. Sweet, $90,000

Walnut St., 106: W. Fulton to N&R Group LLC, $85,000

Walnut St., 108: E. Etzweiler to N&R Group LLC, $175,000

Walnut St., 1232: C. & C. Hinckley to Bethsabee LLC, $45,000

Walnut St., 1431: Church of the Living God to Skycam LLC, $40,000

Woodbine St., 414: E. Bruton to M. & N. Jacobs, $35,000

Woodlawn St., 2512: C. Cain Jr. to R. Westover, $138,000

Vernon St., 1563: Lee Jang & 17th Street Cleaners to C. & S. Orellana, $34,050

Zarker St., 1825: Great Row LLC to I. Martinez, $42,000

Zarker St., 1919: D. Hargrove & D. Surbrena to R. Burgos Soto, $35,000

Harrisburg property sales for May 2021, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Harrisburg couple buys historic Camp Curtin church, weighs residential conversion

June 28, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

The exterior of the Camp Curtin Mitchell Memorial UMC Church.

A Harrisburg couple has purchased a historic Camp Curtin church, potentially converting it to an apartment building.

Chris and Erica Bryce bought the Camp Curtin Memorial Mitchell UMC church on June 10, after it had languished on the market for almost two years.

“We bought it because we want to preserve beautiful, historic buildings in this city,” Chris Bryce said. “We see a variety of adaptive reuse possibilities.”

In 2019, the Susquehanna United Methodist Conference put six of its churches on the market after deciding to close the buildings and consolidate congregations.

The Camp Curtin church was originally listed for sale at $195,000, though the price had been lowered over the years. The Bryces paid $50,000 for the 16,000-square-foot building on the 2200-block of N. 6^th Street.

The church has roots in an 1890 structure that soon burned down. The current building dates to 1895, with a large addition in 1915. It is listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places.

The church altar

Chris Bryce said that he hadn’t determined a definite plan for the building, but that conversion to apartments might be the best fit.

He has restored and converted several Harrisburg buildings, including a once-blighted Midtown mansion to apartments and a rundown 19^th-century downtown building on Locust Street that now houses Merit Marketing.

“We’ve done this before,” Bryce said. “We have experience doing it.”

In addition, last year, the Bryces, along with their construction partner, Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, received zoning approval to build a 12-unit apartment building, community center and eight single-family townhouses along the 1600-block of N. 3^rd and Logan streets.

The church’s rear balcony and large, stained-glass rosette

Bryce said that he was motivated to buy the church for two main reasons.

First, he wants to ensure that the historic building is preserved and finds new purpose. He said that he plans no substantive changes to the façade and wants to retain much of the interior, as well.

He said that the building’s interior design actually makes it a good candidate for conversion to apartments, as the church has smaller side windows on several levels, as opposed to the large, multi-level, stained-glass windows often seen in churches.

“Harrisburg has some of the most beautiful architecture of any mid-sized city in the United States,” he said. “It’s vital to our city to preserve our historic buildings.”

He’s unsure how a large mural of Christ ministering to a dying Union soldier, which hangs over the altar, will fit into a secular building. Therefore, he hopes to find another home for the mural at an appropriate location within the city.

Secondly, he sees great potential in the area. He’s especially encouraged by “The Atlas,” a mixed-use project nearby by businessman Adam Maust to convert the long-abandoned Hudson Building at N. 6^th and Maclay streets to office and retail space.

“There are people who have tremendous faith in the future of this city,” Bryce said. “There seems to be more and more energy behind it. So, let’s keep it going.”

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We Re-Built This City: Harrisburg hasn’t experienced this much development in a century. What’s driving the trend?

March 31, 2021 | by M. Diane McCormick

The Hudson Building will become the Atlas 1923

In a world emerging from strife and disease, Harrisburg plants its flag. Grand buildings emerge. Neighborhoods fill with new homes. People congregate to celebrate life.

So, is it 1921 or 2021? Harrisburg has seen building surges in other ages, but right now, a perfect storm of trends is driving a renaissance that’s reshaping the cityscape for the 21st century.

Waiting List

Twenty-seven projects. That’s the number of development projects planned or underway as counted by Harristown Enterprises, and the number keeps growing. Total investment in the city: $601 million.

Many projects are clumped in a few blocks of Midtown Harrisburg. Whatever could be going on there?

While the federal courthouse at 6th and Reily streets is not the sole reason for the surge, it is the catalyst that city leaders hoped for when they stopped the mighty U.S. government from gouging a gash in the heart of downtown, choosing instead to build in a once-blighted area about a mile away.

Historic Harrisburg Association recently talked with two federal judges who want to get to know their new neighborhood and “be a part of the community,” said Executive Director David Morrison.

“That’s what we think is spurring a lot of this development—federal employees wanting to live in that part of Midtown, as well as people who do business with the U.S. courts,” he said.

One major project clearly spurred by the courthouse is the Reily House—seven floors of apartments, retail, urban grocer and restaurant, with a 500-space garage for courthouse parking neatly disguised to the rear.

“That’s a really creative approach to killing a couple birds with one stone,” said historian Jeb Stuart.

Single causes have never driven Harrisburg’s historic “spikes in development and lulls in development,” said developer Derek Dilks. Some of today’s projects are “obviously” attributable to the courthouse, but others are like his—redevelopments of townhomes, offices and a Midtown church to satisfy demand for Class-A, market-rate apartments and retail spaces.

“For the best and the newest products, there’s a waiting list,” he said. “People in older apartments, paying the same or similar rent, are going to go from older stock to newer. Hopefully, that encourages the owners of those older buildings to redevelop.”

Good Stock

With their historic perspective, Morrison and Stuart emphasize that the city has had multiple growth spurts.

The City Beautiful movement of 1901-02 was sparked by construction of the new state Capitol and a comprehensive plan to clean up a filthy city. In the 1920s, growth pushed northward, creating the Zembo Mosque, William Penn High School, Italian Lake and new homes. Municipal historic districts created in the 1970s—earlier than in many cities—protected priceless architecture from the wrecking ball. The “Harristown Plan” of the 1980s focused development on downtown.

For today’s resurgence, all of those phases add up to good bones. Harrisburg has a robust inventory of buildings sought by character-craving apartment-hunters and restaurateurs.

“We have some really nice architecture here,” said Harristown President and CEO Brad Jones. “No question about it. Two of our projects are that kind of adaptive reuse. I was showing that (27 projects) slideshow to someone from Philly recently, and he said, ‘Wow, you picked some nice buildings.’”

Increasingly, developers and community groups contact Historic Harrisburg to vet their ideas for adaptive reuse. Developers responding to market demands—driveways in the 1920s, walkability in the 2020s—are a key force in growth, said Morrison.

“The municipality is a helpful partner, but it’s not a monolithic domineering factor that prohibits things from happening,” he said. “It’s kind of a partnership that happened then and we’re seeing now.”

At the Gateway

While the courthouse visibly represents Midtown development, people don’t see the interest that Harrisburg Director of Economic Development Nona Watson is fielding for projects citywide. She won’t cite the projects yet, but “wheels are turning in other parts of the city.”

“They’re using what’s happening to continue to branch further and further out,” she said.

From her perch, Watson tries to formulate “a holistic approach” that convenes existing assets, funding and multiple partners to revitalize not just buildings but entire neighborhoods. It worked organically for Mulder Square at Mulberry and Derry streets, she said, and now, it’s a model for such areas as Camp Curtin, to extend the courthouse’s redevelopment juice farther up the 6th Street corridor.

There at the Camp Curtin gateway, Adam Maust is redeveloping the long-abandoned Hudson Building at 6th and Maclay streets into The Atlas 1923. With no development experience, Maust dove into a massive project that, he hopes, will help smooth out the neighborhood’s “rough areas.” He has worked with neighbors and community groups to design the Atlas elements, aiming for a market or grocery store, and perhaps a community center for exclusive use by neighbors.

“I’m excited about saying we can come in here and really help foster a safe environment, a lit-up environment, with things that are just going to organically help the area,” he said.

Affordable housing is high on Watson’s agenda. At the direction of Mayor Eric Papenfuse, she is working with City Council members to develop an affordable housing plan that could incentivize developers to mix affordable housing with market-rate units. And as she notes, affordable housing means housing for moderate-income people as well as low-income.

“We have to have housing on all levels,” Watson said. “If you have too much affordable housing, especially in a particular area, then you have concentration of poverty. If you talk about all market-rate, then you have gentrification.”

Watson is seeing the difference that the development surge is making in—yes—grocery stores. Food chains that rejected her overtures before now want in on the action.

“Development is going to draw more investors, is going to draw more businesses, and with that, of course, you’re going to need more housing,” she said. “Everybody wants to be on the winning team.”

From a developer’s perspective, Harrisburg is “manageable,” said Maust. Out-of-state developers spooked by the cost points of redeveloping in big cities are stretching their budgets in Harrisburg.

“We have the Farm Show,” said Maust. “We have the Susquehanna River, which is gorgeous. You have the historical, long-term buildings and residences all around the area. It is a beautiful city that is actually very tangible, and that’s why you’re seeing all these big projects.”

Value Proposition

Harrisburg real estate is “red hot,” said Jones. One of the reasons: The scrutiny that secondary and tertiary cities—the terms come up a lot—are getting from metropolis residents who have become work-from-home converts.

“There’s lots of flight from bigger, more expensive cities to places that offer a strong value proposition but still give you some of the things you loved about your urban environment,” said Jones, whose company is building more two-bedroom apartments in response. “If I only have to work in the office a couple times a month, I can live in Harrisburg.”

Big-city companies and people are looking for value in tertiary markets, agreed Dilks.

“If you’re in Chicago or D.C. or New York and you just want to get out of the city, you’re going to come to a smaller market, like a Philly or Harrisburg or Lancaster,” he said.

Dilks is tailoring his apartments to the remote-work trend, with bonus spaces or sliding walls to keep the dog from crashing Zoom calls. Such spaces could also be attractive to lobbyists and others who travel regularly to Harrisburg on state business. Once, they rented an office space and a hotel room. Now, they want a single space year-round.

Like Watson, Jones sees “more projects coming into the pipeline, all over the city. The more you see, the more there will be. One project’s success leads to the next one’s evolution.”

Dilks plans to wait for the pandemic’s after-effects to materialize before deciding on his next projects. In the meantime, he counts himself among developers who are “doing what we do because we love the city.”

“We love the architecture. We love development. There just happens to be a market here that supports what we’re doing,” he said. “Those are the ingredients you need. You need somebody who loves to do it, and you need a customer to appreciate what you’re doing.”

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Year in Review: TheBurg’s most popular stories of 2020, click by click

December 28, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

It’s that time again.

Each year, during the final week, we take a look back to our most-read online stories and share what got the most clicks, views and reads.

We post all of our copy online, including our magazine features. However, our most popular online articles tend to be those that we publish as web-only.

And so it was for 2020. The most-read list was dominated by local business and development stories, with a heavy dose of COVID thrown in (more on that below), resulting in the most page views in our 12-year history.

So, assuming you can stomach a quick review of this universally loathed year, we present our most-read online stories, in reverse order.

No. 10. Poetic Departure. In April, our arts writer, Bob MacGinnes, penned a blog post that showed just how fast life can change. A few months earlier, he had written with great admiration of local poet Joe O’Connor after attending a book reading at One Good Woman in Camp Hill. O’Connor died several months later, an early victim of the coronavirus pandemic. Bob’s subsequent tribute to Joe was widely shared, resulting in our No. 10 story of the year.

No. 9. Vitriol & Video. Outside of COVID, only one bona fide hard news story broke into our top-10 list this year—an early November confrontation between a Shipoke resident and a city police officer following a noise complaint. Mayor Eric Papenfuse released police bodycam footage of the incident, saying it exonerated the officer. However, some residents believed differently and circulated a petition calling for the officer’s ouster. Late in the year, several neighborhood groups joined forces to appeal for understanding and ask residents to try to resolve disputes without involving the police.

No. 8. FireHouse Redux. For years, the FireHouse was one of the most popular restaurants in Harrisburg, located in the historic Hope Fire Station on N. 2^nd Street. It closed in mid-2019, but, after some updating, reopened last summer under new ownership. We broke the story of the reopening, including what the new operators said they planned to offer to customers.

No. 7. Fit for a Queen. If we’ve learned anything from our annual lists, it’s this–Harrisburg likes its food. Every year, restaurant stories take at least a few top spots. Case in point: an early January story on Queen’s BBQ & Southern Cuisine, as it opened for business. A few months later, we doubled down by publishing a magazine feature on Queen’s, but it was this original news story that scored big page views with online readers.

No. 6. Hudson Revival. Development proposals often rank high on our annual list, and so it was for a June story that the long-blighted Hudson Building had been bought. New owner Adam Maust told TheBurg that he wants to turn the cavernous structure into a mixed-use building, with proposed amenities for the Camp Curtin community.

No. 5. Who Moved My Beer? At about this time last year, we learned that Harrisburg’s homegrown brewery, Zeroday Brewing Co., planned a big move to the 900-block of N. 3^rd Street. We finally broke the story on Leap Day, not knowing that, soon enough, this project, along with the rest of life, would come to a screeching halt. The good news is that the build-out revved back up in late spring and now is slated for completion in early 2021.

No. 4. Eat Your Veggies. A big shout-out to Stefan Hawkins, who’s responsible both for this popular story about his new restaurant, House of Vegans (along with co-owner Laquana Barber, also pictured), and also for our No. 2 story below. This story was the only magazine feature that we published in 2020 that also made our top-10 most-viewed online list. What else do you have cooking, Stefan?

No. 3. Street Eats. As both the weather and the pandemic heated up in late May, the city and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District announced plans to close down much of 2^nd Street for outdoor dining on Saturday nights. This news story was the first of several on the welcome al fresco event, which proved a popular option through September as restaurants remained closed.

No. 2. A Cup & a Read. An early October news story featured a plan for a Black-owned coffee/tea shop and book venue called Good Brotha’s Book Café in Midtown Harrisburg. Expect the grand opening in early 2021, again thanks to serial entrepreneur Stefan Hawkins.

No. 1. Nothing but COVID. This year, we had to break our normal ranking rules, actually smash them to bits. In truth, seven of our top 10 stories (and 15 of the top 20) were all coronavirus-related, mostly detailing the grim daily numbers during the first few months of the pandemic. We’re wrapping up those stories into this single entry for the sake of simplicity—and everyone’s sanity. But, in case you really want to read our actual, No. 1 news story for the year, here it is from early April, some 600,000 diagnoses ago, when we were shocked–shocked–that PA could possibly have 10,000 total COVID cases.

Honorable Mention: In the news biz, a late-breaking story sometimes ruins the best of plans, and with just three days left in the year, TheBurg reported on Monday that a Harrisburg resident has a plan to turn the local landmark, “Carpets and Draperies” building, into a small apartment building. This story quickly gained thousands of page views and could break into the top 10 by New Year’s Eve, earning it an honorable mention here for 2020.

For a different take on 2020, our editor will have his annual list of top local news stories in the January magazine, which drops on Dec. 30. Does his list differ from that of our readers, who voted with their clicks? Return on Wednesday to find out!

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Harrisburg organizations seek state grants for large-scale development projects

October 9, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

The Hudson Building on N. 6th and Maclay Streets.

Several Harrisburg companies and organizations soon will find out if they will receive state grant money for their large-scale redevelopment projects in the city.

On Friday’s edition of Community Conversations with Mayor Papenfuse, the city’s weekly Facebook Live event, the mayor spoke with several Harrisburg-based applicants who are seeking funds under the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).

“Some of these aging, larger structures in Harrisburg have tremendous fixed costs,” Papenfuse said. “Those costs can really overwhelm an organization which is trying to maintain them.”

The City of Harrisburg is requesting the most money of the nine local applicants. It is asking for $8 million to renovate the MLK City Government Center.

The RACP funding would push forward a plan to increase accessibility and community use of the building, explained Marc Woolley, the city’s business administrator.

Starting at the first floor, the city plans to soften the current cold, brutalist architecture with an overhang on the exterior of the building and a more welcoming lobby space with tables inside. Woolley said the city would add a small business incubator space, as well. Improvements to the other three floors would follow.

“We want to take hold of the namesake of the building—the Martin Luther King Jr. Government Center,” Woolley said. “It’s really about community fairness and accessibility.”

Many types of organizations, both public and private, are eligible for RACP funding. The annual program is for regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects, according to the PA Office of Budget.

Leaders of The Bridge Ecovillage hope to secure a significant amount of funding for their renovation of the former Bishop McDevitt school building in Allison Hill. Chief Executive Officer Gary Gilliam said the requested $2 million would go towards beginning construction, installing HVAC and sprinkler systems, roofing and electrical work, among other items.

“Getting that initial funding is paramount to getting the project to succeed,” Gilliam said.

The historic improvement aspect is emphasized in applicant Mighty Group Holdings LLC’s Hudson Building project. Owner Adam Maust is asking for $3 million to renovate the 45,000-square-foot building at N. 6^th and Maclay streets.

“For projects of this scale, the cost grows quickly,” Maust said. “This would allow us to get started soon.”

Maust said that he is still considering ideas for what the building will hold, but he is leaning towards an educational aspect and a grocery store.

Marc Kurowski, president of city-based K&W Engineers, also spoke of how the grant money would help fund plans to update and upgrade the historic King Mansion on the 2200-block of N. Front Street. The building serves as K&W’s headquarters, but includes event space, which is used for weddings and large events.

In Harrisburg, other projects that have applied for RACP funds include:

Judicial Office Center at Midtown, $3.7 million, to partially fund a five-story, 75,000-square-foot office and retail building, with a separate five-story parking structure, on a 1.5-acre site between Reily, Boyd and Fulton streets, by KevGar HoldCo LLC
Harrisburg Scottish Rite Cathedral, $1.38 million, for extensive building renovations and upgrades
Presbyterian Apartments, $2.5 million, for rehabilitation to the senior citizen high-rise downtown
Whitaker Center, $1.45 million, for building upgrades and renovations and to construct a new STEAM education and innovation studio
Olde Uptown Neighborhood Revitalization, $5 million, to continue acquisition and renovation of blighted properties, by WCI Partners LP

Typically, about one-third of applicants statewide receive RACP funds each year and often in lesser amounts than requested.

“We really have a wide array of really interesting projects being proposed for Harrisburg,” Papenfuse said. “For large-scale building projects, there is a need and role for this program.”

Local representatives including Sen. John DiSanto, Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) and Gov. Tom Wolf’s office will have the say in who is selected for the grant, Papenfuse said. A decision is expected by the end of the month, he added.

“From the city’s perspective, we hope we can fund all the projects,” Papenfuse said.

To view past Community Conversations, visit the city’s YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.budget.pa.gov/Programs/RACP.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler, co-publisher of TheBurg, is a principal with WCI Partners.

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