Tag Archives: Bethel AME Church

Fun & Fellowship: Bethel AME Church plans its first-ever community block party

May 29, 2025 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Bethel AME Church

For Rev. W. Ouemonde Brangman, pastor of Bethel AME Church, a brand-new event will help the church “enforce a sense of community.”

This month, the historic Harrisburg church hosts its first-ever community block party at N. 5th and Kelker streets. The community fellowship event will be filled with music, children’s games, prizes, raffles, a flea market, UPMC healthy living workshops, and, of course, an on-site prayer tent for individual or directed worship.

Available vendors include Coco’s Smokehouse featuring “Harrisburg’s own Courtney Randolph back from Louisiana and firing up the grill,” according to event organizers.

“If they want to shop at the flea market, vendors will be onsite,” said Myra Blackwell, a member of a church planning committee for the event. “If they want popcorn, we will have a popcorn machine. If they want face painting for kids, that’s available as well.”

Brangman said that he was approached around a year ago by “a group of (Bethel AME) ladies who said they wanted to do their own block party.” Blackwell said that the process sparked from an idea presented by parishioner Nanette Burney-Mitchell, who chairs the planning committee, with Brangman okaying final signoffs.

Blackwell said that Burney-Mitchell “came up with the idea as a way to reach out to the community post-COVID and to have a safe and healthy gathering.”

“Because we are a church, we promote a safe way to gather in the community,” Blackwell said. “With all the gun violence taking place in the City of Harrisburg, there needs to be something to uplift spirits and a space where people feel safe to gather.”

She added that healthy living is also important.

“We need to do a better job in reaching out to the community and doing things like blood pressure monitoring, effective weight loss programs, how to eat healthy, and so forth,” she said.

Bethel AME Church has been a fundamental part of the Harrisburg community for a very long time. It was founded in 1835 as “one of the premier Black churches in Harrisburg. It was a meeting place for people of color back then,” Brangman said.

In fact, the church is renowned for once serving as a conduit for the Underground Railroad and protecting abolitionist Frederick Douglass during a visit to Harrisburg when his life was threatened.

The church first was located on Meadow Lane before moving to a location on Short Street in 1839. In 1873, it moved to State Street until relocating to Briggs Street in 1913.

In 1953, Bethel AME relocated to 6th and Herr streets, where it remained until the building was gutted by fire in 1995. The congregation then settled into its current spot.

In 2021, the church partnered with RB Development, Paladin Development, a branch of the Harrisburg Housing Authority, and Gardner Capital Development to develop Bethel Village, comprising 49 affordable housing units for low-income seniors age 62 and over.

The completed four-story, nearly 45,000-square-foot building at 6th and Herr streets was built on a parcel that includes the former site of the Bethel AME Church that was destroyed by fire 30 years ago.

The block party will take place near the church’s current location at 1721 N. 5th St., where both adults and kids will find a wide variety of things to do.

“Block party attendees can expect a fun-filled day with different activities,” Blackwell said.

The Bethel AME Church community block party takes place June 7, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at N. 5th and Kelker streets in Harrisburg. For more information, visit Bethel AME Church on Facebook or call 717-234-6505.

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Developers of proposed senior housing in Harrisburg address parking concerns, seek to move forward

August 4, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board meeting on Tuesday.

The developers of a proposed affordable housing development for seniors say that they’ve identified additional parking for their project, as they seek to gain approval from Harrisburg’s zoning board.

At a special hearing on Tuesday, Bethel Village officials explained additions that they made to their plan to try to appeal to neighbors for the proposed project at N. 6^th and Herr streets, especially regarding parking.

“Looking back, we would’ve benefitted from more outreach,” said Esch McCombie, an attorney with McNees, Wallace & Nurick, the law firm representing Bethel.

At last month’s Zoning Hearing Board meeting, the project received a range of feedback from residents, a majority of whom were opposed to the project. Most believed that the four off-street parking spots proposed for the 49-unit building were not enough.

Officials from RB Development and Gardner Capital, two of the partners in the project, maintained that few parking spots are needed, as they expect most residents will not own cars.

However, community members questioned where guests, nurses and staff will park.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Bethel Village officials said that they believe an agreement with nearby Tabernacle Baptist Church for use of 15 surface parking spaces will address the neighbors’ concerns. However, they do not yet have a lease signed with the church, McCombie said.

They also pointed out there are at least 10 on-street parking spaces on Herr Street and 38 newly constructed spaces on N. 6^th Street from Herr to Reily streets.

At the meeting, neighbor Stephen Rzonca said that he walked the street recently, taking pictures, and saw no open spaces.

“Consider this was on a Tuesday afternoon, when not all of the 20,000 state employees that were teleworking have returned,” he said. “Two, this was on a day when the Broad Street Market was closed. Thursdays through Saturdays, the parking situation gets considerably worse.”

The proposed site of Bethel Village at N. 6th and Herr streets.

However, for some residents, such as Olivia Rindfuss, Bethel’s additions to the plan were enough to gain their support.

“Previously, I attested that the plan in its current condition would not be to the best public safety of the city,” she said. “In correction of that statement, I am in support of this project based on improvements to the plan. I hope my neighbors will join me in support of this project.”

Overall, Tuesday’s meeting received more positive comments for Bethel, with a number of Bethel AME Church members voicing support. The church is a partner in the project, and their building formerly was situated on the land where the proposed senior housing would go.

In response to a petition opposing the project submitted by neighbors at last month’s zoning meeting, Bethel collected over 70 signatures on its own petition in support of the project.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the housing go up, and I’m looking forward to helping our seniors,” said resident Ruby Doub, who also is the communications liaison for Dauphin County.

Members of the zoning board said they were not ready to make a decision on the case yet and would continue it to the board’s Aug. 16 meeting at 6 p.m.

“It [parking] is not a safety and health issue. It’s a convenience issue,” McCombie said. “It’s having to walk further to find parking. It’s having to drive around for 20 to 30 minutes to find parking. I absolutely appreciate their concerns […] but at the end of the day, the application complies with the requirements.”

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August News Digest

July 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Council Approves Projects, Artifact Sale

At a final legislative meeting before taking a summer break, Harrisburg City Council last month approved two development projects.

A village of tiny homes for veterans on S. Front Street can move forward, along with a mixed-use office and apartment building on N. Cameron Street.

The tiny home village received a vote of 6-1, with council member Shamaine Daniels voting against it.

The project was proposed last year by the nonprofit Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania, which plans to build 15 tiny houses and a community center at 1103 S. Front St. to provide temporary housing and support services for homeless veterans.

At the council meeting, some residents expressed concern with the site of the project, saying that it was prone to flooding.

However, representatives with the nonprofit said that, while the area is in the floodplain, they plan to build the houses a few feet off of the ground, alleviating flooding concerns.

In a 5-2 council vote, another development proposal—converting a long-abandoned building into office and apartment space on Cameron Street—got the go-ahead. Council President Wanda Williams and council member Danielle Bowers voted in opposition.

Bowers explained that she would not vote for the project because developer Harrisburg Commercial Interiors would not commit to participating in the city’s affordable housing program.

In other council action last month, Harrisburg will move towards ending what has been a long process in dealing with artifacts purchased by former Mayor Steve Reed. In 2015, numerous collectibles and artifacts were seized from Reed’s home and storage units, many bought with public money.

Council approved a resolution to work with Cordier Auctions & Appraisals, as well as Reed’s estate, to auction off the remaining items and split the funds between the city, estate and auction company.

On the topic of Harrisburg history, council also approved the adoption of updated “Historic District Design and Preservation Guidelines,” which lay out the rules for property changes and repairs for houses in the city’s historic districts.

Council is on summer hiatus until Aug. 24.

Senior Housing Proposed

A new affordable housing initiative for seniors has been proposed in Harrisburg.

The almost $15 million “Bethel Village” would constitute the largest phase of the “Jackson Square” project at N. 6th and Herr streets, according to Ryan Sanders, co-owner of Harrisburg-based RB Development.

Along with RB Development, Paladin Development, a branch of the Harrisburg Housing Authority, Gardner Capital Development and Bethel AME Church are partners in the project.

Generally, residents would pay about 30% of their income on rent, explained Ava Goldman of Gardner Capital, which specializes in providing affordable senior living. They plan to have designated units for visually and hearing impaired residents, as well.

Previously, Sanders had proposed a market-rate, mixed-use residential and commercial complex for the site.

The proposed site of the project sits on the land where the historic Bethel AME Church once stood before burning down in 1995. The lot currently contains paved parking and grassy areas.

Bethel Village developers are under contract with both Bethel AME, which owns about one-third of the proposed ¾-acre building site, and owners of the connected lots.

New Owners, Plans for Midtown Bars

Two Midtown bars once targeted for closure by Harrisburg’s mayor have been sold, with plans to create a restaurant, retail space and apartments.

Last month, restaurateur Josh Kesler bought 1400 N. 3rd St., which most recently housed the Third Street Café, and, before that, the 1400 Club and Club Wanda’s.

Kesler, who owns the Millworks in Midtown and the Watershed Pub in Camp Hill, said that he would like to open a two-floor restaurant/bar, but doesn’t yet have a firm plan for the two-story, 2,500-square-foot space.

“I want to do something cool and creative, something that adds uniqueness to the neighborhood,” said Kesler, who paid $153,000 for the building.

He expects to complete the renovation and open in 2022.

The Third Street Café has been closed since April under terms of a conditional licensing agreement between the owners and the PA Liquor Control Board. The owners since have placed the license into safekeeping, according to their attorney, Chris Wilson.

The co-owners of the Third Street Café, Anthony Paliometros and the heirs of the late Frank Karnouskos, also owned the building next door, 1402 N. 3rd St., once the home of the Taproom bar.

Sean Linder and his Bethlehem-based investment group, SJL Rentals LLC, bought that building for $231,000.

Linder said that he plans to undertake a restoration of the three-story, 4,000-square-foot building, creating five market-rate apartments with commercial space on the first floor. He also plans a small addition in the rear, which would add another 350 square feet of space.

“Midtown is obviously an up-and-coming area,” Linder said, when asked why he was interested in the building. “There’s a lot of great development going on in the city.”

Linder credited Justin Heinly of Midtown Property Management for bringing the property to his attention and mentioned that anyone interested in the first-floor retail space should contact Heinly.

He said he expects to complete the building renovation by spring 2022.

Notably, in 2015, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse tried to revoke the business licenses of both bars, claiming that they were “nuisance bars.”

Dave Larche, then the owner of the Taproom, agreed to close his bar and later sold his building to his next-door neighbors, Paliometros and Karnouskos. For their part, Paliometros and Karnouskos repeatedly appealed the city’s business license revocation, eventually winning their case in court.

Alice Anne Schwab, the executive director of the Susquehanna Art Museum, located directly across the street from the bars, said that she looks forward to the renovations of the two buildings.

“We’re super-excited about something positive happening there,” she said. “The proposals I have heard about are really very much in keeping with businesses that are above board and operate with the public interest in mind.”

Kesler said that, in part, he was motivated to make the purchase in order to add to the growing vibrancy of the Midtown commercial district on 3rd Street, where numerous small businesses have opened recently.

Linder added that he also wanted to ensure that the block retained its architectural character.

“For years, they just let their beautiful buildings deteriorate,” he said. “There’s so much historical integrity there that needs to be preserved.”

Business Grant Program

Through a local grant program, some Harrisburg businesses have a chance at receiving financial support.

Impact Harrisburg last month rolled out its “Making an Impact” funding to benefit projects that impact the city economically.

“We can affirm that access to our funding has been a benefit to the economic structure and overall wellbeing of our community,” said Gloria Martin-Roberts, board chair of Impact Harrisburg.

The program will distribute $300,000 to eligible businesses and nonprofits. Eligible projects include those that wouldn’t have adequate funding otherwise and will be started immediately. Businesses must also contribute a match to the project, financial or otherwise, and have annual net revenues of $500,000 or less.

The Impact Harrisburg board plans to focus on assisting minority-owned businesses, Martin-Roberts said.

Applicants may request up to $25,000 for activities such as minor construction, building façade improvements, equipment purchases, furniture and fixture purchases, installation costs and job training, explained Sheila Dow-Ford, executive director of Impact Harrisburg.

In May 2020, Impact Harrisburg, along with the city, distributed around $1.5 million in “Neighborhood Business Stabilization” grant money to 314 small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. That program allowed businesses to utilize funds for general administrative expenses like rent, mortgage and payroll. This new round of funding cannot be used for those purposes, Dow-Ford said.

Dow-Ford described the “Making an Impact” program as “small, but mighty,” with the possibility to uplift often overlooked organizations in the city.

“This is a good news story in Harrisburg,” she said.

Home Sales, Prices Rise

Harrisburg-area home sales continued to show strength in June, in terms of both transactions and prices.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR) reported that 819 housing units sold in June, compared to 530 in June 2020, while the median price rose to $228,000 from $199,900 a year ago.

Last year, the number of home sales was depressed due to the pandemic. A better comparison may be June 2019, when 850 houses sold for a median price of $190,788.

In Dauphin County, 376 homes sold in June for a median price of $209,000, versus $179,950 the previous year. In Cumberland County, 394 houses sold for a median price of $258,500, compared to $224,900 in the year-ago period, according to GHAR.

Prices also were up in Perry County, where 35 houses sold for a median price of $200,000 versus $175,900 last year.

Houses were also selling quickly. According to GHAR, the “average day on market” dropped to 16 days in the three-county area, compared to 45 days last year and 41 days the year before.

So Noted

Camp Curtin Memorial-Mitchell UMC Church has been purchased by a Harrisburg couple, Chris and Erica Bryce, for $50,000. Two years ago, the Susquehanna Methodist Conference put six churches on the market as it consolidated congregations. Chris Bryce said that he had no firm plans yet for the building, but that conversion to apartments was probable.

Dustin LeBlanc was named last month as the managing director of the West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland. In this position, LeBlanc will be responsible for most operations of the 81-year-old theater, which is set to reopen next year following a renovation.

Eric Turman last month was sworn in as the new superintendent of the Harrisburg School District. Turman, the former principal of Reading High School in Reading, replaces Chris Celmer, who served as acting superintendent until a permanent replacement was hired.

Fresh Pressed HBG held its grand opening last month at 221 N. 2nd St. in downtown Harrisburg. It’s the second location for the York-based business, which offers juices, smoothies and cleanses.

Harrisburg University last month announced “Tech ‘n Town Week,” which will feature concerts, a crypto-currency conference and the return of the e-sports tournament, the HUE Invitational, among other events. The festival takes place Sept. 19 to 25, with full information at www.harrisburgu.edu/tech-n-town-week.

H*MAC’s former owners last month were awarded $4.7 million in actual and punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit. A Dauphin County judged ruled that John Traynor and the former partnership of Bartlett, Traynor & London, which owned the Midtown Harrisburg arts and entertainment venue, were defamed by online comments that later turned out to be false.

Kipona will return next month with a live, three-day festival in Riverfront Park and on City Island, according to Harrisburg officials. The Labor Day weekend event will feature art, music, food vendors, fireworks, a beer garden and Native American cultural performances, among other activities. Due to the pandemic, much of last year’s festival was held virtually.

Trader Joe’s is slated to open its first store in central PA next year, as it repurposes about 12,500 square feet of space in the former Camp Hill Bon-Ton in Lower Allen Township. Trader Joe’s has about 500 stores in 42 states and is known for offering high-quality food products at affordable prices.

Verber Dental Group last month announced Search Dental, a $2.5 million dental facility, which will open in Silver Spring Township in April 2022. The 7,500-square-foot, 12-operatory facility is the first phase in a 3.5-acre dental campus located adjacent to Cumberland Valley High School, according to Verber.

Zachary’s BBQ & Soul opened last month as the newest restaurant concept at H*MAC in Midtown Harrisburg. Philadelphia-area chef Keith Taylor offers his take on soul food staples such as Carolina pulled pork, pulled chicken, boneless short rib, pork spare ribs and Caribbean jerk barbecue chicken, as well as some bar food favorites.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2527: D. Sharp to H. Alberto, $69,900

Bellevue Rd., 1915: J. Charles & D. Vanlee to C. Bouslama, $61,000

Benton St., 700: J. Sourbeer to SPG Capital LLC, $62,000

Berryhill St., 1506: RWH Properties LLC to RRMM Real Estate LLC, $42,000

Berryhill St., 1645: M. & M. Quinones to P. & C. Baquero, $46,100

Berryhill St., 2016 & 2020: Staley Berryhill Street Properties LLC to W. Stanley, $850,000

Berryhill St., 2146: J. Elias Holdings LLC to R. & C. Murphy, $65,000

Berryhill St., 2258: T. Baka & R. Teklit to E. Tesfamicael & L. Ghebremichael, $50,000

Boas St., 405: J. Varner & C. Fowler to H. Lewis, $185,000

Boas St., 424: C. Furlong to J. Smith, $170,000

Boas St., 1907: Ultra Renovations and Investments Inc. to T. Roebuck, $115,000

Brookwood St., 2314: E. Hager to M. Kraft, $89,000

Calder St., 118: Lynch Financial LLC to A. & W. Harvey, $190,000

Calder St., 500: R. Metzger to E. Shellenberger, $180,000

Chestnut St., 2031: K. Hassinger to N. & C. Hamani, $68,829

Conoy St., 114: W. McMartin to B. Stehle & A. Johnson, $147,500

Croydon Rd., 2854: R. Williams to G. & M. Romero, $88,000

Delaware St., 262: A. Hanlon to C. Zeger, $138,000

Delaware St., 268: F. Hamid to C. & E. Batista, $137,500

Derry St., 1441: SNL Realty Holdings LLC & Touch of Color to K. Tejada, $80,000

Derry St., 2403: Tassia Corp. to A. Lopez, $115,000

Derry St., 2529: T. Thornton to SPG Capital LLC, $65,000

Division St., 505: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $45,000

Edgewood Rd., 2307: J. Perkins to M. Bailor & S. Yann, $226,000

Emerald Ct., 2451: J. & S. Theodorou to M. Spence, $111,000

Forster St., 226: League of Women Voters Pennsylvania to J. Dubina, $88,750

Fulton St., 1409: R. Buyers to R. Davis Jr., $130,000

Green St., 710: N. Pinkston & C. Maximowicz to J. Elliott, $202,000

Green St., 916: J. Ehring to Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC, $160,000

Green St., 1401: Hunter Properties to R. Rammouni, $80,000

Green St., 1405: A. Stouffer to C. & C. Thomas, $195,000

Green St., 1412: J. Ehring to Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC, $150,000

Green St., 2810: Church of God of Prophecy & Christian Insight Ministry to Christian Insight Ministry, $145,000

Green St., 3208: G. Arrieta & K. King to J. Aponte & D. Torres, $235,000

Green St., 3232: B. Spangler & S. Keene to J. Jones, $155,000

Greenwood St., 2111: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $48,000

Hale Ave., 411: D. Wilson to I. Yolov, $50,000

Harris Terr., 2465: J. Davis to E. Garcia & Y. Marcucci, $35,000

Herr St., 307: B. Andreozzi to J. Varner & C. Fowler, $192,500

Herr St., 313: J. Kleinfelter to J. & M. O’Callaghan, $178,600

Holly St., 2002: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $48,000

Hummel St., 340: M. Nichols to K. Torres, $55,000

James St., 1329: V. Paredes to I. Mallouli, $85,000

Liberty St., 1610: Ivy Leaf Properties LLC & Lehman Property Management to H. Lopez, $60,000

Manada St., 2031: R. Torres to D. Perez, $120,000

Market St., 1811: HE Pressley Properties LLC to Jimruz LLC, $72,000

North St., 1711: SPG Capital LLC to P. Marte, $80,000

North St., 1842: Sunshine ABQ Real Estate Investment LLC to O. Perez, $105,000

N. 2nd St., 809: Vantage Rentals LP to A. & S. Grimes, $179,000

N. 2nd St., 1009: J. Kok to J. Flothmeier to J. Ambridge, $215,000

N. 2nd St., 1102: L. & A. Morato Lara to S. & J. Toole, $195,000

N. 2nd St., 2323: A. & A. Mathew to A. Deitrich & J. Cortez, $190,000

N. 2nd St., 2404: K. Liu to JLE Ventures 2404 LLC, $90,000

N. 3rd St., 1218, 1220 & 1222: Furlow Partners Inc. to COBA Apartments LLC, $2,800,000

N. 3rd St., 1619: T. Fridirici to J. Pronio, $187,500

N. 3rd St., 3010: Equitable Builds LLC to S. Ruiz & A. Ramirez, $212,000

N. 4th St., 1920: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to A. Nix, $109,000

N. 4th St., 2112: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $60,000

N. 4th St., 2215: L. & C. Sukhwinder to K. Torres, $54,000

N. 4th St., 2333: Dauphin County Property Investors LLC to I. Molina, $51,500

N. 4th St., 2448: S. Lewis to J. Graf, $100,000

N. 4th St., 2709: T. Landis to H. Fountain, $137,000

N. 5th St., 1504, 1504½, 1506, 1506½, 1508, 1508½, 1510, 1510½, 1512, 1514, 1516, 1516½, 1518; 439, 441 & 443 Boyd St.; 427, 429, 429B, 429½, 431 & 433 Kelker Alley; 1517 Fulton St.; 420, 426 & 428 Reily St. & 1515 Walker Alley: Redevelopment Authority to 400 Reily Street LLC, $81,000

N. 5th St., 1634: P. Hardy to N. Kamel, $150,000

N. 6th St., 1328: W. Zhang to M. Osborne, $170,000

N. 6th St., 2211: Curtin Heights ME Church to 608 N. Third LLC, $50,000

N. 6th St., 2612: MNK Properties LLC to C. Guerrier, $50,000

N. 6th St., 2665: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital, $48,000

N. 6th St., 2667: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $55,000

N. 6th St., 3014: C. Dixon to A. & W. Keisling, $83,500

N. 14th St., 210: PBTB Group LLC to Dreams2Reality Services LLC, $67,500

N. 16th St., 606: 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC to J. Moore, $120,700

N. 16th St., 820: Truemac Homes Trust to E. Hubbard, $123,000

N. 18th St., 802: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to B. Nevid, $119,000

N. 19th St., 706: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to L. Murrell, $40,000

N. 19th St., 1001: M. Myers to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $45,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 305: M. DiMatteo to Zinc One Texas LLC, $195,000

N. Front St., 3201: F. & W. Krevsky to Y. Duan, $310,000

Park St., 1840: T. & S. Rollason to J. Pichardo, $35,000

Penn St., 1311: A. Genre to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $75,000

Penn St., 1526: Heinly Homes LLC to H. Stevens, $190,500

Penn St., 1702: A. & D. Schade to T. Underkoffler, $175,000

Penn St., 1726: A. Hovne to C. Benedict & J. Sarji, $190,000

Penn St., 1820: Alex Manning Enterprises LLC & D. Kapil to Lancaster County Restoration LLC, $135,000

Penn St., 2334: N. Symons to T. Jackson & R. Pennypacker, $135,000

Pennwood Rd., 3204: C. Heckert to A. Daniels, $95,000

Prince St., 713: J. Mosco to Z. & A. Einhorn, $106,100

Reel St., 2618: E. Chattah to L. Ware, $88,450

Reel St., 2725: J. Louden to D. & C. Huffer, $56,000

Seneca St., 640: Kirsch & Burns LLC to B. Brown, $130,000

S. 13th St., 431: R&K Realty Group LP to Dima Properties LLC, $65,000

S. 13th St., 1413: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to 1413 S 13th St Harrisburg LLC, $116,000

S. 13th St., 1440: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $45,000

S. 13th St., 1463: J. White to D. Adams, B. Groft, E. Roy & A. Sullivan, $62,500

S. 15th St., 316: Great Row LLC to Cooperwink LLC, $42,900

S. 16th St., 16: M. Carter to NA Capital Group LLC, $35,000

S. 16th St., 524: W. Brown to J. Camacho, $46,500

S. 16th St., 1014: M. Batista to D. Cario & Y. Mercedes, $123,500

S. 19th St., 1324: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $48,000

S. 24th St., 700: C. Barna to J. Valverde, $82,000

S. 25th St., 734: G. Mathias to SPG Capital LLC, $63,000

S. 26th St., 622: M. Cain to K. Seitz, $140,000

S. 26th St., 628: R. & R. Seneca to A. Rai, $163,000

S. 27th St., 655: B. Dehning to T. Young, $99,000

Spencer St., 1855: M. Castro, B. Villalobos & R. Alexandra to M. Hoogerbrugge, $75,900

State St., 231, Unit 204: J. Montenegro to S. & Y. Yates, $130,000

Susquehanna St., 1703: R. Taylor to L. Mayton, $130,000

Susquehanna St., 1915: D. James to E. Seaman & J. Baran, $145,000

Susquehanna St., 2116: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPF Capital LLC, $48,000

Susquehanna St., 2118: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $48,000

Sycamore St., 1506: J. Elias Holdings LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $50,000

Verbeke St., 254: D. Bixler to R. Unger, $205,000

Verbeke St., 1327 & 1329: DC Projects LLC to Phantom Property Investments LLC, $75,000

Vernon St., 1306: Sweet Properties of Philadelphia LLC to JCAS1 LLC, $240,000

Vernon St., 1407: G. Thomas & K. Hernandez to JIMRUZ LLC, $30,000

Vineyard Rd., 212: E. Kawa to R. & J. Aronson, $222,000

Walnut St., 1610: C. Hall to J. Cherry Jr., $30,000

Zarker St., 1942: Next Generation Trust Services FBO Leon Wriole IRA to G. & L. Boone, $38,500

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

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Parking Problems: Neighbors object to proposed senior housing development on N. 6th Street

July 20, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

The proposed site of Bethel Village at Herr and N. 6th streets.

At a packed Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board Meeting on Monday night, residents’ hands shot up, one-by-one, to express their opposition to a proposed affordable housing project for seniors.

Local development group RB Development, along with several partners, presented their plans for Bethel Village, an affordable housing community for senior citizens at N. 6^th and Herr streets.

The proposed development was discussed at a community meeting a few weeks ago with little opposition from residents, most comments coming from supporters of the project. However, at Monday’s meeting, many residents waited nearly four hours to get the chance to voice their concerns.

“I’ve spoken to many of the neighbors, and no one objects to affordable housing,” said Ted Hanson, a long-time resident of Boas Street.

However, Hanson presented board members with a petition signed by 60 neighborhood residents. Their main concern: parking.

The Bethel Village project proposes a 49-unit building for qualifying low-income seniors on land that once housed, in part, the historic Bethel AME Church, which burned down in 1995. Last week, Bethel Village purchased the land from Bethel AME, a partner in the project.

Bethel Village is proposing four parking spots for their building, 15 fewer than the required number under the zoning code, explained Esche McCombie, an attorney with McNees, Wallace & Nurick, the law firm representing Bethel.

However, Bethel Village developers do not see this as a problem, explained Ava Goldman of Gardner Capital, another partner in the project. Based on her experience working in affordable housing development, she expects that a large majority of their seniors will not own cars.

But residents who spoke at Monday’s meeting painted a picture of a congested neighborhood with little room for the vehicles of people who already live there, let alone those for as many as 50 newcomers.

“There are nights when I come home at midnight from the hospital, and I cannot find a parking spot,” said resident Allison Deturk-Malia, a nurse. “You mean to tell me that four parking spots are going to be OK for our neighborhood? I don’t think so.”

McCombie reiterated that they don’t expect most residents to have cars, and for visitors and family members, they referenced new on-street parking recently added to 6^th Street. They also plan to incorporate bike racks on their property.

Some residents brought up concerns with the facade of the building, saying it wouldn’t fit in with the historic neighborhood. Others commented on traffic in the neighborhood, explaining that it can already be unsafe for pedestrians with cars turning off of 6^th onto Boas at high speeds. They suggested that the development would make the situation even worse.

“We want to work with the neighbors,” said Blane Stoddart of RB Development. “We would not do anything to put you in danger or to put your kids in danger.”

Despite the neighborhood concerns, Stoddart emphasized that they fully plan to move forward with the $15 million project, saying that they have already received low-income tax credit money from the state. Financially, Bethel developers said that they cannot provide more parking.

“This is a project that is going to happen,” he said. “Seventy-one percent of Harrisburg residents qualify, income-wise, to live in this project.”

Zoning board members voted to continue the Bethel Village discussion in a special hearing on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m.

Also on the long agenda for Monday night were several other projects that received continuances.

At June’s zoning meeting, Harrisburg-based D&F Realty Holdings presented its plans to convert a 16,500-square-foot building at 423 Division St. into an apartment building. The building previously housed Congregation Chisuk Emuna before it was damaged in a 2009 fire. In recent years the building has remained blighted.

D&F’s proposal included no on-site parking spots, but developers said they spoke with the Scottish Rite Cathedral about utilizing their lot, a few blocks away.

Zoning board Chair Thomas Leonard said that he needed to see a formal agreement with the cathedral and continued the project to the Aug. 16 meeting.

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Affordable senior housing proposed for historic African American block of Harrisburg

June 29, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Proposed site of of Bethel Village at Herr and N. 6th streets.

A new affordable housing initiative soon may be coming to Harrisburg.

At a community meeting on Monday night, developers shared plans for an affordable housing development for seniors at the corner of N. 6^th and Herr streets.

The almost $15 million “Bethel Village” would constitute the largest phase of the “Jackson Square” project aimed at restoring dilapidated buildings with ties to African American history on N. 6^th Street, said Ryan Sanders, co-owner of Harrisburg-based RB Development, the main developer involved in the project.

“I’m really excited about the next level of development here,” said Sanders, during a community meeting at nearby Good Brotha’s Book Cafe.

Along with RB Development, Paladin Development, a branch of the Harrisburg Housing Authority, Gardner Capital Development and Bethel AME Church are partners in the project.

The proposed four-story, nearly 45,000-square-foot building would be available for low-income seniors 62 years of age and older. It would provide one- and two-bedroom rental units ranging in price from $300 to $1,000 per month. Generally, residents would pay about 30% of their income on rent, explained Ava Goldman of Gardner Capital, which specializes in providing affordable senior living. They plan to have designated units for visually and hearing impaired residents, as well.

A rendering of the proposed Bethel Village complex.

Previously, Sanders had proposed a market-rate, mixed-used residential and commercial complex for the site.

According to Goldman, there would be four onsite parking spaces for the Bethel Village complex. They are hoping that on-street parking will supplement the small number of onsite spaces and also don’t expect many of their residents to have cars, she said.

The proposed site of the project sits on the land where the historic Bethel AME Church used to stand before burning down in 1995. The lot currently contains paved parking and grassy areas. Adjacent to the property is the lot where the historic Jackson Hotel building once was, before partially collapsing and being demolished in January this year.

Bethel Village developers are under contract with both Bethel AME, which owns about one-third of the proposed ¾-acre building site, and owners of the connected lots.

Sanders hopes that, through the Bethel Village project, among others in the proposed Jackson Square area along N. 6th Street, the block’s African American history will be restored.

According to Sanders, much of the funding has already been secured through sources such as the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the Harrisburg Housing Authority and the Bethel AME Church, among others.

At the meeting, resident Ted Hanson, who lives near the proposed building site, expressed his concern with parking, saying that what they planned will not be enough.

“I think parking is a real problem,” he said. “At least it is going to be for people like me who live in that neighborhood.”

Goldman said that, because they face financial constraints with providing affordable housing, they could not afford to create more parking spots.

Another Harrisburg resident, Eileen Norman, wasn’t concerned with the parking situation, but voiced her support for the project.

“I’m more concerned about our residents having a roof over their head that is safe and that they can live in,” she said.

Developers are currently working with the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) to make sure the design of the building fits with other properties on the block. Next, they would need to take their plans to the city Zoning Hearing Board and then to City Council.

If all goes smoothly, Goldman said they hope to break ground by October of this year.

“We believe this affordable 49-unit option is going to bring a lot to the community,” Sanders said.

The proposed site of the Bethel Village is located at 1010 N. 6^th St. For more information, visit RB Development’s website.

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To Serve, Inspire: AME Church honors five community leaders during Women’s Day.

March 31, 2020 | by Gina Napoli

Vera Cornish

Angel Fox

Rev. Dr. Brenda Alton

Pat Gadsden

Dr. Siéta Achampong

When Pat Gadsden was young, the strong male role models in her family instilled a sense of equality and strength into her role as a woman.

“They made it clear to me and my sister that women were just as competent as men in the family,” she said. “My dad had no patience with his daughters succumbing to males. We were responsible for ourselves. We didn’t let being female get in the way of anything we wanted to accomplish.”

The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church holds an annual Women’s Day to “uplift women and recognize the contributions they have made,” said Myra Blackwell, Women’s Day co-chair.

With a theme designed around the mnemonic WOMEN: Worship, Orchestrate, Motivate, Encourage, Noteworthy, this year’s honorees bring a lifetime of servant leadership and substantial contributions to the local community.

“We chose women from the community who embody each category,” Blackwell said. “We want men and young children to see one common theme of consistency and unity, something to inspire everyone.”

Worship
Rev. Dr. Brenda Alton, CEO of Brenda Alton Ministries (BAM!), is a community advocate and grassroots organizer. As a child, her elders who served the spiritually and socially poor inspired her to do the same.

As an ordained minister, she founded Holistic Hands Community Development Corp., Teaching Teachers’ Bible Institute, Sweet Love of Jesus Ministries and Kingdom Embassy (formerly Harambee United Church of Christ), where she served for 15 years as senior pastor. Traveling throughout the United States and internationally, she has given her life to building leaders, instructing and motivating people in their gifts and calling.

“Women are being honored for their life experiences, their survival skills, their ability to impart knowledge, and to lead with wisdom,” Alton said. “This is significant to me because I get to share honoring women who are a true life source in their homes and the community.”

Orchestrate
Dr. Siéta Achampong, principal of SciTech for 15 years, always knew she wanted to serve youth either as a teacher or a principal. The many awards SciTech has earned, plus her personal awards for her leadership and community involvement, are a testament to her dedication to developing young people.

“It’s important to set aside a day to recognize women,” Achampong said. “Over the years, we haven’t always been equal to our male counterparts. Students need to see women being successful in running a household, serving in leadership positions.”

Motivate
For all those who personally knew the late Vera Cornish, her recent passing at age 64 came as a shock.

With a prolific and impressive resume of board and committee appointments, speaking engagements, fundraising endeavors, strategic consulting, career fairs, published works, special events, and influential awards, Cornish served the community as a speaker, facilitator and strategist.

Filling a social niche critical to Harrisburg’s demographic makeup, Cornish published the multi-cultural lifestyle publication, The Urban Connection of the Capital Region, produced and founded the Women of Heritage Breakfast, the Access & Opportunity Breakfast Series, and the Access & Opportunity Career Fair. She also served in ministry for almost two decades. She left behind her a large set of shoes to fill.

On a personal note, I attended one of Cornish’s workshops almost 20 years ago. She convinced me to stop focusing on improving my weaknesses, outsource them instead, and imagine how much further my energy could travel by focusing on building my strengths. That game-changing piece of advice is the reason I wisely no longer cook (my family is grateful, too).

Encourage
As a young person, Pat Gadsden volunteered in her school and as a candy striper for the Red Cross. Those were just seedlings of what would grow into forming the professional training/consulting firm, Life Esteem.

Through her business, Gadsden leads workshops and seminars, administering to businesses, state agencies, colleges, schools and human service organizations. Along with her husband and pastor of Imani African Christian Church, Nathaniel Gadsden, she ministers to the community through the church and through various print and electronic media.

Noteworthy
Angel Fox serves as chief of staff to state Rep. Patty Kim. She is also CEO of both Fox’s Wash & Go Laundromat and Tears for Tarina, a nonprofit organization for domestic violence assistance and awareness. In 2011, she lost her best friend and teammate to domestic violence.

“I knew, when she passed, that I had to keep her legacy alive and bring awareness to our community,” Fox said. “I know God has a calling for my life, and he is using me.”

Fox cited her toughest job currently as raising her two boys as a single mother and acknowledged that her community involvement can take time away from them.

“For my boys to see me get this award is well worth it,” she said. “And for my mother and my sister being a part of this, knowing they were my positive role models, it’s an honor.”

Along with celebrating Women’s Day during Bethel AME Church Harrisburg’s regular services, the church provides its congregation with opportunities to expand their knowledge by offering parenting classes and a prayer breakfast specifically geared toward women.

“We’re looking to make a difference in areas we know there is still a need for improvement,” Blackwell said.

Bethel AME Church Harrisburg’s pastor, Rev. W. Ouemonde Brangman, recognized the Women’s Day event as a “way to inspire women to reach their highest potential, trust God through difficulties, and acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices countless women have made.”

“I don’t give back to the community for awards or a paycheck,” Fox said. “So, getting this award is for the community to let others know they can do it, as well.”

The Women’s Day celebration takes place on Sunday, April 26, at Bethel AME Church, 1721 N. 5th St., Harrisburg, at 10 a.m. For more information, visit their Facebook page “Bethel AME Church, Harrisburg, PA.”

What’s Up with That? Piece by piece, a city rebuilds.

September 30, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

When I arrived in Harrisburg some 11 years ago, I had quite a few “what’s up with that?” moments.

For instance, a large, boarded-up stone building at 3rd and Boas streets that clearly had once been a stunner—what’s up with that? Ditto, the tall, majestic building a few blocks away, blighted and deteriorating, and the abandoned brick pile on Verbeke Street that had a few fading Art Deco flourishes.

What was up with all of these—and many others?

As a new resident, I wanted to know how they had reached their lowly states, especially since they all were located so close to the Capitol complex, home to thousands of state workers daily.

Perhaps my greatest “what’s up with that?” came the first time that I saw the 1000-block of N. 6th Street. Here was an entire block of blight, with one major exception, the popular lunchtime spot, the Jackson House.

Every day, hundreds of state employees breezed right by these ruins to grab a legendary Jackson House burger or sub. Logically, you’d think that someone would see a business opportunity to re-develop this area. But no.

So, how did this happen?

It’s actually a complex story and one that, in the ensuing years, TheBurg would return to again and again. I can’t tell it all in this space, but it shares two elements common to most blight stories in Harrisburg—and in other once-thriving industrial cities across the United States.

Element #1: Flight. Starting in the 1950s, industry closed, and people began leaving the city for the suburbs, commuting in for, increasingly, service-sector jobs, which, in Harrisburg’s case, mostly meant state government. The 1972 flood was the nail in the coffin here, as residents took their federal flood money—and the few pennies that opportunistic slumlords gave them for the properties—and fled in a second huge wave.

Element #2: Disinvestment. Property owners stopped maintaining their buildings. Typically, they rented them out, for increasingly less money, until they became utterly uninhabitable. Then, instead of fixing them up, they boarded them up, and the dilapidation continued. Some fell apart slowly, others collapsed suddenly. Some sold for taxes, some landed with the Redevelopment Authority, others were flipped to speculators who let them rot further.

All of this happened to the 1000-block of N. 6th Street.

Of the six properties on the west side of the street, one caught fire, one collapsed in a

storm, one pancaked in, one was boarded up and the other should have been. Only the Jackson House, smack-dab in the middle of the street, remained truly sound.

And that, in a nutshell, was what was up with that.

Also, the blight fed on itself so that, for more than 50 years, few imagined that any of the old commercial streets of Midtown Harrisburg could be any different.

But then they were.

Fortunately, it turned out that the opposite also could happen. Just as blight can spread, so can redevelopment, and that’s where we are now in this story.

Over the past decade, nearly every one of the blighted, boarded-up buildings I saw on my first walk through Midtown has been renovated and redeveloped.

One is now StartUp. One is H*MAC. One is the Millworks, and another is the Coba apartment building. There’s Midtown Scholar and the Susquehanna Art Museum and ModernRugs and Campus Square and numerous smaller shops and restaurants like Yellow Bird Café, Pastorante and Urban Churn. One is even TheBurg.

Redevelopment has become such a powerful force that it’s now rolled over even the most desperate of streets—the 1000-block of N. 6th.

Currently, three of the buildings are being redeveloped as a mix of apartments and retail. Brothers LeSean and LeRon McCoy, Harrisburg natives and professional football players, are investing in the block, undertaking two cellar-to-roof renovations. They also hope to buy and build new on the vacant corner parcel, where the former Bethel AME Church burned down in 1995.

This street has a great deal of meaning to Harrisburg. It is one of notable history, the last remaining block of what was once an extensive African-American commercial enclave—a street of barbers, rooming houses, hotels, groceries and other businesses that catered largely to a black clientele in segregated Harrisburg, and it was almost lost. Well, unfortunately, some of it indeed was lost, but some now will be saved, so that life will return again to the street—that is, for more than a quick bite at lunchtime.

I find that, in Harrisburg (maybe everywhere), there are the glass-half-full and the glass-half-empty people. The latter might say—well, that’s fine for Midtown, but what about the rest of the city?

I try to be an optimist, but understand their point, too. Heck, on my block, two small apartment buildings have been condemned this year alone. There are still far too many old-time property owners who regard Harrisburg as only a place to extract money from, not invest in, seemingly believing that even simple building maintenance is a dollar out of their pocket.

But I’m not going to begrudge redevelopment where it happens. A revived 6th Street is good for the city, especially because it links up with other progress nearby, creating a critical mass to attract people and motivate further investment. It’s gotten to the point that, walking around the city, I still have my “what’s up with that?” moments. However, when I do, it’s because I see the boards coming off and construction signs going up.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

College ABCs: Preparing for higher education at Bethel AME.

February 28, 2018 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Life hasn’t always been easy for Stephen Ampersand.

Still, he was eager to share his experiences with teens and parents attending this year’s Bethel AME Church College Prep Workshop in Harrisburg.

Today, Ampersand is vice president of student affairs and enrollment management at HACC, but, as he told it, it was an uphill journey. Growing up, he spent a year living in a car with his family after his mother lost her job and, subsequently, their home. Following that, they lived in homeless shelters. The family moved around so much that Ampersand attended four different middle schools.

Life’s hardships only fueled his determination to work hard in school and overcome his life circumstances. He went on to earn degrees from Pierce College and Wilmington University before starting a career in education services management in 2004.

“If you study and work hard, you can go to college,” Ampersand said. “You can change not only your life, but your own family tree.”

One-Stop Shop
Since 2016, Bethel AME Church has hosted a college prep workshop geared toward students in grades 9 to 12 and their parents. This year’s event, held in January, attracted 75 attendees, said Myra Blackwell, chair of Bethel AME’s scholarship committee.

“This is not your typical college prep workshop,” Blackwell stressed. “Facilitators from HACC come in and give an overview of steps one must take to prepare for college. HACC also does a panel discussion.”

Half of the facilitators from HACC are part of the president’s cabinet, she said.

“It’s not that often you find people who are in senior-level positions participating in a college prep workshop,” Blackwell said.

HACC speakers kicked off the first half of the three-hour workshop, followed by representatives of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, who discussed financing options.

“This workshop really is a one-stop shop for both students and parents,” Blackwell stated.

The workshop is the brainstorm of Bethel AME’s four-member scholarship committee, chaired by Blackwell. Blackwell said she got the idea while watching a HACC facilitator speak to students at her cousin’s church in Allentown.

“I thought, if they can do it, we can do here,” Blackwell recalled. “I want young people to learn their options. I want them to know that they can go to college or they can learn a trade. I know all of this can be stressful for a young person, and we want to make a little bit easier for them.”

In fact, a small contingent from Allentown’s Union Baptist Church travelled to Harrisburg to attend this year’s workshop.

“We wanted them to get familiarized with the college process,” said Asia Rozier, a youth ministry assistant in Allentown.

Keep Pushing
Ryanna Hendricks, a ninth-grader at Central Dauphin East High School, came to the workshop with her sister Serena, a CD East 11th-grader.

“I came here to learn more about HACC, scholarships and financial aid,” she explained.

Ryanna said she’d like to earn a four-year college degree and become an endodontist, a dental disease specialist. Serena plans to become a college business major and eventually open up her own business, she said.

Reshon Ross, an 11th-grader at Dauphin County Technical School, attended the workshop with sister Ayanna and their mother, Monika Ross.

“I’m here just to get some experience, to see what I can get out of college and see what I can be,” said Reshon, who is in the small engine equipment technology program at DC Tech.

“I’ve gotten some good information here today,” Monika Ross noted.

The HACC portion of the workshop closed with alumni sharing stories. Like Ampersand, none of the graduates who spoke appeared to have a straight, easy path to success, but they made it despite the odds.

Johnny Birch, Jr., is a 2011 HACC graduate who studied business, hospitality and tourism. Today, he is owner and operator of Carlisle Tae Kwon Do & Fitness Academy.

“I came from a single-parent home, barely had anything,” Birch recalled. “I was really mad and beat things up. I was a bully.”

Birch’s mother and guidance counselor sent him to martial arts classes as a way to channel his aggression in a more positive manner. The strategy worked, and he later became a martial arts state champion.

After that, Birch joined the military.

“For six years, I was a first-class athlete,” he said. “Then my body started to give out, and I didn’t know what to do.”

After a brief stint as a musician, Birch decided to open a business, but, he said, “didn’t know the right people.” Then he enrolled in HACC and, soon after, 50 people filled his martial arts studio.

Hagir Elsheikh graduated from HACC in 2011 with a degree in health careers. Today, she is founder and CEO of HSE Staffing Agency, LLC, a health care staffing firm.

“HACC changed my life,” Elsheikh told the workshop crowd. “We’re not here to set your destination, we’re just here to share our experiences. Regardless of what you go through, you can keep pushing. It is you who can decide what you want your future to be.”

Bethel AME Church is located at 1721 N. 5th St., Harrisburg. For more information about the church, visit their Facebook page: I Go to Bethel.

Brush with Greatness: African-American history mural planned for side of Jackson Hotel.

June 6, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

The old Jackson Hotel in Harrisburg, including, at the right, the wall where a mural is planned.

A new mural will celebrate Harrisburg’s African-American history, adorning the side of a building that once hosted such luminaries as Louis Armstrong and Pearl Bailey.

Sprocket Mural Works announced the project yesterday for the former Jackson Hotel and Rooming House on the 1000-block of N. 6^th Street, a building that, decades ago, catered primarily to a black clientele refused service in the city’s major, segregated hotels.

“It will be an African-American historic mural, playing off the history itself,” said Sprocket co-founder Jeff Copus.

The Jackson Hotel painting is one of 10 murals that will be created during the Harrisburg Mural Festival, which Sprocket is organizing for the first 10 days of September.

Copus last night told the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) that the mural will feature people who stayed at the hotel, possibly including entertainers like Armstrong, Bailey, Cab Callaway and Ella Fitzgerald. It may also incorporate images of important Harrisburg figures such as Ephraim Slaughter, an escaped slave who fought in the Civil War and later settled in the city.

In August, Sprocket will seek public input for the mural design, Copus said.

Sprocket is commissioning artist Cesar Viveros to paint the mural. Locally, Viveros is best known as the artist-in-residence who helped design and lead the creation of the Mulberry Street Bridge murals.

HARB voted 4-2 to support the mural, the two “no” votes from members who wanted more input into the actual mural design. While HARB must approve a mural project within the historic district, the details of the painting are beyond its purview.

As the building’s owner, HARB member Jeremiah Chamberlin abstained from the vote. Chamberlin bought the building about 18 months ago, hoping to save it from further deterioration. It has been unoccupied for almost 20 years since the death of long-time owner German Jackson, who bequeathed it Dave Kegris, owner of the Jackson House restaurant next door. Kegris eventually sold it to Kerry and Lessa Helm, who then sold it to Chamberlin.

Ted Hanson, a long-time resident of the Old Fox Ridge neighborhood, wanted assurances that Chamberlin would begin work to stabilize and restore the building.

“My concern is that the building is in serious distress,” Hanson told the HARB board. “I am very concerned if stability doesn’t happen very quickly, you’ll be painting a mural on a crumbling property.”

Chamberlin assured Hanson that he would begin work on the building “within the next couple of weeks.”

“I have no desire to see my investment lost either,” Chamberlin said.

Hanson also was concerned that the mural might impede development of the vacant lots next door, as new construction could block the view of the mural. Copus said that Sprocket would not stand in the way of the development of the empty lots at N. 6^th and Herr streets, which are owned by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority and by Bethel AME Church, a historically black congregation that lost its church to an arson fire in 1995.

“Hopefully, this will generate interest in that underutilized lot,” Copus said.

Click here for more information on the Harrisburg Mural Festival.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Paved Paradise: Update

June 17, 2013 | by Paul Barker

Tonight’s meeting at the Zoning Hearing Board has been cancelled, according to Geoffrey Knight, the city’s zoning officer.

The cancellation was due to an error the city made in an advertisement announcing the meeting. The advertisement, required by law to be distributed two weeks before the meeting, mistakenly printed the date as July 17 instead of June 17.

Tonight’s meeting would have included a ruling on an application from Bethel AME Church, regarding a special exception to use a vacant lot the church owns for commercial parking. (You can read our comment on the application and the lot’s history here.)

Knight said no date has been set yet for the rescheduled hearing. The next Zoning Hearing Board meeting on the calendar is July 22. But Knight said a special meeting may be scheduled for an earlier date. “We’re trying to arrange a meeting, if all parties are amenable, in the next few weeks,” he said.

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