Tag Archives: Bret Peters

At special school board meeting, district discusses options for future of William Penn

November 14, 2025 | by Alexandra Jones

Harrisburg School District officials and board members discussed William Penn at a meeting at Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus.

All options for the future of Harrisburg’s William Penn building are on the table.

The Harrisburg School Board held an information gathering hearing on Thursday night to weigh proposals for its long vacant, blighted building, including demolition, sale or reuse.

The sprawling 99-year-old building, once a vocational school, has sat vacant for 14 years on its 27-acre campus, overlooking Italian Lake. For years, the district has weighed what to do with it.

“As many of you know, restoring and reimagining this facility costs a lot,” Harrisburg superintendent Benjamin Henry told about 30 members of the public who attended the meeting. “Well into the tens of millions of dollars for a district that has only recently exited financial recovery and receivership.”

District solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik presented the district’s current menu of options, to be voted upon at future board meeting, which included demolishing, selling, keeping or leasing the building.

Demolishing the building would cost $5 million, the solicitor said. While subdividing the land and selling it off in pieces would generate revenue, keeping it as is and paying for security would cost the district between $177,000 and $566,00, per year, depending on the level of security provided for the building— plus the cost of liability insurance.

The William Penn Task Force, which was created by the district in 2023 to generate ideas for the use of the property, previously recommended retaining the building and turning it into a career technical education center, with options for partial and full restoration, the solicitor recounted.

Sultanik noted that the district cannot take on new initiatives for five years following its exit from receivership, and that it has an existing debt burden of $19 million per year through 2036 “and is not in a position to borrow for a renovation of William Penn.” Additionally, Harrisburg school district enrollment numbers are expected to slightly decline over the next decade, he said.

Taking into account the current district needs, school administrators have recommended demolishing the building and constructing athletic fields on the land for the district’s sports. The plan would address the district’s need for a field for its new high school girls’ soccer teams.

The last three proposals came from developer groups, who had presented options for renovating the building earlier in 2025. At the meeting, district officials questioned the plans.

Sultanik asked about the “magnitude” of a concept from Harrisburg-native and retired NFL player Garry Gilliam, CEO of The Bridge.

Gilliam proposed turning William Penn’s campus into an eco-village, redesigning the property to include areas for student learning, businesses, restaurants and a housing component. Gilliam and his team proposed a similar concept for the former Bishop McDevitt school in 2019 and leased the building until earlier this year. The team operated a garden on-site, but never completed work on the building.

“How much seed money do you have available at The Bridge to put together such an ambitious program?” Sultanik said.

Tom Jones, co-developer on the project, responded that they don’t have any capital because a decision hasn’t yet been made to move forward with their plan.

School board member Danielle Robinson questioned how long the project would “actually take” to complete and expressed skepticism about whether such a project would benefit Harrisburg’s students. Board member Annie Hughes questioned whether housing would be allowed on district property.

The district also questioned proposals presented by Bret Peters, of the Harrisburg-based Office for Planning and Architecture, and the Capital Rebirth Project.

Presenting his plan through the Pennsylvania Social Equity Investment Fund, Peters proposed an adaptive reuse to lease and restore the building to be used as a vocational training center for adult education.

“The entire building will be carefully and lovingly restored to its original condition,” Peters told the board.

Sultanik asked for assurance that the group would be “financially strong enough” to do the project. Robinson, meanwhile, expressed concerns that such a facility would only serve students over 18. It would also be located next to Camp Curtin Middle School, she noted, which could present security concerns.

Capital Rebirth Project’s plan, inspired by Lancaster’s Spooky Nook sports center, focused on developing the fields around William Penn to make the property a large-scale sports complex that would serve as a venue for regional sports. The development would also include housing, restaurants, childcare and retail.

“I have been at this for six years now and I don’t think I could answer another question about this to be honest with you,” said Mikell Simpson, a Harrisburg High School graduate. He read a prepared statement about not being able to answer specifics about financing partners or tenants at this time.

“I understand your frustration. I do,” Robinson told him. “This party right here, this is the first time that they’re actually seeing this,” she said. “We’re trying to collect the information to make an informed decision.”

She explained that he’s presenting the information to a school board just coming out of receivership, which will be tasked with making one of its biggest decisions since it has been back under local control.

During the meeting’s public comment period, several Harrisburg residents voiced support for rehabbing the building as well as for providing more vocational education opportunities for Harrisburg students.

The board will make a decision on the future of the building at a future board meeting.

As it stands, the 228,141 square-foot building has no plumbing, no electricity and no HVAC. Its walls, ceilings, and floors are crumbling, and its doors and windows are in poor condition, district officials have explained. The building has regularly been a target of thieves, who’ve stolen copper piping and wiring, and arsonists.

Last year, the district cleared the building of all asbestos, debris, and hazardous materials, preparing it for either demolition or the next phase.

The William Penn building is located on the 2000-block of N. 4th St., Harrisburg.

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Harrisburg opens window to receive comments for draft comprehensive plan

October 21, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

The clock has begun to tick on the final stage of Harrisburg’s proposed comprehensive plan, with residents encouraged to review the plan and make comments.

During a virtual work session on Tuesday night, city planning Director Geoffrey Knight offered an extensive presentation of the plan to City Council, an event that kicked off a 45-day public comment period.

The city, Knight said, has set up an email address specifically to receive public comments on the plan. That address is [email protected].

“I want to thank everyone for all their hard work on this document. We’re eager to get it approved,” said council member Dave Madsen. “But we have to do our due diligence and take a hard look at it and get that feedback from the community.”

The city’s current comprehensive plan dates back to 1974, though it’s supposed to be thoroughly reviewed and rewritten about once every 20 years.

In 2014, the city began the process of creating a new plan, but met numerous delays, including a protracted dispute with the consultant hired to draft the plan. Last month, the city Planning Commission unanimously passed the plan, sending it to council for final approval.

According to Knight, the city already has received numerous public comments and questions on the 246-page document, even though the official public input window just opened. The 45-day comment period expires on Dec. 4, unless council decides to extend it.

After the comment period expires, council would need to hold at least one public hearing before voting on the plan.

City Solicitor Neil Grover said that council has the authority to make changes to the plan before voting, including the possible inclusion of some or all of the public comments.

“You can accept it as is. You can amend it. You can accept part of it. You can reject the whole thing,” he said. “So, you’re really starting the next phase of this process.”

On Tuesday night, Knight summarized the plan on a chapter-by-chapter basis, which includes such topics as land use, housing, mobility, parks, energy and cultural resources.

“Updating this plan will be important in helping to guide land use decisions,” Knight said. “Hopefully this plan . . . will help guide projects that come through the land development plan process, will help us establish policies going forward and will help us go out for grants in the future.”

Knight stressed that, even after the plan is approved, the city can make updates to it over the years.

“It really should be seen as a living document,” he said.

Council member Westburn Majors inquired about a federal lawsuit filed in June by the Harrisburg-based Office for Planning and Architecture and its majority owner, architect Bret Peters, who the city hired in 2015 to draft the comprehensive plan.

In 2017, Peters and the city had a falling out over payment and the release of several chapters of the draft plan to the city.

In his lawsuit, Peters alleges that the city owes him $109,754 for his work and that the city therefore is violating his copyright by using his work product. The lawsuit further seeks to stop the city and its current consultant, Maryland-based Wallace Montgomery & Associates, from using this work product.

On Tuesday, Grover said that he couldn’t comment publicly on specifics of the ongoing litigation, but said that the lawsuit shouldn’t stop the process of completing the comprehensive plan.

“From our view, unless a judge says otherwise, it doesn’t affect what you’re doing,” Grover told council. “It’s a public document paid for with public money, and it’s what’s best for the city.”

Several council members emphasized the importance of fresh public comment, since the comprehensive planning process dates back six years. Majors, for instance, said that many people who live in the city today may not have been in Harrisburg when the original public meetings were held years ago.

“I want to make sure there’s an opportunity for those folks to provide input,” he said. “I look forward to receiving comments from the public and really digging into this plan at another time.”

Click here to view Harrisburg’s draft comprehensive plan.

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H*MAC unveils plans for construction, restaurant, dance space

July 29, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center

The Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (H*MAC) today offered details of its newest phase of construction, which will include a basement dance club and a new restaurant concept.

Co-owner Chris Werner today said that some construction had already begun to improve the 34,000-square-foot venue’s façade and roof, but that most work on the project will take place over the coming months.

“We’re really excited to finally complete this unique project, which has been in the works for decades, and serve it up the community for its enjoyment,” he said, in a statement.

In May, Werner, along with co-owners Chuck London and Javier Diaz, bought the mixed-used entertainment and restaurant space and the business from owners Bartlett, Traynor & London LLC for $6 million. Last year, the prior owners declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which former co-owner John Traynor blamed partly on a social media firestorm aimed at the venue.

Werner said that the first major change will be renovations and rebranding at The Kitchen & Gallery Bar, which will be renamed The Green Room, beginning in early August. He said that a Philadelphia-based restaurant consultant, JT Hearn, will lead a culinary team that will roll out a new food and drink menu that will focus on “innovative” and locally sourced items. In addition, the restaurant and bar space will include new furniture and décor.

The two existing entertainment spaces will also see significant changes, Werner said.

Stage on Herr, which was H*MAC’s original venue when it opened in 2009, will be redesigned and rebranded as Stage Right. The 350-person nightclub and gallery will feature a wider stage, stadium seating and sound system upgrades.

Upstairs, the Capitol Room, will include a new balcony, two new bars and new bathrooms, as well as new green rooms and other amenities for performers, Werner said. Above that, H*MAC plans to finish the rooftop, converting it to a beer garden.

The most significant change will be in the basement, which was built as an indoor pool when H*MAC served as the Harrisburg Jewish Community Center then, later, as the Harrisburg Police Athletic League.

According to Werner, the pool room will be converted to a “psychedelic” dance club dubbed “The Deep End.” Artists will be able to create installations inside the pool area, viewable from holes above it.

“It will be a throwback to the days of dance clubs, while bringing the best of EDM and dance music to Harrisburg,” Werner said.

In late 2017, H*MAC received a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant, which will finance much of the work, Werner has said previously.

When the project is done, H*MAC will employ some 80 people, Werner said. He added that the owners expect to donate 10 percent of profits for local charities.

Two Harrisburg companies are leading the build-out: the Office of Planning and Architecture led by Bret Peters and Smarter Design Group led by Jonathan Thomas.

HMAC Sale Complete: Venue now under new ownership, renovations to begin

May 23, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

New at HMAC: General Manager Patrick Hite and co-owner Chris Werner

The House of Music, Arts & Culture (HMAC) has sold, as a new ownership group closed this morning on a $6 million deal.

Business partners Chuck London, Chris Werner and Javier Diaz, under an entity called HMAC Venue LLC, now own the sprawling Midtown arts, entertainment, restaurant and bar complex.

“This has always been my favorite venue, so this is the fulfillment of a dream,” said Werner, a Dover, Pa., resident who also owns Lifetime of Autographs, a celebrity and music memorabilia business.

Werner has been an investor in HMAC for almost two years, he said.

Co-owner London, a long-time NBCUniversal executive, was a founding partner of the original HMAC corporate entity, Bartlett, Traynor & London. Last year, that company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy following a social media firestorm directed at the venue, which the owners said substantially harmed their business.

The third partner, Javier Diaz, owns Wings Air Helicopters, a New York-based helicopter charter company, said John Traynor, part of the former ownership group.

The $6 million price tag covers everything at HMAC: the real estate, the décor, the liquor license, etc., Werner said. Originally, the sale was expected to close in early June, as per the sales agreement filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, but was moved up by about two weeks.

As a new owner, Werner said that he often will be on site at HMAC and will take the lead in booking bands and scheduling other events. A new general manager, Patrick Hite, formerly with Appalachian Brewing Co. in Harrisburg, will run the venue’s day-to-day operations, Werner said.

“I’ve been coming to HMAC for 10 years, and I’ve always held this place in high regard,” Hite said. “The opportunity here is endless.”

HMAC, on the 1100-block of N. 3^rd Street, occupies a 34,000-square-foot building that housed the original Harrisburg Jewish Community Center and then the Harrisburg Police Athletic League. It had been long empty and increasingly blighted when HMAC’s founders bought it from the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority for $153,000 in late 2007.

Years of renovation followed. In 2009, the first performance space and bar opened, the 300-person capacity Stage on Herr on the lower level, followed by a restaurant, bar and arts space on the main level, and then the expansive Capitol Room, which can accommodate as many as 1,500 people, on the upper level.

The new owners plan even more renovation work. In late 2017, HMAC received a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant, which conveyed with the sale. It now will finance the renovation of the basement level into a third performance space, which will accommodate about 600 patrons, and the construction of a rooftop deck, among other projects, Werner said.

Traynor said, that while he no longer manages HMAC, he would stay on to oversee the construction, which is expected to take four to six months. The project is being led by Bret Peters of the Harrisburg-based Office for Planning and Architecture, and Jonathan Thomas, owner of the Harrisburg-based Smarter Design Group, Traynor said.

For his part, Traynor said that he was “delighted” with the completion of the deal, saying that he and his husband, Gary Bartlett, were proud of what they had accomplished.

“We built wonderful foundations,” he said. “I’m really excited and happy for the possibilities that HMAC has now.”

Werner said that he wants to build upon that foundation, substantially increasing the number of shows and events at HMAC. He also hopes to reestablish the trust and patronage of people who may have become estranged from the venue over the years.

“Now is the time that we have to get the community to come back,” he said.

Hite agreed.

“At its essence, the experience guests will feel will be as welcoming as it’s always been but even more so,” he said.

HMAC is located at 1110 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.harrisburgarts.com.

Planning Commission needs $50,000 and a few more months to finish Harrisburg comprehensive plan.

November 21, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Concept drawings for Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan on display in consultant Bret Peters’ office.

It’s been one year since Harrisburg saw the first draft of the city’s new comprehensive plan, but officials now say they need more time and money to shepherd it to final approval.

The city Planning Commission, a seven-member volunteer body that has spent the last nine months line-editing the preliminary plan, intends to apply for a state grant and hire a new consultant to assemble the final draft.

They will request up to $50,000 from a state Act 47 grant fund, according to planning commissioner and City Council member Ausha Green.

The final document, which must be adopted by council, will guide development in Harrisburg for decades to come. The city’s current plan has not updated since the 1970s.

It’s unclear whether the city’s anticipated exit from the Act 47 financial recovery program will disqualify its grant application. City officials plan to petition the state to leave Act 47 in 2019, thanks to legislation passed this fall that grants Harrisburg special taxing authority.

According to Green, that’s all the more reason to finish a grant application soon.

“We’re trying to move forward as quickly as possible to make sure we can get the best results for the people of Harrisburg,” Green said. “We don’t want the plan to be tied up in limbo for years and years, because the data we currently have will be outdated.”

The commission would use the money to hire a planning consultant, who would provide technical assistance and implement the edits the commission has already made.

The commissioners also want to reformat the draft document in a more user-friendly template.

“In order to take it from where it is now and include all the comments, additions, deletions that we’ve made, we need labor to do that,” Green said.

Green did not know if the project would require the purchase of software. She expects most of the funds to be used for labor and said that the budget was based on the estimated time the commission has already spent editing the draft chapter by chapter.

Green estimated that the commission could submit a final plan to City Council in as many as six months if the commission receives the grant.

As a volunteer board, the commission cannot receive or manage funds. Any grant they obtain must go to the city.

The city’s planning bureau received a $10,000 allocation in Harrisburg’s 2018 budget to hire a new contractor for the comprehensive plan. Mayor Eric Papenfuse said on Wednesday that none of that money had been spent.

The mayor has previously laid blame for the stalled project with the planning commission, and said earlier this year that he intends to replace all seven of its members.

Green could not be reached today for additional comment.

It’s been three years since Harrisburg launched its comprehensive planning process, a $200,000 endeavor that was derailed due to disputes between a planning consultant and the city.

The city awarded the planning contract in 2015 to Bret Peters, owner of the Harrisburg-based Office of Planning and Architecture. He clashed with city officials when he failed to produce a draft plan by deadline; Peters later said the city’s timeline was too aggressive.

Peters asked for an additional $20,000 a month over an unspecified timeframe to complete the project.

Negotiations between Peters and the city devolved in 2016, when the city terminated his contract. Peters insisted that the contract could not be terminated because he had followed its terms.

Peters published a draft comprehensive plan in November 2017. Papenfuse called the document “unsalvageable,” saying its specificity would stifle development in the city.

Papenfuse had the planning bureau prepare a separate draft document for the Planning Commission’s consideration.

This year, the commission decided to use Peters’ draft as the city’s working comprehensive plan. Commission members must approve the document before sending it to city council, which will vote whether to adopt it.

Planning Commission “has not served citizens well” and needs to be replaced, Mayor says.

April 6, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Concept designs for the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which is currently more than a year behind schedule.

The never-ending story of Harrisburg’s comprehensive planning process could soon be in for a plot twist, if the mayor gets his way with City Council.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse told members of council on Tuesday that he intends to replace all seven members of the city’s Planning Commission, a volunteer board that makes recommendations to council on zoning, land use and other planning matters.

The Planning Commission is also tasked with preparing a comprehensive plan and submitting it to council for approval. It’s been three years since Harrisburg launched its comprehensive planning process, and the project is currently more than a year behind deadline due to disputes between a planning consultant and the city.

Papenfuse blames the Planning Commission for failing to furnish a draft plan for review. His solution is to gradually replace the entire board.

“I do not think the current planning commission has served the citizens well,” Papenfuse said recently. “I can only replace two a year, so it will take four years.”

And that’s only if City Council confirms all of his appointments. Council tabled two of his nominations at Tuesday’s work session: Christopher Nafe, a sustainability manager for the city, and Joseph Link, a former city engineer.

Nafe and Link would replace commissioners Anne Marek and Ronnie Shaeffer, whose terms expire this year, said Planning Commission vice-chair Vern McKissick.

Ausha Green, a council member who also serves on the planning commission, said she recognizes the mayor’s right to nominate board members. However, she is reluctant to bring on new members while the commission is in the process of reviewing and editing the comprehensive plan.

“The timing is not right,” Green said. “More time will be spent bringing someone up to speed rather than getting work done.”

McKissick, who is an architect by trade, agreed that the mayor’s efforts to repopulate the planning commission did not come at a good time.

“It’s ill-advised, but we don’t have a say,” McKissick said.

Council members also bristled at the fact that Papenfuse had picked current and former city employees as his nominees.

Harrisburg City Code allows two city employees to sit on the planning commission. Papenfuse argued that Green, as a council member, counts as one city employee. He believes that appointing another will improve communication between the Planning Commission and the city’s planning bureau.

“The advantage of having another city employee on the commission is that he can actually work with the planning director and has time and expertise to get things done,” Papenfuse said.

Green acknowledged that her role on Planning Commission has led to better communication between City Council and the Planning Commission. She also said she will judge any nominees on their own merit, and won’t discount them if they work for Harrisburg.

But Councilman Cornelius Johnson suggested that Papenfuse’s nominees could create the perception of administrative overreach.

The idea that city officials have tried to wrest control of the comprehensive planning process has permeated much of the discourse about why the project has lagged. Bret Peters, the consultant and lead author of the plan, told TheBurg in December that his relationship with city officials dissolved after they asked him to change recommendations in his draft. They also accused him of failing to pay subcontractors (a charge Peters denies.)

Papenfuse and City Solicitor Neil Grover insist that Peters was fired after submitting material behind deadline last year. Peters says he assiduously followed the terms of his contract but suspended it in 2016, after city administrators allegedly failed to provide timely feedback on drafts.

For his part, Papenfuse rejects the idea that city officials could overstep their role in the planning process.

“The problem with our current Planning Commission is that they see the city as an adversary rather than a collaborator,” Papenfuse said. “This false doctrine… flies in the face of all municipal planning efforts throughout the commonwealth, and is why we don’t have a comprehensive plan yet.”

Even so, Johnson thinks it would be inappropriate to appoint more members of the city’s staff to the Planning Commission. He also said that the commission shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for the delays in the comprehensive planning process.

“The administration played an active role in selecting the [comprehensive plan] consultant, so they share a lot of the responsibility on where our current status is now,” Johnson said. “I think it’s unfair to blame solely the Planning Commission and say they are not doing their job. I don’t think the ultimate answer to solve the problem is to replace everyone.”

The mayor still believes that his nominees will add expertise and a sense of expediency to the volunteer board.

“I tried to suggest two individuals who actually have the time, energy and expertise to roll up their sleeves and get a working draft of a comprehensive plan to City Council,” Papenfuse said. “I’m afraid the current group doesn’t have a clue what they are doing.”

February News Digest

February 28, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

CRW Releases Infrastructure, Rate Plan

Capital Region Water last month announced plans to spend more than $315 million over the next 20 years upgrading the city’s antiquated sewer system, which will bring Harrisburg into compliance with federal guidelines and carry a cumulative 150 percent increase to water and sewer rates.

Known collectively as the City Beautiful H2O plan, the improvements come following years of deferred maintenance to Harrisburg’s centuries-old combined sewer system. CRW says the updates will reduce sewer discharge into natural waterways, enhance sewer efficiency, and improve neighborhoods through the implementation of green storm water management systems.

The improvements also will significantly raise the rate burden for city households. The draft plan includes an extensive affordability assessment that helped CRW set rate projections for the duration of the project. The analysis concluded that many CRW ratepayers have significant financial limitations that preclude aggressive rate hikes.

As a result, CRW decided to seek the lengthiest improvement schedule permitted by federal environmental agencies, giving the authority 20 years to complete the projects. Water and sewage rates are set to increase by a cumulative 150 percent over that time period.

The rate increases will be most dramatic in the next decade, with annual 10 percent hikes projected from 2019 to 2022. After reaching a 106-percent cumulative increase in 2027, rate hikes will level off to just 2 percent a year from 2027 to 2038.

CRW set rates so that an average household will not spend more than 2 percent of its annual income on water, but households earning less than the median income could face significant burdens

“It is anticipated that there will still be affordability issues for some customers within the City, with some customers experiencing wastewater and storm water costs as a percentage of income exceeding 3.0 percent,” the report says.

The draft plan is part of CRW’s response to a partial consent decree it negotiated with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection in late 2014. Earlier that year, the EPA alleged that sewage runoff in Harrisburg violated the federal Clean Water Act and PA Clean Streams Law.

Like many old cities, Harrisburg has a combined sewer system, in which storm drains connect to the same sewer system as toilets and showers.

When it’s not raining, all the contents of the sewer system flow to a treatment plant on Cameron Street, where they are cleaned and then discharged into the Susquehanna River. But heavy rain can cause the system to overflow, sending untreated water into the river and Paxton Creek.

Under state and federal environmental laws, Harrisburg would have faced financial penalties for those runoff incidents. After a year of negotiations, the EPA agreed to spare the city financial penalties as long as CRW agreed to update its long-term plan for the city’s sewer system.

A public meeting on the proposal is slated for March 1, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Camp Curtin YMCA.

Fight Against Dogfighting

Citing concerns over animal welfare and illegal gambling, Harrisburg is asking its residents to help stop a scourge of illegal dogfighting.

City communications Director Joyce Davis announced last month that Harrisburg obtained a $20,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to launch a public information campaign about dogfighting. So far, city officials have purchased ads on Facebook that explain the warning signs of dogfighting and ways to report it to law enforcement.

Davis said that the campaign did not arise as a response to a single incident or spate of reports. Rather, it seeks to curb an on-going animal abuse problem that also enables illegal gambling.

“We want to stamp this out,” she said.

The issue of dogfighting came to the fore locally in June 2017, when Harrisburg police officers staged a raid on a dogfighting ring on S. 14^th Street. Since then, the bureau has issued charges on three counts of illegal dogfighting in the past year, as well as one count of possession of dogfighting paraphernalia, according to animal control officer William Sandstrom.

If city residents suspect dogfighting, they can call 311 from within city limits to report it. Reports that result in charges are eligible for a $5,000 reward from the Humane Society of the United States.

Zembo Shrine to Sell

The historic Zembo Mosque and Shrine is set to sell after almost one year on the market.

The 65,000-square-foot property at Division and N. 3rd streets will be sold to Arkansas-based TempleLive LLC, which plans to operate the building as a meeting, gathering and performing arts venue, said city communications Director Joyce Davis.

“The goal is to make it a more culturally active space,” Davis said

TempleLive currently owns two Masonic temples similar to Zembo, one in Cleveland and one in Fort Smith, Ark. The company runs both properties as multi-purpose event spaces, according to the venues’ websites.

Mike Brown, vice president of acquisitions for Beaty Capital Group, TempleLive’s parent company, expects the sale to close at the end of March or beginning of April. He hopes the site will be operational by the fall.

Zembo went on the market in February 2017 with a $950,000 asking price. Davis could not confirm the property’s final sale price, which was reportedly reached at a special meeting on Jan. 11.

The deal includes 396 parking spaces adjacent to the building.

Since its opening, Zembo has been home to the Shriners, a fraternal organization affiliated with the Freemasons. The Shriners continue to meet there, but the group’s declining membership, coupled with the building’s high operating costs, forced them to sell the historic property.

Zembo was constructed in 1930 in a Moorish Revival architectural style. The building features interior arches, hand-painted motifs and ornate stone detailing. It houses large meeting rooms and a theater with a 2,500-seat capacity.

Youth Center Approved

The Harrisburg City Council last month approved the expansion of a teen center in North Allison Hill, which will double the facility in size.

Bethesda Mission plans to renovate an old printing plant on Herr Street adjacent to its current Youth Center, adding a full-size gymnasium, classrooms, office space and an event hall with a full-service kitchen.

The result will be a full-service community center with classes and amenities for all age groups, said Cindy Mallow, director of development at Bethesda Mission. The current youth center only serves children and teens.

“We’re hoping to involve families and expand out into the community even more,” Mallow said.

Bethesda Mission hopes to break ground on the $2.8 million project this summer and finish it by the end of 2018, Mallow said.

Bethesda Mission has operated its teen center from a former fire station at 1428 Herr St. since 1990. It purchased the former Kurzenkabe Press facility at 1424 Herr for $275,000 in 2015, according to Dauphin County property records.

The 10,000-square-foot space needs extensive renovations, Mallow said, including an overhaul of its HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. Contractors will also raise the ceilings to accommodate the gymnasium and construct a connection between the print facility and the youth center.

Since Bethesda Mission announced its plan to renovate the printing facility back in 2015, it has raised more than $1.5 million from the community and private foundations, including $600,000 from the York-based Stabler Foundation.

The expansion will also allow the mission to double or triple the enrollment in its after-school program and summer programs for youth, Mallow said.

“There’s just a need for a place for the kids to go,” she said. “Our center gives them the opportunity to be with other kids and have a mentor.”

Grant Input Sought

Is there a nonprofit that’s doing good in your neighborhood?

That’s one of the questions that city administrators will pose at a public meeting this month, as Harrisburg begins to chart its priorities for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money over the next five years.

CDBG funds are allocated annually to organizations that help build community and stabilize neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income areas. The city received $1.9 million last year and expects the same this year, according to city communications Director Joyce Davis.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which disburses CDBG money, requires each municipality receiving grants to have a “consolidated plan” describing its development priorities and goals.

Harrisburg’s current three-year plan is set to expire in September. Roy Christ, Harrisburg’s director of Building and Housing, said that development projects started during Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s first term require a new plan with a longer duration.

In past years, CDBG funds have supported organizations such as the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Harrisburg, the Latino Hispanic American Community Center and MidPenn Legal Services.

City departments can also apply for grants. Last year, the Harrisburg Police Bureau received $90,000, which paid for a community policing van and helped launch the police cadet program.

For this planning cycle, Christ said Harrisburg hopes to target projects in “tipping point” neighborhoods.

“These are neighborhoods that need a bit of help to bounce back and become self-sustaining,” he said.

City residents can contribute input at the public meeting or through an online survey. The meeting will be held on March 5 at Jackson-Lick Tower at 5:30 p.m.

Strawberry Square Apartments

Harrisburg City Council last month gave the green light to another set of apartments inside Strawberry Square.

Council unanimously approved a land development plan submitted by Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which will convert vacant office space in Strawberry Square into 13 apartment units. The project will add to the 24 apartments already inside Strawberry Square, the result of a 2016 office-to-residential conversion by Harristown.

It’s also the third project that Jones has put before council just this year, as, in January, council approved two other downtown projects proposed by Harristown: a new office building on S. 2nd Street just off Market Square and a small office-to-residential conversion at 221 N. 2nd St.

Approval came despite recent statements from some council members that they are concerned about affordable housing in the downtown district.

Earlier in the month, Jones defended his pricing structure, telling council that 15 percent of Harristown’s apartment units could be rented by someone with an annual income of just $25,000 to $40,000 a year, while another 40 percent could be afforded by someone with an average income of $60,000 a year.

Council has not proposed any plans to regulate rents in Harrisburg. In January, however, council President Wanda Williams said that she would continue to monitor housing development and advocate for affordable options.

Comp Plan Chugs Forward

The Harrisburg Planning Commission last month made plans to advance the city’s comprehensive plan towards completion, a process that could last into the summer.

City officials and business developers excoriated the plan at a meeting in January, saying it limited the discretion of private property owners. Mayor Eric Papenfuse called the document “unsalvageable” and urged the commission to reject it in favor of a plan proposed by the city.

Last month, though, commissioners hardly mentioned the planning document submitted by the city, except to ask if and when it had been published online.

“We’re moving ahead with our product,” said commissioner Vern McKissick, referring to the document that the commission developed with local architect Bret Peters and his assistants at the Harrisburg-based Office for Planning and Architecture.

The commission will host monthly workshop meetings for the next three months to incorporate public feedback and professional advice into the draft document, which is published online at BeHBG.org. They hope to reengage some of the consultants that Peters hired while drafting the plan in 2015 and 2016.

To do that, however, they’ll need to secure additional funding. They already have $10,000 allotted by City Council in the 2018 city budget, but McKissick said they will likely need more to consult with subcontractors and see the plan to completion. Commissioners will evaluate grants and other funding opportunities at a workshop later this month.

Spradley Chosen for School Board

The Harrisburg school board last month selected Tyrell Spradley, a tax consultant and former city treasurer, to serve an appointed term until 2019.

Spradley replaced Matt Krupp, a board director who resigned in January to serve as Dauphin County prothonotary.

After two rounds of voting, the board picked Spradley over three other candidates: newcomer Mariah Rodriguez and board veterans James Thompson and Kia Hansard.

In his interview before the board, Spradley touted his financial background and his two years of experience working in the district’s accounting department. He said he thinks many of the issues facing the district can be resolved, given the improved fiscal health he has seen since he worked as a district accountant.

“A lot of the issues I see are administrative issues, communication,” Spradley said. “Money isn’t a problem like it was before. We’re stronger now and have a stronger administration.”

Spradley joins the board as it braces for a number of contentious discussions, including the annual budget process and the expiration of Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney’s contract this June. The board must decide soon whether it will renew Knight-Burney’s contract or open an application process in which she may participate.

So Noted

AAA Central Penn last month named Jodie Daubert as its new president and CEO. In this position, Daubert will lead the nine-county club composed of 290 employees serving 11 offices. She succeeds David Meckley, who served as interim CEO.

Brandalynn Armstrong, co-owner of Harrisburg-based Zeroday Brewing Co., has been elected to the Brewers of Pennsylvania board of directors. The trade association works to protect and promote the brewing industry in the state.

Excel Interior Concepts & Construction last month announced two new hires. Thomas Fogie joined the Lemoyne-based company as project coordinator, and Alicia Mirando came on as designer.

The Harrisburg Senators last month signed a two-year extension with the Washington Nationals, their player development agreement now extending through 2020. The Senators are the Nationals’ AA-affiliate Minor League baseball team. Separately, the Senators announced that Dan and Michael Schwab, co-presidents of Harrisburg-based D&H Distributing, along with their sister, Amy Silfen, have joined the team’s ownership group as minority owners.

S&T Bank has named Jeffrey Scoutelas as vice president, private banker for central Pennsylvania region. Scoutelas, a graduate of Lynchburg College, has 12 years of private banking and management experience in the area, said the company.

Changing Hands

Berryhill St., 2155: L. & D. Sandoe to M. Macas & C. Pulla, $55,500

Boas St., 1826: Z. Weist to S. Henry, $59,900

Brookwood St., 2448: Wilmington Savings Fund Society to HT Properties LLC, $35,500

Capital St., 907: A. Sheaf to E. Ashenfelder, $148,000

Capital St., 1200: 8219 Ventures to R. & C. Steele, $76,000

Croyden Rd., 2951: K. & M. Zinn to A. Smith, $70,000

Derry St., 1433: A. Vaughn to Aum Investments LP, $32,000

Derry St., 1901: L. Nguyen to T. Nguyen, $150,000

Derry St., 2022: M. Khatoon to A. Saeed, $30,000

Emerald St., 226: C. Shokes to HBG Rents LLC, $210,000

Forster St., 1815: Blackscotch LLC to C. Burke, $50,000

Green St., 914: P. Vanitem to C. Williams, $138,900

Green St., 1401½: C. & C. Kellar to R. & F. Armetta, $80,000

Green St., 1623: S. Vemula & M. Chada to B. Golper & J. Wu, $132,000

Green St., 3118: US Bank NA Trustee & PA Housing Finance Agency to Hawk Vesta LLC, $65,750

Hale Ave., 436: M. Davis to J. Sayed & S. Sherin, $40,000

Hanna St., 103: S. Brown to DLK Properties LLC, $63,500

Harris St., 434: Alta Reo LLC to B. Parfitt, $83,000

Herr St., 1001: Harsco Corp. to Capital Region Economic Development Corp., $505,000

Hanover St., 1312 and 1283 & 1285 S. 13^th St.: Y. & C. Lee to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $50,000

Hoffman St., 3131: G. Hanslovan to O. Perry, $63,000

James St., 1315: J. Brinks & C. Wise to S., J. & N. Kindler, $95,000

Kensington St., 2101: Nationstar Mortgage LLC to HT Properties LLC, $48,500

Kensington St., 2103: PA Deals LLC to L. Myers, $65,900

Lawton St., 1416: M. Maloney to J. Foote & R. Tompkins, $429,500

Luce St., 2365: T. Nguyen & H. Truong to M. Phan, $30,000

Maclay St., 332: S. Hite & L. Ware Jr. to JTA Consulting Group LLC, $51,000

North St., 1836 & 1838: Reyart Properties to B. & R. Lomax, $72,000

N. 2^nd St., 1404: Tang Liu Realty LLC to C. Albers, $121,000

N. 2^nd St., 2323: M. Horgan & CR Services Inc. to A. & A. Mathew, $147,500

N. 2^nd St., 3118: P. & M. Rowan to D. Inghilterra, $203,000

N. 2^nd St., 3303: C. Myers to J. Myers, $90,000

N. 4^th St., 2735: S. Patrick to T. & L. Lydell, $107,900

N. 6^th St., 3111: R. & S. Hopkins to C. Morel, $62,000

N. 13^th St., 142: J. Forsyth LLC to 37 Estate LLC, $41,000

N. Front St., 1125: D. & J. McEnany to RMK Management Group LLC, $233,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 301: W. Cohen to W. Krenz & P. Meehan, $135,000

N. Front St., 3029: Pumphouse Partners LP to BXF Real Estate LLC, $450,000

Penn St., 1324: D. Stridacchio to S. Olsen, $117,000

Penn St., 1715: BencMarq Holdings LLC to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $116,000

Race St., 568: R. Hunter to E. Fultz, $157,968

Rolleston St., 1239: G. Neff to J. McCloud, $45,000

Seneca St., 330: J. Runion to M. Saldana & R. Zavala, $87,500

S. 14^th St., 1418: R. Scott to City of Harrisburg, $52,000

S. 14^th St., 1422: G. Neff to City of Harrisburg, $48,500

S. 14^th St., 1424: C. Gamble to City of Harrisburg, $45,000

S. 14^th St., 1433: Z. Owens to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 14^th St., 1440: G. Neff to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 19^th St., 850: S. & N. Fulginiti to City of Harrisburg, $60,000

S. 23^rd St., 616: R. Bowers to D. & N. Gonzalez, $89,900

S. Front St., 601: A. Poindexter to R. & L. Firestone, $174,900

State St., 1504: A. Sandoval to 77 Estate LLC, $37,000

Susquehanna St., 1612: K. O’Neill & PA Housing Finance Agency to T. Weaver, $146,500

Susquehanna St., 1723: G. Neff to J. Hirt, $104,000

Valley Rd., 2308: L. & N. Eikenberry to Bean GST Trust II, $218,000

Washington St., 103: R. Bray to Q. Tran, $32,000

TheBurg Podcast: Onward and Upward Edition

February 16, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

We cover all things infrastructure and development on this week’s episode of TheBurg Podcast. First, why is Capital Region Water going to spend more than $300 million updating Harrisburg’s sewer system, and what will it mean for ratepayers? Then we dip back into the debate playing out in city council about affordable housing downtown. We wrap up with (yet another) update on the city’s comprehensive plan — is there an end in sight?

Stream the episode here via Soundcloud, or subscribe to TheBurg Podcast in the Apple or Android podcast apps.

Read more about this week’s topics at TheBurgNews.com, and look for our new magazine when it hits newsstands next Wednesday:

Move In Day: First MulDer Square house sold, ready for new owners.

Moving Ahead: Despite criticism, HBG Planning Commission sticks with comprehensive plan draft.

2 for 2: Council considers, approves development projects in Harrisburg.

Water, Sewer Plan: Massive improvements, major rate hikes proposed over next 2 decades.

TheBurg Podcast is released twice a month by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of StartUp Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music.

January News Digest

January 31, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Comprehensive Plan Draft Criticized, Defended

Harrisburg’s draft comprehensive plan faced a cool reception from business leaders and city administrators last month, as the city Planning Commission hosted its first hearing on the document following a months-long dispute between the city and the plan’s author.

During a hearing in City Council chambers, members of the business community said the plan stepped on the toes of property owners and private developers. They feared that the proposals for land use would restrict investment in the city.

Private citizens and representatives from neighborhood associations were more supportive. Those who spoke out commended the plan’s goals to connect parks and neighborhoods and to redesign roadways for pedestrians and cyclists.

The plan, developed by the Harrisburg-based Office of Planning and Architecture, aims to guide development and urban planning in the city for the next 20 years. The project was delayed more than a year after OPA’s principal, Bret Peters, feuded with the city about compensation, deadlines and proposals in the plan.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse wants the Planning Commission to discard the consultant’s draft entirely and adopt a new draft written by the city’s Planning Bureau. He said their in-house plan includes many of the best ideas from Peters’ draft, but is less specific and ideological.

“[Peters’] plan is a recipe for disaster,” Papenfuse said. “It’s unworkable and unsalvageable.”

Other business professionals offered more specific criticisms.

Attorney Charles Courtney spoke on behalf of his client, Adam Meinstein, who owns the former U.S. Postal Service building at 813 Market St. The draft comprehensive plan recommends dividing that property between commercial, residential and business uses. Courtney said that the specificity of the plan limited his client’s discretion for how to develop the property.

“We need to have a broader view,” Courtney said. “If and when that property is developed, all the stakeholders will want to work together and not have it hamstrung by language in the comprehensive plan.”

Kevin Kulp, president of the Harrisburg Senators, said that the plan would be catastrophic for businesses on City Island. It calls for the elimination of all surface parking on City Island and for parking to be relocated to a garage on the island and overflow lots in downtown Harrisburg.

“We don’t have enough parking as it is, and we need every bit of it,” Kulp said.

Geoffrey Knight, director of the city’s Planning Bureau, said that the plan Harrisburg adopts needs to guide development, not direct it. If an owner did not want to develop a property according to a mandate in the comprehensive plan, Knight said, the owner would have to seek a waiver from the Planning Commission, which is the first body to consider land use proposals.

Some residents came out in support. Joyce Gamble, leader of Camp Curtin Community Neighbors United, said her organization supported the plan and hoped to work with the city to shepherd it to approval. Zach Monnier, a North Street resident, said he appreciated proposals that would make renters stakeholders in their neighborhoods.

Peters later rejected the charge that he did not prioritize private business interests in his draft. Raising the aggregate real estate values in Harrisburg is central to the plan, he said, and will benefit property owners as well as residents. He also said that Harrisburg needed the kind of specific planning that made many attendees at the meeting balk.

“Laissez faire real estate and planning have been practiced in this city for 50 years, and it hasn’t worked,” Peters said.

Planning Commission members will consider the input from the meeting when they convene on Feb. 5.

Mayor’s Aide Loses Job

A senior mayoral aide who was found liable in civil court for threatening an Allison Hill resident is no longer employed with the city.

Communications Director Joyce Davis confirmed last month that Karl Singleton, former senior advisor to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, has not been employed with the city since Papenfuse learned about the court ruling. Davis could not say whether Singleton had resigned or been fired.

In December, Singleton appeared before Magisterial District Justice David O’Leary for a hearing on a civil suit filed last July by Allison Hill resident Timothy Rowbottom. Rowbottom said in court that Singleton threatened his life during a heated argument on May 9, a week before the primary municipal elections, following a debate between mayoral primary candidates at the Hilton Harrisburg.

“I’m from Hall Manor, you should be scared of me,” Singleton allegedly told Rowbottom, referring to Harrisburg’s largest public housing complex, according to the court ruling. “I know where you live; I can have you taken out.”

Rowbottom, who campaigned for Papenfuse challenger Jennie Jenkins during the mayoral primary, allegedly made racist remarks to Singleton prior to the argument. He admitted to calling Singleton “a sorry excuse for a black man” and that he (Rowbottom) “is blacker than [Singleton] ever will be,” stated the court ruling.

O’Leary found Singleton liable for making malicious threats. The judge also said that Singleton’s political position compounded his liability.

Since Rowbottom admitted in court that he was unapologetic for his racially inflammatory remarks and claimed he was unafraid of Singleton, O’Leary only awarded the plaintiff nominal damages.

Davis said she was unaware of any plans to replace Singleton, whose position was incidentally reduced to part-time in January. Papenfuse said during budget hearings in December that the recent addition of a full-time business advisor to his cabinet reduced the need for a full-time aide.

City Officials Sworn In

Harrisburg officials invoked a spirit of optimism and cooperation last month, as the city swore in its returning mayor and most of City Council.

In city hall, newly inaugurated District Justice Hanif Johnson administered the oath of office to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, Treasurer Dan Miller and council members Wanda Williams, Shamaine Daniels, Ben Allatt, Dave Madsen and Ausha Green.

At the ceremony, Papenfuse cited the progress Harrisburg has made during his first term following the financial crisis that nearly bankrupted the city and sent it into state receivership.

“Today, Harrisburg is not a symbol of failure,” he said. “In Pennsylvania and throughout the nation, Harrisburg is a glowing symbol of renaissance and renewal.”

He credited his fellow elected officials, city workers and residents for “the optimism and hope that is so palpable on our streets today.”

“Yes, we have achieved a lot working together these past four years, but much work lies ahead,” he said.

Following the ceremony, City Council held a brief reorganization meeting, unanimously re-electing Williams as council president. Allatt took over as vice president by a 4-3 vote over Councilman Westburn Majors. Daniels, who served previously as vice president, was not re-nominated.

Williams said that, for 2018, her principal goal is ensuring the construction of the police substation on Allison Hill. The city plans to raise a 1,600-square-foot modular building on S. 15^thStreet, with a planned opening in the late summer. Completion of the city’s comprehensive plan is another priority, she said.

Brewpub RFP Issued

Have you always dreamt of running your own brewpub? If so, you may want to give Harristown a call.

Harristown Enterprises last month issued a request for proposals (RFP) as it seeks a qualified entrepreneur to open a brewpub or full-service restaurant in a large space on Market Street long occupied by the Gingerbread Man.

CEO Brad Jones said Harristown went this route after several potential deals fell through for the space.

“We really want to get the word out,” Jones said. “We think there are a lot of people out there who will find this to be a really attractive deal.”

The 6,000-square-foot space, part of Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg, has been empty since the Gingerbread Man closed down in 2014.

The RFP lists several criteria:

Brewery or distillery with a full-service restaurant or a brewpub or restaurant with a liquor license
A lease of at least seven years
Operations seven days a week

Harristown plans to charge $10.50 per square foot of rentable space for the first year and is offering to help defray the cost of the build-out. If interested, Harristown requires a business plan, resumes and financial information by Feb. 5.

“We feel the downtown is underserved for breweries,” Jones said. “That’s the one thing we’re missing.”

U.S. Marshal Killed

A deputy U.S. marshal was killed and a York City police officer wounded last month after gunfire erupted in an Allison Hill residence, where members of a federal fugitive task force went to serve a warrant to a Harrisburg woman.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher David Hill, 45, of York County, an 11-year veteran of the Marshals Service, was killed in the gun battle.

Kevin Sturgis of Philadelphia, who opened fire at the officers, later succumbed to gunshot wounds, said law enforcement officials. The subject of the warrant, Shayla Lynette Towles Pierce, was taken into custody at the scene, charged with making terroristic threats with a weapon, officials said.

According to U.S. Attorney David J. Freed, officers in the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrived at the residence in the 1800-block of Mulberry Street just after 6 a.m. to serve Pierce an arrest warrant. After they announced their presence and entered, they apprehended her on the second floor of the dwelling.

After placing Pierce in handcuffs, Freed said, gunfire erupted from the second floor of the residence. Hill and York City police officer Kyle Pitts were both struck. Hill died of his wounds at UPMC Pinnacle Hospital, Freed said. Pitts underwent surgery and is expected to fully recover.

Sturgis fled to the first floor of the building and exited through the front door while firing his weapon, officials said. Officers returned fire and killed him.

School Board Vacancy

The Harrisburg school district is accepting applications for a vacancy on the school board.

Board member Matthew Krupp resigned his seat last month after assuming the elected office of Dauphin County prothonotary.

Applicants have until mid-February to submit their applications. The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of Krupp’s four-year term.

For more information, visit the school district’s website.

Major Gift for SAM

The Susquehanna Art Museum last month announced a $2 million donation from local art collectors, Marty and Tom Philips.

As a result of the donation, the museum building, located in Midtown Harrisburg, has been renamed the Susquehanna Art Museum at the Marty and Tom Philips Family Art Center. The gift is contingent on SAM raising at least $1 million in matching funds over the next two years.

In addition, SAM last month announced naming gifts from the S. Wilson and Grace M. Pollock Foundation, which will lend its name to the Education Center Gallery, and Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, which will have its name above the museum’s entry portico.

So Noted

2K Networking announced a change of ownership last month, as Josh Hinkle, former director of business development, acquired the Harrisburg-based technology company. He took over from former CEO Glenn Pepo, who will stay on as a consultant.

Barley Snyder, which has locations throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania, last month opened its newest office in downtown Harrisburg. The office is staffed with 10 attorneys formerly of Rhoads & Sinon and is located in that firm’s former space at the M&T Bank building.

RSR Realtors last month named Jamie Berrier as president of the Lemoyne-based real estate company. She succeeds Greg Rothman, who will remain as a partner and board chairman, the company said. Moreover, RSR named Jim Koury as CEO, Garrett Rothman as vice president and broker of record and Bill Rothman as treasurer.

Smith Land & Improvement Corp., headquartered in Camp Hill, announced last month that Richard E. Jordan III, formerly chief operating officer, is now president and CEO. He replaced his father, Richard E. Jordan II, who will retain the role of chairman of the board.

The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) announced last month the availability of more than 120 scholarship funds available to Pennsylvania students administered by its organization. For more information about scholarship opportunities or to apply, visit www.tfec.org.

Vista, a provider of autism services in eight counties in central PA, last month appointed Kirsten Yurich as chief executive officer. In this role, Yurich, previously the organization’s chief clinical officer, will oversee all operations of the Vista School, the Vista Foundation and Vista Adult Services.

Changing Hands

Balm St., 57: K. & R. Thames to C. & S. Epps, $50,000

Boas St., 318: M. Webb to C. Hughes, $144,000

Boas St., 1815: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to S. Henry, $64,000

Chestnut St., 2014 & 2015 Zarker St.: R. & B. Cielinski to T. Smallwood, $33,500

Croyden Rd., 2962: J. & R. Harle to M. Cabrera, $48,000

Cumberland St., 121: L. Williams to J. & K. Bowser, $59,000

Derry St., 1525: J. Rissler to M. & A. Mekhaiel, $40,000

Derry St., 2641: L. Knoll to E. Chandler, $79,900

Dunkle St., 631: B. Drake to A. Eubanks, $64,900

Emerald St., 521: N. Clelan to C. Gibbs, $84,900

Green St., 1509: R. Stare to A. & K. Tyson, $95,500

Green St., 1936: D. Marquette to G. Tsambas, $210,000

Green St., 2106: J. Evans to Segue Systems LLC, $39,010

Greenwood St., 2506: N. Hanna & J. Parisi to T. Davis & J. Martinez, $99,000

Hanna St., 106: S. Fahey to D. Frank, $174,000

Herr St., 1933: Bajwa & Rana LLC to N. & M. Gill, $250,000

Julia St., 1945: J. & S. Pagliaro to Kanta Estates LP, $230,000

Kelker St., 622: PA Deals LLC to End Properties LLC, $54,000

Lenox St., 1935: J. & K. Alvarez to B. McKinley, $72,500

Lewis St., 308: A. Dittman to C. Engvall & A. Bryant, $112,000

Lewis St., 322: J. Chelgren to K. Franklin, $60,000

Logan St., 2417: W. Blackway to Y. Aquayo & I. Class, $41,000

Market St., 810, 812 & 900 and 12, 21 & 23 N. 9^th St., and 24 & 26 N. 10^th St.: 812 Market Street LLC & Twenty Lake Holdings to 812 Market Inc. & L&B Realty Advisers LLP, $1,600,000

Market St., 1301: J. & S. Kim to 80 Second Street LLC, $180,000

Nagle St., 121: D. Gadel to P. Donohoe & J. Augustine, $182,000

North St., 1721: D. Hawkins to R. Scott, $40,000

N. 2^nd St., 1813: E. Pettis & C. Barker to J. Bailey, $81,500

N. 2^nd St., 2141: D. Kumpf to T. & J. Perla, $117,500

N. 2^nd St., 2838: S. & B. Blank to Diamond Real Estate Solutions Inc., $90,000

N. 2^nd St., 3224: K. Petrich to B. Najia Property LLC, $39,000

N. 3^rd St., 512: Genex Properties to RLJG Inc., $80,000

N. 3^rd St., 1209: N. Riess to R. Abel, $129,000

N. 3^rd St., 1616: W. Taylor & C. Pimentel to T. Breitsprecher, $100,000

N. 6^th St., 2470 & 2472: F. & E. Karnouskos & Sixth Street Holdings LLC to Rivas Property Investments LLC, $80,000

N. 17^th St., 94: S&S Property Management to N. Booth, $34,000

N. Front St., 1525, unit 402: R. & R. Fried to S. Anthony, $205,000

Penn St., 1930: J. McSurdy & J. Lentini to T. Holderman, $157,400

Penn St., 2139: Central Penn Properties to PA Capital Area Investments LLC, $30,000

Pennwood Rd., 3210: J. Clark to A. & G. Powell, $117,500

Reily St., 313: Judy Fisher 2004 Trust to E. Krokonko, $77,000

Rose St., 925: D. Niles to R. Ritchie, $80,000

Rumson Dr., 281: G. Burdsal to J. Runyan, $72,000

Seneca St., 226: R. Ralls to I. Billington, $127,000

S. 2^nd St., 316: Diamond Real Estate Solutions LLC to A. Radford & N. Towne, $110,000

S. 13^th St., 14: H. & L. Grajales to B. Crews, $67,000

S. 14^th St., 1414: A. & G. Evans to City of Harrisburg, $55,000

S. 14^th St., 1416: G. Evans to City of Harrisburg, $51,500

S. 14^th St., 1429: J. Newhouse to City of Harrisburg, $45,000

S. 25^th St., 638: PA Deals LLC to Mid-Atlantic IRA James Eshelman IRA, $60,000

S. 26^th St., 734: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development and Information Systems Networks Corp. to J. Gilpatrick, $41,000

S. 29^th St., 526: Kusic Capital Group LLC to R. Morris & A. Courtney, $150,000

S. Front St., 629: Harrisburg PA Properties LLC to J. Snyder, $50,000

S. Front St., 709: D. Smith to L. Foster, $182,900

State St., 1730: Mussani & Co. LP to Next Generation TC FBO Akhter Parvez IRA, $60,750

State St., 1911: JP Homes Inc. to G. & E. Varghese, $34,000

Susquehanna St., 1637: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to S. Henry, $83,900

Susquehanna St., 1716: L. Caro to S. Goodman, $98,500

Valley Rd., 2317: M. Thomas to G. & K. Kooiker, $144,000

Walnut St., 401: M. Tamanini to B. Kowalczyk, $100,000

TheBurg Podcast: “Unsalvageable” Edition

January 12, 2018 | by TheBurg Staff

We’re devoting this week’s discussion to one topic: Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan. Burg editor in chief Larry Binda and city reporter Lizzy Hardison follow the years-long project from its auspicious beginning to acrimonious end. What caused the project to sour? Who shares blame for the breakdown between the city and its contractor? And what does the plan even say, anyway? They cover all these questions and more in this week’s episode of TheBurg Podcast.

Update: Since this podcast was recorded, we learned that Karl Singleton, the mayoral advisor who Lizzy mentions at the end of the podcast, is no longer employed with the city. Read our coverage here.

Stream the episode on Soundcloud or download it in the Apple or Android podcast apps.

Read our coverage of the comprehensive plan on TheBurgNews.com:

Harrisburg Architect To Steer City’s Comprehensive Plan

What’s the Plan? After scores of meetings and tons of input, Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan process enters the final stretch.

After much delay, city officials lay out timeline to complete comprehensive plan

Plan of Action: Progress finally made on Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan.

It’s Here: Harrisburg’s draft comprehensive plan released

Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan is “unworkable,” say mayor, business leaders.

Comprehensive Jam: Harrisburg spent $200k on a planning project that the Mayor now recommends trashing. What went wrong, and what could the plan mean for the city?

TheBurg Podcast is released biweekly by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of StartUp Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music.

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