Tag Archives: Char Magaro

Park Plan: A proposed Allison Hill park is generating neighborhood enthusiasm—along with some concern

May 30, 2024 | by M. Diane McCormick

Friends and neighbors Ty’rez Johnson, Malissa Gaddy, Tracy Daouda and Elijah Whitcomb pose in front of the volleyball net built by Malissa Gaddy.

Malissa Gaddy longs for a better view from her home in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill. At the moment, she sees a vacant block and occasional dumping ground.

“If they don’t put something here, it’s going to continue to be a dumpster,” she said. “I don’t like looking out my back door, and I think it’s time for the Hill to actually have some greenery. If we don’t have educational things for these children to learn from, as in what plants actually do, they’re going to continue to walk by a flower and stomp on it.”

If all goes as planned, Gaddy’s wish will come true. Private citizens, nonprofits and the city government are collaborating to transform a scrubby, vacant plot at 15th and Swatara streets into a public park. The proposal met some resistance from housing advocates, but neighbors are excited. Tucked into Allison Hill’s sloping back streets, Swatara Street Park could bring a green oasis to a tight-knit, under-resourced community.

Park Dreams

The park project began around 2021, when Char Magaro, restaurateur and environmental activist since 1988, retired and sold Tracy Mansion, home of her last restaurant. She crossed the street and sat on a Riverfront Park bench dedicated to her climate-change fight.

“I’m sitting there thinking, ‘I’m 73 years old, and I want a win,’” she told TheBurg on a tour of the proposed park.

Magaro found the site through Tri County Community Action’s resident-driven action plan, “Heart of the Hill.” There at 15th and Swatara, blighted homes had been demolished, and new homes built on the next block were generating momentum. The 700 residents surveyed said they wanted a park there, with a playground and flexible green space.

The Swatara Street Park plan aligns with the residents’ core values of housing and public space, sense of community, safety and engaging youth, said Tri County Community Action CEO Jen Wintermyer.

And when those values collide, such as housing vs. public space, it’s a matter of managing “a delicate balance,” she said. Existing homes tucked throughout Allison Hill can be rehabbed or demolished for new-builds, while an empty block creates an “opportunity zone.” Magaro’s approach—bringing in dollars from private donors and grants while respecting the community’s wishes—presents “a win across every level.”

“Every community needs green space,” Wintermyer said. “It raises property values. It gives people a reason to want to move into a community. It makes it more family-centric and family-friendly, versus an urban house after house after house.”

Phase one will bring passive recreation to eight of the housing lots in the plot—seven donated by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, and one bought from Tri County Community Action.

Two remaining lots, when purchased from their private owners, are earmarked for phase two, with active recreation for children developed with residential input, Magaro said.

In plans drawn by Debra A. Kirkpatrick of Dauphin County-based Landscape Architectural Design, native pollinator perennials line a handicapped-accessible pathway. A rain garden absorbs stormwater. Kids hop across stepping stones.

Alex Reber & Char Magaro

The red dawn cedar tree at the center is non-native, Magaro admits, but “it’s durable.”

“The trunk looks like something out of a fairy tale,” she said. “I can see the kids getting that connection with nature.”

When Alex Reber, secretary-treasurer of the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority and owner of a Harrisburg-based accounting firm, joined the effort, he helped the park win a $72,000 Dauphin County gaming grant. Funds raised from private contributions, grants and donated land currently total about $218,000, and organizers are seeking a matching grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The project aligns with city and county comprehensive plans, and “Heart of the Hill” shows public support, said Reber, who lives in Millersburg.

“The really exciting thing about this is I think it could become a model of a public-private partnership,” he said.

Especially in a city that can’t afford to take on another park, the collaboration of private citizens, nonprofits and government is “the perfect way” to develop and maintain neighborhood assets, said Wintermyer. Each brings pieces that complete the puzzle.

“The government can’t do it by itself,” she said. “There’s not enough dollars, and there’s too much need.”

Uplift Not Displacement

With two members absent, Harrisburg City Council unanimously ratified the park’s DCNR grant application, but the plan initially encountered some skepticism. Council member Lamont Jones told TheBurg that he would have preferred dividing the lot between a park and badly needed housing.

Parks can become gentrifying when they raise property values and entice landlords to sell their rental homes—and push out residents, Jones said. From New York City’s Central Park to Harrisburg’s Capitol Park, history shows marginalized communities displaced in the name of beautification, he said.

“One thing we do know, it will beautify the community, but I’m just hoping the people there will be able to continue to live there and grow as that community grows,” Jones said.

Beautification “absolutely can” gentrify when improvements price out residents from their homes, said Wintermyer. That’s why Tri County Community Action performs dual duty in community development and social services.

“While the physical and built-in environment is being improved, we’re also making those investments into the families, to strengthen them and grow their economic prosperity,” she said.

With funding in place, work is slated to begin in spring 2025. On an adjoining lot, Capital Region Water is building a community garden, part of its City Beautiful H2O initiative to reduce Harrisburg’s runoff water pollution.

Park rendering by Debra A. Kirkpatrick

A park complements Capital Region Water’s green infrastructure and plans for controlling combined sewer overflow, reducing backups into streets and basements and complying with the Clean Water Act, said External Affairs Manager Rebecca Laufer.

“Green spaces help to reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate the risk of flooding by absorbing and filtering rainwater,” she said, in a statement.

Eventually, the city of Harrisburg is expected to take over the park. The administration of Mayor Wanda Williams has been “100% supportive” while protecting the city’s interests, said Reber. A five-year maintenance plan—a condition for moving forward—shows ongoing fundraising to generate the $10,000 needed annually for seasonal landscaping. The rest of the year, volunteers from South Allison Hill Homeowners & Residents Association, Tri County Community Action, Wildheart Ministries and the Rotary Club Environmental Committee, co-chaired by Magaro and Reber, will conduct regular cleanups.

Wintermyer views Tri County’s cleanup responsibilities through a community-building, shared-ownership lens.

“Part of our role is, yes, to make sure maintenance is done, but let’s get the neighbors who are using the park engaged in the process, as well,” she said.

Asked how the park dovetails with Wildheart Ministries’ revitalization efforts in Allison Hill, Director Tannon Herman called the project’s momentum “bittersweet”—bitter for its lack of housing, sweet for its “promises fulfilled.” It is a place for adults to rest and for kids to “just run around and be kids,” he said.

“When Char said, ‘This is what I’m going to do,’ and it happened, it may not be what everybody wanted, but she at least followed through,” Herman said. “I have a lot of respect for anybody who’s going to do work in the community who’s actually going to do what they say. Having a space that has a vision to not just become beautiful but also to stay beautiful is something to celebrate.”

Green Vision

From the future park site, Magaro can see the spot where she started her first catering business. Today, she lives in East Pennsboro Township, across the river from Harrisburg. She tells potential backers from outside the city, “This is our community.”

“It’s easier to get things done on a community level,” she said.

As the project moves forward, next-door neighbor Gaddy believes in her village of Harrisburg. She plans to help the park with whatever is needed, “as long as it’s not growing anything. I’m not a grower.” On Saturdays, she plays volleyball with kids on a net she erected there.

The park is for children, she said, because “kids are our future.”

“The main thing is to give the kids not just another playground, not just another basketball court, not just another something that’s going to go to waste or the kids are going to misuse, but something they can educate themselves on as well as be a part of the community, something they might see as beautiful,” Gaddy said.

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Harrisburg City Council weighs senior apartment project, park development, pool repair

April 17, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

The site of a proposed apartment project on N. 4th Street.

An apartment project proposed for Harrisburg is moving closer to completing the city approval process.

At a meeting on Tuesday, City Council weighed a proposal from Harrisburg-based Midtown Redevelopment LLC to construct a four-story, 36-unit senior apartment building on a vacant lot at 1610 N. 4th St.

In February, the Harrisburg Planning Commission voted in favor of the project, which includes consolidating 19 lots and vacating several grocer’s alleys on the project site. The proposal also received relief from the Zoning Hearing Board in 2022.

The proposal also includes first-floor commercial space, 30 first-floor interior parking spaces and 12 outdoor, on-site parking spots.

Council members asked questions about whether the developer would include minority- and women-owned businesses in the contracting process. According to Matt Long, with Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, the general contractor for the project, at least 20% of their contractors will fall under that criteria. Additionally, he said they often host community meetings with city-based contractors on the bidding process.

“I appreciate you doing that,” said council member Lamont Jones. “A lot of people are building in this community, and there are some jobs needed around here. So, we would love to help our community share in the growth of the city.”

Long also noted that this proposal is part of the second phase of a series of housing and commercial projects that the developer has planned for Midtown.

Council is slated to vote on the project at a May 14 meeting. Additionally, council will still need to hear and vote on the street vacation portion of the proposal.

In other news, local climate change activist Char Magaro presented her plan to transform a vacant lot on S. 15th and Swatara streets into a neighborhood park. Magaro and a group of community volunteers said that they would work to develop the park and coordinate maintenance for several years, with the city eventually taking ownership of the park.

At the meeting, the city asked council to ratify its submission of a grant application to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for funding for the park.

The proposal for the Swatara Street Park includes planting trees, shrubs and pollinator plants and eventually adding recreational elements.

While most council members said they were in favor of the project, a few had concerns about the potential impact on the neighborhood and the cost of future maintenance to the city.

“I think the project is beautiful, but I’m worried about gentrifying this neighborhood,” Jones said. “This looks like a beautiful project, but I think with a housing shortage, these are parcels we could build some more properties for people to live in.”

Several community members attended Tuesday’s meeting to show support for the park project.

“That is in my backyard. That’s something I walk out and see every single day. That is an area that I see people dumping every day,” said one resident. “Our youth is crying. We have got to have something.”

Also on Tuesday, council discussed allocating $8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to replace the city’s Hall Manor pool, with a small allotment going toward repairing the Jackson Lick pool.

In July 2023, council voted to move $31.4 million in ARPA funds into the city’s general fund as revenue replacement, but specified certain projects that the money would fund. In March, council approved the city to start using that money for some of those designated projects. The resolution discussed on Tuesday would approve the use of a portion of the money for another specified project–the pool.

Initially, $1.9 million of the $8 million for pool projects was to be used for preliminary site inspections and prep work at the Hall Manor pool, which is closed. The additional $6 million was to be earmarked for construction in a second phase of the project.

The total project is estimated to take over two years, according to city Facilities Director Dave Baker.

Out of the total $8 million, $55,000 would support pool patching and temporary repairs at Jackson Lick to allow the city to keep it open this summer. In 2022, the city was awarded $5 million in state COVID-relief funding to renovate the pool. However, according to city officials, the city cannot spend the grant money until a legal tie-up around the pool’s ownership is resolved with the Harrisburg School District, which owns the property.

“We need to utilize the funds so we can keep it up and running,” Baker said of the ARPA money. “At this point, in the condition that it’s in, it wouldn’t be feasible to allow the public in the pool.”

However several council members expressed opposition to using ARPA funds on Jackson Lick–a project that council did not originally designate the funds for–and taking them away from the Hall Manor project.

“I don’t know why we don’t just eliminate that pool and just have the pool that is out in the south [Hall Manor],” council member Jocelyn Rawls said. “It’s almost as if we’re throwing money away instead of using it for a single pool. I just don’t understand throwing out $55,000 for it to get through one summer and then not really knowing where it goes from there. I want to make sure we are doing the best possible with our ARPA money.”

Other council members said that they would like to find money from elsewhere in the city’s budget for the Jackson Lick repairs.

“I’m not taking the $55,000 out of the general budget when I have to be very careful about my spending,” said Mayor Wanda Williams, who appeared at the end of council’s meeting. “We need to open a pool this summer. Right now, our kids do not have a pool at all.”

Council is slated to vote on the resolution at an April 17 meeting.

This story has been updated with the correct photo of the proposed site of a senior apartment building on N. 4th Street.

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Bloom & Build: Harrisburg activist plans to create park at site of vacant lot in Allison Hill

April 13, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

The proposed site of the Swatara Street Park at S. 15th and Swatara streets in Harrisburg.

A Harrisburg neighborhood may soon have a new park.

Local climate change activist Char Magaro has plans to transform a vacant lot at S. 15^th and Swatara streets into a green space for the community.

On Saturday, April 15, she is inviting residents to the site for a community forum to discuss plans and gather input.

Magaro’s proposal for the Swatara Street Park includes planting trees, shrubs and pollinator plants and eventually adding recreational elements such as a playground or sports equipment.

“When it’s complete, it will serve a lot of the needs of the community,” she said.

Magaro chose the site for her park after reading Tri County Community Action’s “Heart of the Hill” plan, which outlines beautification priorities for South Allison Hill, based on community outreach. The vacant lot on Swatara Street was one of the organization’s top priorities, Magaro said.

Swatara Street Park site plan

The Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority owns most of the lot and has partnered with Magaro on the park project. A smaller portion is owned by private owners and will only be developed once she is able to acquire the land.

Magaro has already received a grant from the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape for the planning stage of the project and plans to apply for additional grants to fund the park creation. She has partnered with the Harrisburg Parks Foundation to raise funds.

Planting at the site is slated to take place at the end of the summer, Magaro said.

Additionally, adjacent to the park, a community garden will be created in partnership with Capital Region Water, Magaro explained.

The half-acre park will aim to combat environmental justice issues and climate change, Magaro explained. Trees will produce shade and lower temperatures, and the project will preserve land that is on a bird migration corridor. It will also provide green space to an underserved community in the city, she explained.

Addressing climate change has long been a passion of Magaro’s, but throughout the years, she’s been frustrated by the lack of concrete change and action.

For Magaro, creating a park was the perfect way to make a difference.

“I needed to do something for my community,” she said. “But more importantly, I needed to see something come to fruition. Hopefully this is the first of many parks.”

The Swatara Street Park community meeting will take place on April 15 at 11 a.m. at S. 15^th and Swatara streets.

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Environmental “Aha”: Event will offer ways to take action on the climate crisis.

October 31, 2019 | by Maddie Conley

You may know Char Magaro as the owner of Char’s Tracy Mansion on Front Street.

If you’ve dined at the restaurant, Magaro may have greeted you herself. She typically floats from table to table, making sure each guest is satisfied. But you may not have known what is frequently on her mind in those moments.

“I am only two sentences away between, ‘how is everything,’ or ‘are you enjoying everything’ and climate change,” Magaro said. “I can do it very gracefully.”

However, this wasn’t always the case.

Magaro had what she calls, her “aha moment” in the late 1980s as she read an article about the rainforest in a kid’s magazine that her daughter was reading. It was just a short excerpt discussing the rainforest as the “lungs of the world,” but it hooked her.

“From there, I wanted to know who in Pennsylvania was saving rainforests,” Magaro said.

She called around and began to realize that there weren’t any organizations in the state doing this. That’s when she started the Pennsylvania Rainforest Action Committee (PRAC) and, soon after, the Central PA Earth Day Coalition, both of which lasted a few years. She did this while also owning a catering business.

In the early 2000s, while running a small restaurant in the Shipoke neighborhood of Harrisburg, Magaro was approached by PennFuture, a statewide environmental organization. She was asked to serve on the board.

“I liked PennFuture because they understand that there has to be an economic success to any environmental victory,” she said.

Magaro accepted the offer and sat on the board for about 15 years before becoming the chair four years ago.

Citizen Action

PennFuture works in the community and the courtroom providing legal, legislative and outreach work, all with the mission of protecting the environment. The organization seeks to transition Pennsylvania to a clean-energy economy and educate the community on sustainable practices.

One of the ways they’re doing this is through a community event this month called “A Call for Climate Action.” The event will be put on through a partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s nonprofit, The Climate Reality Project, at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. The goal isn’t so much to raise awareness about climate change as it is to give people suggestions on how to take action for themselves.

“There so many people that really are concerned about the climate crisis, but they don’t know what to do,” Magaro said. “That’s the whole reason for this event. It’s a call for citizen action.”

The Call for Climate Action will feature a number of organizations to plug into, including PennFuture, FracTracker Alliance, Conservation Voters of PA, Interfaith Power and Light and Penn State College of Medicine. There will also be a presentation on the history of the climate crisis and the science behind it, along with solutions.

“Everybody is aware of the issue, very few people understand the magnitude of the issue,” said Rob Altenburg, director of PennFuture Energy Center.

Altenburg sees the value in community involvement with energy efficiency and is working to make involvement more accessible in cities like Harrisburg. There is state legislation in process that, if passed, will allow solar development companies to lease or buy plots of land that people can then subscribe to. He explained that those who care about clean energy—but don’t have the ability to install solar panels on their own property—could purchase energy from a central solar location.

For Altenburg, change on the individual and communal levels is crucial in the climate change fight.

Magaro emphasized the same sentiment.

“There are a lot of people that know it’s a big issue, and they think they can’t do anything about it, that it’s too big,” she said. “That’s why you have to bring it down to a local level. Face it—most of the problems in the world are because we lack community. We have more leverage on a local level.”

Magaro had her “aha moment,” and it changed how she operated, even causing her to make sustainable decisions at her Char’s Tracy Mansion. It’s even a main reason why she’s selling the restaurant, so she can be more involved with bringing clean energy to Pennsylvania. Through this event, she hopes that others will have their “aha moment.”

“If you care, you can become part of this solution,” she said.

The Call for Climate Action takes place Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Dixon University Center, 2986 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit PennFuture’s Facebook “events” page. To learn more about PennFuture’s work, visit www.pennfuture.org.

Stories on environmental topics are proudly sponsored by LCSWMA.

November News Digest

November 30, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

City Election Marred by “Raffle”

Harrisburg’s uncontested mayoral election last month was supposed to be a sleepy affair, but it was upset by a raffle with apparent connections to a write-in candidate.

A Dauphin County judge issued an injunction on Election Day to stop the distribution of raffle tickets that may have encouraged people to vote a certain way in the race for Harrisburg mayor.

“The Court finds that the raffle ticket is also promoting of a particular race and suggestive of balloting,” according to the court order.

People at many city polling stations were found to be handing out raffle tickets, which promised prizes for voting. These included a new iPhone X (first prize), $500 in cash (second prize) and a $200 Best Buy gift card (third prize).

Dauphin County Sheriff Nicholas Chimienti later visited a downtown office owned by developer Jeremy Hunter, where Hunter stored both raffle tickets and flyers supporting write-in candidate Gloria Martin-Roberts.

Martin-Roberts, however, later denounced Hunter’s efforts, saying she never authorized the raffle or the flyers.

“I clearly told Jeremy, ‘do not distribute any of that information with my name on it,’” Martin-Roberts said. “He does not listen to anyone.”

Hunter also told TheBurg that he spent thousands of dollars in the primary and general elections in support of Martin-Roberts. At press time, those expenditures had not been reported to the Dauphin County elections bureau.

3rd Street Project Starts

Harrisburg officials last month broke ground on the long-awaited repaving of 3rd Street, though most of the work will not start until the spring.

Crews began on the Midtown portion with new curbing and ADA-compliant ramps at intersections. Work is expected to continue through December, depending on the weather, and will resume in March.

The entire project includes about a two-mile stretch of the main artery from Chestnut Street downtown to Seneca Street in Uptown Harrisburg.

Actual milling and paving of the street will hold off until next year, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. The project is expected to continue throughout much of 2018, wrapping up in October.

Papenfuse stressed that the project is not just for motorists. He said the improvements will make it easier to walk and bike, as well as drive along the street.

“By the time we are done, this entire area will be returned to the residents of the city,” he said.

City Engineer Wayne Martin said that, when paving begins next year, he expects temporary road closures and detours lasting about three days at a time. He also said that some parking, about 10 spaces at a time, will be occupied by construction equipment.

As part of the project, Capital Region Water will install trees and other environmentally friendly infrastructure, including green “bump outs,” to reduce storm-water flow, said CRW board chairman J. Marc Kurowski.

He said the project is part of CRW’s City Beautiful H2O program, which is meant to replace outdated infrastructure and improve storm-water flow.

“We’ll have new trees and new ways to manage storm-water,” Papenfuse said. “This will become a showcase for design for the whole region.”

Harrisburg has contracted with Elizabethtown-based Doug Lamb Construction Inc. for the $5.5 million project, a cost split between the city and CRW. The city is paying an estimated $3.5 million, with CRW footing the remaining $2 million.

Most of the project is funded by a grant from Impact Harrisburg, a nonprofit set up as part of the city’s financial recovery.

City Incumbents Returned to Office

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse sailed to an easy re-election victory last month, despite two candidates mounting late write-in bids.

With all 28 precincts reporting, Papenfuse garnered 3,788 votes. All write-in candidates together tallied 502.

Shortly before the election, two of Papenfuse’s defeated opponents in the Democratic primary, Gloria Martin-Roberts and Lewis Butts, declared that they would mount write-in campaigns in the general election.

With his victory, Papenfuse will begin his second, four-year mayoral term in January.

Five Harrisburg City Council candidates also ran unopposed in their races. Council incumbents Wanda Williams, Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt each won four-year terms, as did newcomer Ausha Green. Councilman Dave Madsen earned a two-year seat.

Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller and Controller Charlie DeBrunner each ran unopposed and will serve four-year terms.

For school board, all the listed Democrats won four-year seats: Brian Carter, Carrie Fowler, Danielle Robinson and Judd Pittman. Incumbent James Thompson, who lost in the Democratic primary but cross-filed, lost on the Republican side.

Percel Eiland, running unopposed, took the two-year seat for school board.

One district justice seat was contested. In the race for district 12-01-05, Democrat Hanif Johnson defeated Claude Phipps, who was on the Republican ballot, by a vote of 954-347.

In Dauphin County, Republican Matthew Krupp defeated Democrat Diane Bowman in a close race for prothonotary. In the heated contest for three Court of Common Pleas judgeships, sitting Judge Lori Serratelli lost to challengers Ed Marsico, Royce Morris and John McNally.

HU Proposes Downtown High-Rise

A new high-rise may soon add to downtown Harrisburg’s skyline, as Harrisburg University of Science and Technology last month issued a request for proposals for a new, mixed-use building.

According to the RFP, the proposed building at Chestnut and S. 3rd streets would house the school’s emerging Health Science Education Center, from which it would offer degree programs in nursing, pharmaceutical sciences and other health programs.

The RFP is asking for bids of at least 200,000 square feet for educational space, plus housing for more than 300 students. The building, currently proposed to be 36 stories, may also contain amenities such as a boutique hotel, restaurant, executive conference center and/or fitness facility.

The school envisions the building as a high-rise on parcels that include 222 Chestnut St., currently a surface parking lot owned by Vartan Enterprises, and 24, 26 and 28 S. 3rd St., which contain small commercial buildings owned by Mechanicsburg-based Dauphin Land Co. Under the RFP, those low-rise, 19th-century commercial buildings would be demolished.

HU President Eric Darr said that the current property owners have agreed to sell their parcels to HU for the project. He added that the proposed location was perfectly situated between UPMC Pinnacle and the university’s main academic building on Market Street.

“Being a block away from Harrisburg Hospital makes all the sense in the world,” said Darr, who estimates the total cost of the project at $120 to $140 million.

HU has set Feb. 2 as the deadline for responses, with a proposal selection date of April 10. An evaluation committee comprised of members of the university’s executive staff, board of trustees and outside advisers will evaluate the proposals.

Darr said he hopes to break ground in 2019 and that construction should take about two years.

Overnight Shelter Opened

Following a change in policy at Harrisburg’s largest rescue mission, a downtown shelter will open an emergency overnight shelter for 30 homeless men.

Downtown Daily Bread, a soup kitchen and daytime shelter operated by Pine Street Presbyterian Church on N. 3rd Street, got approval from the city to operate a 30-bed men’s shelter from Dec. 1 to March 31 at its facility at 234 South St., according to Anne Guenin, director of Downtown Daily Bread.

Downtown Daily Bread currently runs a daily drop-in shelter where people can nap, shower, receive meals and pick up mail. It serves between 70 and 90 people on an average day, Guenin said.

The night shelter will be in the same facility as the daytime shelter, which operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The nighttime shelter will open at 7:30 p.m., giving crews time to clean and convert the gymnasium to a dormitory with cots, and will close at 6 a.m.

Guenin said that the shelter originated in response to an operational change at Bethesda Mission, which this year decided to focus its efforts on long-term recovery programs and open its emergency shelter only in extreme weather conditions.

Comp Plan Back on Track

Harrisburg’s long-delayed comprehensive plan appears to be back on track, as the city’s Planning Commission last month agreed on a draft plan and set forth a path for final approval.

The commission unanimously opted for a draft submitted by the Office for Planning and Architecture, a city-based firm headed by urban design consultant Bret Peters.

In May 2015, the city hired Peters for $200,000 to create a comprehensive plan, which cities use as frameworks to guide policy, ranging widely from land use to recreation. Plans typically have a shelf life of only 15 to 20 years, though Harrisburg’s had not been redrafted in some four decades.

Originally, the city expected its plan to be finished in about 10 months. However, a dispute with Peters over the editing process, communication and, especially, pay, led to a long delay.

At one point earlier this year, the city and Peters parted company after Peters wanted more money to complete the project.

That holdup ended with the commission’s decision to go with Peters’ draft, which is now public. A public hearing is slated for Jan. 10.

Following the hearing, the commission may make additional changes based on public input. It then must approve the final draft before submitting it to City Council for its approval.

More Apartments Approved

Harrisburg is poised for more apartment conversions, as the city’s Zoning Hearing Board last month gave the go-ahead to two projects.

The board voted unanimously to permit as many as 18 rental units in Tracy Mansion, which would complete the restoration of the historic Midtown building.

Owner Jack Kay of York-based Susquehanna Real Estate plans between 14 and 18 one-and two-bedroom units in the eastern portion of the century-old building at N. Front and Muench streets, space that has long sat empty.

“All of the existing architectural features will be restored and, if anything, enhanced,” Kay told board members.

Industrialist David Tracy built the 30-room mansion as a private residence in 1918. In 1951, it became an osteopathic hospital and eventually a mental health facility.

Kay bought the building in 2005 with plans to convert it to an office condominium, adding a new, seven-story building in the parking lot next door. He received zoning board approval two years later, but the project died after the recession hit in 2008.

In 2012, Kay sold the western part of the building to Char Magaro, who opened the restaurant, Char’s Tracy Mansion, there.

Kay said that he believes there now is a market in Harrisburg for upscale apartments, which motivated him to seek a special exception for that use. He said that his apartments will be “nice units” with such features as high-end finishes, river views and in-unit washers and dryers.

He said that he hopes to undertake the project next year, but that the timing depends upon securing financing, among other factors. He said that he had not yet determined rental rates, but that they would be competitive with recent projects by Harristown Enterprises and WCI Partners.

Last month, the zoning board also unanimously granted a variance to Harristown for the conversion of a downtown office building to residential space.

Harristown plans to develop 12 one- and two-bedroom apartments from a worn-out, long-empty office building at the corner of N. 2nd and Cranberry streets. It currently has the building under contract with the seller, Camp Hill-based CJ2 Group.

With Planning Commission and zoning board approvals, Harristown now must have its land use plan approved by Harrisburg City Council before it can begin the project.

Water, Sewer Rates Rise

Water and sewer rates in Harrisburg are set to increase more than 7 percent next year, as Capital Region Water passed its 2018 budget last month.

The CRW board unanimously approved the spending plan, which will raise drinking water rates 7.5 percent for all city and suburban customers. Sewer rates will go up by 7.1 percent for city customers and vary for suburban customers, depending on their location.

The 2018 full-service rates for water and sewer service are $9.46 and $6.99 per 1,000 gallons, respectively. Under the new rates, an average customer who uses 4,500 gallons of water per month will pay an additional $5.56.

A few months ago, the board was faced with even higher rate increases, in excess of 10 percent, said board Chairman J. Marc Kurowski. However, CRW was able to scale those back to more reasonable levels, he said.

“Nobody’s excited with having to have rate increases, but we’ve kept them manageable,” Kurowski said.

CRW has raised rates for several years running. For 2017, the utility increased drinking water rates by 11.6 percent and sewer rates by 7.9 percent.

David Nowotarski, CRW’s chief financial officer, said the rate increases were needed, in part, to pay for ongoing capital upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure.

For 2018, CRW expects to spend about $8.9 million for water system upgrades and about $33 million for sewer projects. CRW has several major initiatives in place to repair and upgrade the city’s aged water and sewer infrastructure.

So Noted

Brighter Living held its grand opening last month at its facility at 979 E. Park Dr., Harrisburg. Brighter Living offers daily activities for seniors such as crafting, cooking, watching movies and gardening, as well as therapeutic activities.

Merit Marketing last month acquired Portland, Ore.-based communications firm, LT Public Relations. Harrisburg-based Merit stated that the acquisition strengthens its West Coast presence and gives it a team of senior advisors in media relations, executive training and crisis communications management.

UPMC Pinnacle opened its new medical office, Strawberry Square FamilyCare, last month in downtown Harrisburg. The office features six exam rooms, a laboratory, conference room and waiting area. It is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., located on the first floor, atrium-level of Strawberry Square, adjacent to Rite Aid.

Changing Hands

Balm St., 119: K. & R. Thames to T. McNair, $55,000

Berryhill St., 2216: M. & N. Haile to PA Deals LLC, $31,000

Berryhill St., 2334: W. J. & J. Morrow to X. Rios & L. Vega, $52,000

Berryhill St., 2338: PA Deals LLC to L. Myers, $59,500

Briarcliff Rd., 2311: W. & E. Warren to S. & A. Cornick, $220,000

Briggs St., 2035: L. McArthur to C. & M. Bruner, $64,000

Calder St., 321: C. Steinbacher to R. & F. Armetta, $40,000

Chestnut St., 1200, 1202, 1204, 1206, & 1208: San Pef Inc. to Round Rock Investments LLC, $369,000

Derry St., 2612: J. Beal to T. Dunmyre, $68,900

Evergreen St., 26 & 28: San Pef Inc. to Round Rock Investments LLC, $95,000

Fulton St., 1418: PA Deals LLC to E. Shenk, $109,500

Girard St., 740: I. Naranjo & D. Benitez to O. Caban, $64,000

Green St., 1327: S. O’Neal to B. & S. Cincotta, $118,000

Greenwood St., 2237: J. Erb to A. & S. Rankin, $50,000

Herr St., 1614: T. Lawson to E. Andrades, $52,000

Holly St., 1914: J. Kaffaya to D. Berhe, $43,000

Hudson St., 1215: PI Capital LLC to V. Jackson, $97,000

Hummel St., 342 & 1508 Hunter St.: Equity Trust Co. Custodian Terry Casey IRA to E&K Homes, $34,000

Kensington St., 2335: PA Deals LLC to End Properties LLC, $69,500

Kensington St., 2343: PA Deals LLC to L. Myers, $59,500

Lenox St., 2032: J. & J. Belfonti to S. Ash, $43,000

Linden St., 128: Hal Don Properties LLC to A. Elkanouni, $56,500

Maclay St., 1037: J. & S. Pagliaro to P2N2, $65,000

Mercer St., 2440: T. Carey to D. Chen & M. Brinkman, $55,000

Mulberry St., 2000: L. & R. Moore to P. Robinson, $50,000

N. 2^nd St., 912: S. Meyers to J. Radabaugh, $185,000

N. 2^nd St., 1215: R. Shultz to R. & G. Armetta, $137,700

N. 2^nd St., 2401: R. Buxton to M. Rathfon & S. Ewing, $162,000

N. 2^nd St., 3301: D. & C. Gilkey to K. & K. Eshenaur, $197,900

N. 3^rd St., 1914: J. Hobbs to J. Vega Jr., $90,000

N. 3^rd St., 2016: WCI Partners LP to K. Reed, $212,000

N. 3^rd St., 3301: N. Johnson to E. Verbos, $135,000

N. 4^th St., 1336: M. Reed to R. & F. Armetta, $80,000

N. 4^th St., 1620: Keech Equity Investments LLC to Acharya Rentals LLC, $60,000

N. 4^th St., 3116: L. Deatrick to G. & J. Desgres, $90,000

N. 6^th St., 930 & 932: K. & N. Galoyan to R. & F. Armetta, $170,000

N. 5^th St., 3024: J. Olan to C. Geis, $95,000

N. 6^th St., 3020: S. McCutcheon to L. Harris, $70,300

N. 7^th St., 2301 & 2327: Sam Hill Properties LLC to DF7 LP, $410,000

N. 17^th St., 28: V. Rivas to I. Mirambeaux, $35,000

N. Cameron St., 1301: J. & J. Salinger to R. Chatue & H. Tambo, $295,000

Oakwood Rd., 2301: PI Capitol LLC to J. Swetlick, $280,00

Penn St., 1721: PA Deals LLC to L. Myers, $129,000

Pennwood Rd., 3120: S. McCoy to J. Mohler & J. Suter, $38,000

Pennwood Rd., 3143: F. Travitz to T. Marhon, $85,500

Rolleston St., 1033: V. Clyde to L. Le, $35,500

Rudy Rd., 1959: E. Ripka to J. & M. Weaver, $66,500

Rumson Dr., 2627: G. & G. Chacon to L. & M. Holston, $81,000

Rumson Dr., 2956: A. & M. Berra to R. Gonzalez & M. Cabrera, $68,000

S. 14^th St., 1407: R. Williams to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 14^th St., 1417: J. Vogelsong to City of Harrisburg, $49,000

S. 14^th St., 1421: S. Mosley to City of Harrisburg, $57,000

S. 14^th St., 1425: J. Coleman & A. Dannar to City of Harrisburg, $48,500

S. 14^th St., 1430: L. & C. Matter to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 14^th St., 1438: A. & M. Reuveni to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. 14^th St., 1444: Atlantic North Star Properties to City of Harrisburg, $55,000

S. 14^th St., 1447: C. & F. Randolph to City of Harrisburg, $46,000

S. 14^th St., 1451: C. Colon to City of Harrisburg, $57,000

S. 14^th St., 1454: J. McFarland to City of Harrisburg, $52,000

S. 25^th St., 736: M. Anderson to L. Crowder, $44,500

S. Cameron St., 130: Goldman Sachs Mortgage Co. & Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to D&F 130 Cam LLC, $161,500

State St., 1326: Arthur A. Kusic Real Estate Investments to C. & T. Semancik, $100,000

Susquehanna St., 1635: R. Drakeford to S. & D. Williams, $99,900

Susquehanna St., 1932: St. Glecos to J. Gallant, $82,450

Swatara St., 1518: Tri County HDC Ltd to D. Kiser, $68,000

Sycamore St., 1625: T. Price to K. Fields, $79,042

Verbeke St., 208: M. Barrette to C. Malloy & K. Sica, $89,999

Wayne St., 1517: R. Palmer to J. Alvarado, $40,000

Harrisburg property sales for October 2017, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

More Residential: HBG Zoning Board OKs apartments for Tracy Mansion, downtown.

November 20, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg’s zoning board tonight approved apartment conversions for this building downtown and at Tracy Mansion in Midtown.

Harrisburg is poised for more apartment conversions, as the city’s Zoning Hearing Board tonight gave the go-ahead to two projects.

The board voted unanimously to permit as many as 18 rental units in Tracy Mansion, which would complete the restoration of the historic Midtown building.

“All of the existing architectural features will be restored and, if anything, enhanced,” Kay told board members.

Industrialist David Tracy built the 30-room mansion as a private residence in 1918. In 1951, it became an osteopathic hospital and eventually a mental health facility.

In 2012, Kay sold the western part of the building to Char Magaro, who opened the restaurant, Char’s Tracy Mansion, there.

Tonight, the zoning board also unanimously granted a variance to Harristown for the conversion of a downtown office building to residential space.

Harristown plans to develop 12 one- and two-bedroom apartments from a worn-out, long-empty office building at the corner of N. 2^nd and Cranberry streets. It currently has the building under contract with the seller, Camp Hill-based CJ2 Group.

With Planning Commission and zoning board approvals, Harristown now must have its land use plan approved by Harrisburg City Council before it can begin the project.

Lastly, the zoning board tonight gave Downtown Daily Bread permission to open an emergency shelter over the winter. Starting Dec. 1, the facility on South Street, which operates as a soup kitchen and drop-in shelter, will take in as many as 30 men a night. The shelter will operate through March 31, opening at 7:30 p.m. and closing at 6 a.m.

October News Digest

October 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

Funding Dispute Hits SAM

A battle over state funds has pitted a bank against a local construction firm and put in question the future of the newly opened Susquehanna Art Museum.

Last month, the Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority asked the Commonwealth Court to intervene in a dispute between the Harrisburg-based JEM Group and Fulton Bank, which both are laying claim to $1.2 million of a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.

JEM, the project’s general contractor, states that it is owed the money as part of its construction fee and cannot pay its subcontractors without it. Fulton put a claim on the money after SAM failed in March to repay half of a $3 million loan.

At press time, negotiations between the parties had opened, but no resolution had been reached.

SAM opened its new, 20,000-square-foot facility in Midtown Harrisburg last January to great fanfare. However, museum officials since have said they have not been able to meet ambitious fundraising goals.

Leaf Collection Changed

Harrisburg is changing its leaf-collecting procedure this year, asking residents to use compostable paper bags for leaf collecting and disposal.

Moreover, the city is urging residents not to rake leaves into the street, which has been a common practice for many years.

“We are asking Harrisburg residents to cooperate with our Public Works employees this fall to help the city efficiently manage leaf collections,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We strongly encourage residents not to blow leaves into the street, but to put them in brown paper bags that workers can take to the Swatara Township composting site.”

The administration said that the city has a “limited number” of large brown bags available to residents for free. They can be picked up at the Public Works Center at 1820 Paxton St. during regular work hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Otherwise, residents will need to buy the bags, which can be purchased at many stores, including hardware and home improvement stores.

After collecting the leaves, residents should leave the bags on curbs for collection during street cleaning days. Plastic bags will be not accepted.

Bridge Rehab Work Approved

The Harrisburg City Council last month agreed to enter into an agreement with a civil engineering company to provide pre-construction services for two city bridges.

Council unanimously agreed to hire Herbert, Rowland & Grubic at a cost not to exceed $77,700 for design, engineering, permitting and other services for the bridge that carries Market Street over Paxton Creek and the bridge that carries Sycamore Street over the railroad tracks.

According to the city, inspections have revealed “deteriorating conditions” on both bridges.

City Engineer Wayne Martin said that the administration had not yet agreed on a funding source for the actual construction work, but may use a portion of the state liquid fuels tax, which is provided to municipalities for roadway maintenance and construction.

PHFA Expansion Weighed

The Harrisburg City Council last month began consideration of a proposal to add about 35,800 square feet of office space to the riverfront headquarters of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).

PHFA’s plan includes construction of a 120-foot tall office tower in a surface parking lot at the rear of the agency’s current, eight-story building at 211 N. Front St.

The project also would raze a mid-20^th century addition to the historic Hickok Mansion, located at the corner of Locust and Front streets and also owned by PHFA.

The plan previously had been approved by both the city Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board.

PHFA has been trying to expand its decade-old headquarters for the past several years.

To do so, it first proposed razing the Hickok Mansion, and, after that met with public opposition, proposed knocking down two 19^th-century houses on Locust Street. The final plan preserves both the original mansion and the two houses.

Donor Names Sought

An attorney in a legal battle with Harrisburg over its gun laws plans to appeal a ruling in the city’s favor over the privacy of donors to a legal defense fund, according to court filings.

Joshua Prince, of the Berks County-based Prince Law Offices, requested court transcripts for an appeal after Dauphin County Judge Andrew Dowling ruled the donors’ names could be kept private.

Prince is representing a gun-rights membership organization in a separate lawsuit against Harrisburg over its firearms ordinances. He sought documents, including donors’ names and addresses, in an open records request last February.

The city provided a list with the names and addresses redacted. Prince appealed to the state open records office, which ordered the city to release the full record.
Dowling, however, agreed with the city on appeal that the identity of donors is exempt under state open records law. He also sided with the city in finding it had provided records sufficient to meet other parts of Prince’s request.

Harrisburg set up its legal defense fund earlier this year after two groups sued the city over its ordinances regulating the use and ownership of firearms.

So Noted

Char’s Tracy Mansion is up for sale as owner Char Magaro last month announced her intention to retire and sell her Front Street restaurant. Magaro said that she had hired Lancaster-based Strategic Endeavors to manage the sale of the fine-dining restaurant, which she opened about three years ago after closing her original bistro in Shipoke. Magaro said she wanted to spend more time with her grandchildren and in her role as vice chair of the environmental group, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future.

Mulligan’s Pub has a new name and look after a redesign of the downtown Harrisburg bar. The interior of the renamed Mulligan’s Café and Courtyard has been divided in two, with the front area dominated by a large bar and the back area featuring an interior courtyard, which primarily serves as a restaurant. Mulligan’s, located at 17 N. 2^nd St., is one of four Harrisburg establishments owned by Kamionka Entertainment Group.

Danielle Bowers has been named to the Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board. The City Council last month unanimously made the appointment, with a term that expires in July 2018. Bowers is a research analyst for the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee of the state House of Representatives and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Penn State.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2433: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to C. Austin, $64,000

Calder St., 102: C. McCormack to K. Goodling & K. Shepherd, $149,900

Croyden Rd., 2871: J. Staniszewski to G. Dennis & S. Campbell, $60,000

Derry St., 2060: KSAG LLC to S. & M. Mejia, $140,000

Duke St., 2610: Residential Mortgage Loan Trust 2013 TT2 to M. & M. Kaif, $67,500

Graham St., 610: W. Taylor & S. London to Cment Enterprises LLC, $33,000

Green St., 802: K. Sheets to P. Rosen, $199,900

Green St., 1525: Mid Penn Bank to C. & S. Bikle, $35,000

Green St., 1704: L. Stevens to B. & C. Hansen, $199,900

Green St., 2006: Becodi Associates to B. Colucci, $129,900

Green St., 2915: J. & S. Kelly to K. Manderino, $211,000

Green St., 2932: J.A. Hartzler to B. & A. Smith, $330,900

Herr St., 403: S. Hankins to C. Kotlarski, $104,900

Herr St., 850 & 900: Acquired Capital I LP to Cameron Street Investments, $281,000

Kensington St., 2232: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to C. Austin, $62,000

Market St., 1849: Acquired Capital I LP to Nish Properties LLC, $40,000

Market St., 1927: J. Santiago to K. & E. High, $88,000

Midland Rd., 2408: H. McFarland to J. Jaxheimer, $40,000

N. 2^nd St., 306: G. Dobrinoff to NJR Group LLC, $120,000

N. 2^nd St., 1509: Flores Prado Real Estate Inc. to J. Tang, $42,000

N. 2^nd St., 1517: W. Oliver to N. Shamatutu & K. Kelly, $203,550

N. 2^nd St., 1605: NR Group LLC to T. Wylie, $269,000

N. 2^nd St., 2531: M. & H. Hope to S. Mirza & F. Jabari, $60,000

N. 3^rd St., 916, 918, 920 & 922: EFA Co. LLC & Mosaica Education to Third Street Partners LLC, $900,000

N. 3^rd St., 1312: 1312 North 3^rd Street LLC to Qui Zhen LLC, $250,000

N. 3^rd St., 3215: R. & P. Alexander to L. Grandstaff II, $169,900

N. 4^th St., 1619: GWD Capitol Heights LP to C. Hippensteel, $104,900

N. 4^th St., 1701: J. & B. Sadlier to R. Steinmetz III, $115,000

N. 4^th St., 2709: B. Siddons to T. Landis, $103,000

N. 7^th St., 1943, 1945 & 1947: P. Dobson to Shentel Communications LLC, $65,250

N. 7^th St., 2926 & 2940: Casim Inc. to Seventh Street Real Estate Holdings LLC, $224,000

Peffer St., 264: M. Linksie to J. Stimple, $105,000

Pennwood Rd., 3203: PA Deals LLC to Heller Investments LLC, $106,000

Radnor St., 127: E. Poling to A. Mentzer & S. Jones, $229,500

Shellis St., 2102: A. Bos to T. Thanasakrungruang, $53,250

S. 12^th St., 1517: Joy Ark Builders Inc. to A. Early, $51,000

S. 13^th St., 216 & 228: B. Santago to Keystone Community Development Corp., $35,000

S. 15^th St., 226, 228, 232, 234 & 1430, 1436, 1438, 1440, 1442, 1444 Derry St.: T. Koutsokostas to Willow LLC, $120,000

S. 18^th St., 1218: S. & M. Mavric to J. Johnson, $99,999

S. 20^th St., 1226: R. & G. MacWhinnie to W. & M. Branche, $132,000

S. 26^th St., 601: M. Brown & S. Anderson to D. Aye, $74,000

S. 26^th St., 605: US Bank NA Trustee to L. Mosley, $38,000

S. Cameron St., 1119: Statewide Enterprises LLC to Paradise Pizzeria & Coffee Shop LLC, $575,000

S. Front St., 317: M. Homa to A. & K. Thornton, $119,000

S. Front St., 587: D. & W. Weigle to M. Robert, $114,000

Susquehanna St., 1703: S. Everett to R. Taylor, $103,000

Valley Rd., 205: C. Best to K. Stewart, $155,000

Vernon St., 1413: E. & A. Castillo to T. Sweet, $75,000

Walnut St., 407-409: J. & C. Bowen to M. Kurnig, $225,000

Harrisburg property sales for September 2015, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Best in the Business: For 2 years running, Harrisburg businesswomen are honored for their success.

June 30, 2015 | by Ashleigh Pollart

Jessica Meyers

Char Magaro

Is it something in the water—or the air?

Or just maybe, there’s a certain spirit in this community, a spirit of diversity, appreciation of culture and support.

For the second straight year, a Harrisburg woman has been selected to receive the Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year honor from the district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In May, Jessica Meyers, owner of JEM Group, a downtown-based construction firm, received the 2015 award. A year earlier, restaurateur Char Magaro was presented with the 2014 award.

“For the same city to win in the same category two years running does seem a bit like lightning striking twice in the same spot. It’s certainly something for Harrisburg to be very proud of,” said Tony Leta, director for the SBA’s Eastern Pennsylvania District Office. “Harrisburg firms have definitely been successful in winning these awards.”

The awards are given each year by Leta’s office, which covers 40 counties, totaling 727,000 small businesses. Award criteria include the firm’s staying power, growth in number of employees, innovativeness of product, response to adversity and contributions to community-oriented projects, to name a few.

“It was so gratifying that the huge struggle to make my vision manifest had been recognized,” said Magaro, owner of Char’s at Tracy Mansion on N. Front Street in Midtown. “I likened this project to trying to fly a kite with a thousand strings without any wind.”

Meyers was delighted that her firm was recognized for a focus on building quality buildings, creating jobs and benefiting the community economically.

“For us, it’s great recognition for my team of our hard work and dedication for what we’ve given to the community,” said Meyers, who accepted the award in one her firm’s recently completed projects, the new Susquehanna Art Museum in Midtown Harrisburg. “It’s nice to have that formal recognition.”

Meyers, who began JEM Group in 2003, said that she chose Harrisburg as a home for her business due to her history in central PA and the revitalization she witnessed happening in the region, such as the restaurants along N. 2^nd Street.

“I began my career working in the city. I was really able to see the revitalization and development from early in my career,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of that, not only by building buildings but by personally investing in the city.”

Meyers was nominated by Melissa McLaughlin, director of business finance at the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, for her ability to break down barriers and stereotypes to conquer the construction industry. McLaughlin also recognized her energy, professionalism and community-mindedness as she served as a role model for female entrepreneurs in the community.

Indeed, mutual support among businesswomen is a core strength in Harrisburg, said Meyers.

“Harrisburg is really fortunate to have so many great women leaders and entrepreneurs. We are just flush with a lot of talent,” she said. “There is an openness in Harrisburg and in our region and a willingness to recognize talent and leadership regardless of whether someone is a man or a woman. It’s a great place for women leaders or entrepreneurs to grow a business.”

Other Harrisburg businesswomen agree. The co-owners of Stash Collective point to the city’s spirit of entrepreneurship and community support as major contributors to their success over the past two years.

“We see the Harrisburg small business scene as being very supportive, positive and growing, with businesses always looking for ways that they can boost each other up through cross-promotion or simple word of mouth,” said co-owner Jen Merrill. “It’s an inspiring time to be a business owner here, and we hope to see more and more women taking the leap to work for themselves.”

To underscore their success, Stash Collective last month moved into new, larger retail space at the corner of Walnut and Court streets downtown.

When Meyers was asked what advice she gives to women daydreaming of launching their own business venture, she responded that women shouldn’t be overly risk-averse.

“Don’t be afraid to take chances and step outside of your comfort zone,” she said. “If someone told me I’d own my own business—let alone a construction business—19 years ago, I would’ve thought they were crazy.”

Meyers also suggests spending time on personal and professional development and surrounding oneself with the right people who will be honest when giving feedback.

“Be visible. Get out there and get involved in the community,” she said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to spend time with organizations you’re passionate about. People will also know who you are and know what you’re capable of doing.”

Recognizing talent regardless of gender is something that the Stash co-owners also see within their business, one in which people presume that it must be difficult for three women to work together.

“We do, quite frequently, field questions and comments assuming that, because we are three women, it must be, in some way, hard for us to work with one another,” said Merrill. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

She added that each partner brings unique strengths to the business, and they try to use those strengths as effectively as possible.

“We see it as a major perk that, after over two years of owning the business together, our friendships with one another have continued to grow,” she said.

5 Restaurants, 1 Question

April 30, 2014 | by TheBurg Staff

The restaurant business is notoriously fickle, with an average eatery lasting only a couple of years before closing up. So, then what makes for success in this difficult industry?

We asked five of Harrisburg’s long-time, most respected restaurateurs for their opinions. Looking back, what has been the most important factor in your success? Photography by Dani Fresh, danifresh.com.

Tom and Amy Scott / McGrath’s Pub

Unlike for most occupations or professions, the “School of Hard Knocks” is the best education for the food service industry. You learn as you go and hope you are blessed with good role models.

You have to be cut out for this life. Only crazy, uneducated, socially awkward people are stupid enough to do this for a living. I’m speaking for myself, of course.

All kidding aside, it’s all about relationships with our guests, striving everyday to keep our food the best quality, the restaurant spic-n-span, be committed to running a solid business, being patient, being realistic and remembering to stick with what works. And above all, know your limitations. If you can’t execute all of the time, every day, then don’t do it.

Try not to get caught up in what the “other guy” is doing, just stick to what you do best. Common sense tells me that things are “good” when our neighbors are doing good business. Common sense tells me that when “Harrisburg” is doing well, we all have an opportunity to do well.

Angelo Karagiannis / Zembie’s Sports Tavern

The most important factor in the success of Zembie’s is by far my STAFF! Twenty years ago when I purchased Zembie’s, I worked around the clock expressing my concerns and objectives to front- and back-of-the-house employees. These key employees are still with me.

Another factor is that Zembie’s is a small place with a reasonable rent which allows me the ability to manage the ups and downs of this fickle business. However, as new places come and go, my staff remains.

Regulars and the support of restaurant employees in town have given us the feeling of a “Cheers.” And we are proud to have that feeling!

Char Magaro / Char’s at Tracy Mansion

Char’s Tracy Mansion’s success is due to:

We offer an overall dining experience that is unique for this area.
We strive to exceed people’s expectations.
We deliver a “product” (atmosphere, service, menu) that makes our guests feel special.

Nicholas Laus / Café Fresco and Home 231

When someone leaves my restaurant, I want them to say “WOW.”

There are many dynamics that go into attaining and maintaining that “wow” factor. The restaurant’s atmosphere serves as the first impression for the customer—and it should be a unique concept with strategically planned lighting, music and décor. Though the fundamental theme may remain unchanged over time, I’m always visiting other establishments in search of innovative new menu, service and design ideas to incorporate into my own businesses.

Next, customers will meet the staff, whose importance I never underestimate. Wait staff in food service are your salespeople, responsible for marketing and selling your menu. Image is crucial, along with a welcoming personality that allows them to socialize with customers and offer menu suggestions. Getting someone to try something new that they love is a great way to encourage repeat business.

I want customers to be impressed by the food presentation and then wowed by the taste. The menu should be balanced, fun and exciting—continuously evolving and offering new dishes for patrons to explore.

Lastly, I strive for customers to be wowed by my restaurant’s atmosphere, service and menu every visit. Consistency is crucial in this business.

Staci Basore / Mangia Qui, Suba and Rubicon

Success in the restaurant industry can be elusive. Some operators simply want to make a living while others have loftier goals. Regardless of your ambitions, I feel for us that employee happiness is key, coupled with guest satisfaction and, of course, offering a superior product.

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