Tag Archives: Danielle Bowers

Harrisburg City Council strives to make meetings more accessible, adds sign language, teddy bears

February 3, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

The “Kid’s Corner” was recently added to the City Council chambers.

When Harrisburg City Council holds a meeting, it’s usually all business–not necessarily time for fun and games.

But at a legislative session this week, some big, fluffy teddy bears took seats in the back of the room under a sign reading “Kid’s Corner.”

According to council President Danielle Bowers, that’s intended to make meetings more accessible to all community members—even the youngest ones.

In addition to the Kid’s Corner, which helps parents with children attend meetings, council added a sign language interpreter to the dais and has increased social media outreach.

“I wanted to ensure that council is inclusive of and accessible to the public,” said Bowers, who initiated the efforts. “It’s important for community members to participate in meetings because literally everything single thing we do impacts their daily lives.”

The Kid’s Corner contains books donated by the Dauphin County Library System, coloring pages and stickers from the fire and police bureaus, and teddy bears and the “Kid’s Corner” sign donated by the Department of Public Works. The Dauphin County commissioners, local author Debra Hervitz, and others donated, as well.

Bowers hopes that more parents will attend meetings, knowing that their children are welcome. She also sees it as a way for kids to be exposed to city government.

“It’s a space where we could promote literacy and education about local government,” she said. “We’ve received a great reaction from not only parents, but from educators, as well.”

The sign language interpreter is another new feature for council that will better allow members of the deaf community to engage.

Additionally, council has created Facebook and Instagram pages to share information and to live-stream meetings. Meetings are also broadcast on the city’s television station, WHBG20 and on YouTube.

Bowers has also prioritized publishing council meeting agendas in a timelier fashion so that the public can see what legislation will be discussed at meetings.

On Tuesday, council introduced a bill that would allow people to participate in council and other city board meetings and make public comments virtually. Previously, all public comments had to be made in person.

“I wanted to make sure we were live-streaming a little bit of everywhere,” Bowers said. “It’s important that, if something is going on in a resident’s neighborhood, that we don’t know about, that they come and share that.”

According to Bowers, this is just the beginning of council’s efforts to increase accessibility. They have more ideas for initiatives that they plan to integrate in the near future.

“I really think that everyone embraced my vision,” she said. “It’s more than I thought it would be.”

Find Harrisburg City Council on Facebook, Instagram and on their website.

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Harrisburg City Council approves new comprehensive plan, ending years-long drafting process

November 23, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

An outdated Harrisburg planning document has finally been updated and replaced following a seven-year-long process.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg City Council approved a new comprehensive plan, capping years of effort to bring the plan into the 21^st century.

The resolution passed 6-1, with council member Danielle Bowers voting against it.

“I appreciate all the work of everyone on this council, and I’m glad we are at least able to get something on the books so that we can start moving forward,” council member Westburn Majors said.

The previous comprehensive plan was created in 1974, serving more than double its intended lifespan of 20 years.

In 2014, Harrisburg began to discuss creating a new plan, but was faced with years of delay. A dispute between the city and a former consultant hired to draft the plan prolonged the process, as did extensions to the public comment period.

The 246-page document is meant to help guide growth and development in the city. It includes topics such as land use, housing, mobility, parks, energy and cultural resources.

Over the years, the city held numerous public hearings and meetings on the comprehensive plan, generating comments from community members.

Bowers explained her vote against the plan, saying that it was not accessible enough and lacked sufficient up-to-date public commentary.

“I don’t understand how a document is supposed to accurately reflect a city today when a majority of the public engagement is already dated and occurred five or six years ago,” she said. “I do not believe this document works for the city of Harrisburg.”

Other council members agreed that the plan could use improvements, but stated that it is a “living document” and could be updated on a regular basis in the years to come.

“This isn’t the best, but it is way better than a 40-plus-year-old document,” Majors said.

View Harrisburg’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan, here.

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Harrisburg mayor proposes using federal funds on new pools; council members ask to be included in planning

October 14, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Mayor Eric Papenfuse held a press conference at the Hall Manor pool on Thursday.

As Harrisburg finds itself swimming in federal COVID relief money, the mayor has some plans for how to use it.

At a press conference on Thursday at the Hall Manor Pool, Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced his proposal to use a portion of the city’s allocated American Rescue Plan money to rebuild Harrisburg’s two public pools.

“Those pools have served the city well for five decades, but they are now officially beyond their useful life,” Papenfuse said. “The American Rescue plan funds […] are designed to help people who need help the most. This is the perfect use for those funds.”

Papenfuse said that he intends to use $13 million of the city’s rescue plan funds to renovate both the Hall Manor and Jackson Lick pools, which are both over 50 years old.

In total, Harrisburg is set to receive $48.8 million in American Rescue Plan funds. The city has received half of the total funds already and expects to receive the rest next year.

Papenfuse said that rebuilding the pools will provide a form of safe recreation for children and families in Harrisburg.

The city is currently soliciting feedback from residents on what they would like to see incorporated into the designs of the pools, however, Papenfuse already has some ideas.

Proposed plans for the Hall Manor pool

Proposed plans for the Jackson Lick pool

Harrisburg has worked with engineering firm Brandstetter Carroll Inc. to draw up plans for the pools that include water slides, splash pads, lazy rivers, picnic pavilions and lap pools, among other features. Pool houses will be reconstructed, as well.

“The constant feedback from the community has been just how important the pools are to our civic life,” Papenfuse said. “The community would like to see these pools reinvigorated for the next generation.”

He added that, for the past eight years, the city has conducted various studies on the pools. While there has been demand for the pools, the city has never had the funds to reconstruct them, but rather, patched and repaired wherever they could over the years, Papenfuse said.

Both pools have been closed for the majority of the past two years due to COVID. The Jackson Lick pool only opening briefly this past August, after facing a shortage of lifeguards. Parks and Recreation Manager Kevin Sanders said that he thinks finding staff will continue to be an issue even after the reconstruction.

Papenfuse said that the construction would take about three years to complete and that they would stagger work on the pools so that one is always open.

Admission to the pools would be free during construction and for at least a year after, Papenfuse said.

The new pools, Papenfuse said, would last for years to come.

Under the rescue plan fund guidelines, there are rules for how the money can be used. Papenfuse said that this project complies.

“The pools are going to benefit some of the folks who were affected by COVID the most,” he said. “It’s about racial equity; it’s about social justice.”

Harrisburg’s City Council would need to approve the plan, which Papenfuse said he will propose as part of the 2022 budget. He said that he has spoken with members of council about his plan.

“I think they will be very supportive,” he said.

City Council member Westburn Majors said that he had a brief conversation with Papenfuse last week, but that overall, communication with the administration has been lacking.

“It’s extremely frustrating that the first time we formally hear about the plans, it’s at a press conference,” Majors said when reached by phone. “Since the rescue plan money got passed, I have repeatedly asked for the administration to have a conversation with council.”

Majors said that, historically, council has been supportive of renovating and keeping the pools, even when the administration has pushed replacing the pools with splash pads.

“I don’t think anyone is opposed to looking at pools as an option,” he said. “But I want to have a larger conversation. Everyone should have a stake in how this is spent.”

Several other council members have voiced concern about the lack of communication, as well. Most recently, council member Danielle Bowers publicly shared her sentiments towards Papenfuse at a legislative session on Tuesday.

“We are ready and waiting to meet with you to discuss a spending plan for the American Rescue Plan funding that makes sense for the longevity of the city,” she said. “My colleagues have politely inquired about the mayor’s absence and have received radio silence.”

In addition to the pool proposal, Papenfuse has also discussed using about $12 million more in the federal funding to create a guaranteed income program. Under that initiative, the city would provide monthly payments to possibly thousands of qualifying low-income families for a multi-year period, he said.

In addition to the online survey, residents can comment on the pool proposal at various outreach opportunities throughout the city.

The dates for outreach pop-ups are listed below:

Oct. 14, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Broad Street Market
Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Broad Street Market
Oct. 16, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Broad Street Market and from 1 to 4 p.m. at Capital Rebirth’s Superhero Day on City Island
Oct. 23, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Broad Street Market and from 1 to 5 p.m. at Southside Fiesta-Hall Manor Apartments

To complete the pool survey, click here.

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August News Digest

July 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Council Approves Projects, Artifact Sale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Council is on summer hiatus until Aug. 24.

Senior Housing Proposed

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

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

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

The proposed four-story, nearly 45,000-square-foot building would be available for low-income seniors 62 years of age and older. It would provide one- and two-bedroom rental units ranging in price from $300 to $1,000 per month.

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

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

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

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

New Owners, Plans for Midtown Bars

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

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

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

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

He expects to complete the renovation and open in 2022.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Business Grant Program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Home Sales, Prices Rise

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

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

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

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

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

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

So Noted

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Changing Hands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Harrisburg City Council approves two development projects, including tiny homes for veterans

July 6, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Rendering of the tiny home village for veterans.

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

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

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

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

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

However, representatives with the nonprofit said that, while the area is in the 500-year floodplain, they plan to build the houses a few feet off of the ground.

Another development proposal for the conversion of a long-abandoned building into office and apartment space on Cameron Street got the go-ahead from council in a 5-2 vote. Council President Wanda Williams and council member Danielle Bowers voted in opposition.

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

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

Also on the topic of Harrisburg history, council approved the adoption of updated Historic District Design and Preservation Guidelines which lay out the rules for homeowners when making changes and repairs to their properties.

Council also voted unanimously to appoint David West as the Director of Public Works. He takes the place of former director Aaron Johnson, who recently retired.

Lastly, council member Ausha Green said that the city will be releasing information and applications for the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee this week. Council voted to create the board in Nov. 2020 in hopes of increasing police accountability.

Council will take a summer hiatus and will return on Aug. 24.

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Midtown, Allison Hill projects get go-aheads from Harrisburg City Council

June 8, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

A rendering of “The Lofts in Midtown”

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

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

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

“The project does have ample parking,” said council member Dave Madsen. “There will be 16 apartments total and about 35 parking spaces for those units.”

The project, called the Lofts in Midtown, previously had cleared both the city Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board.

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

“The applicant has no interest in participating in the city’s affordable housing program,” she said.

City Solicitor Neil Grover added that the project began the city application process before those ordinances were passed, which typically would exempt it from legislation approved later.

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

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

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

The project is part of the South Allison Hill Safety Plan, a partnership between several nonprofit organizations that aim to make the neighborhood safer.

Gary Lenker of Tri-County said previously that he hopes to break ground on the project late this summer.

In addition, council unanimously approved the transition of Monroe Street, between Verbeke and Herr streets, from a two-way street to one-way. This was done at the request of the Harrisburg School District, which hopes to improve the flow of traffic in the area of the Downey School.

Lastly, council authorized city Engineer Wayne Martin, and the city grant manager, Rebecca Vollmer, to act as the city’s authorized representatives for the Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant for the “Courthouse Connection” project.

Harrisburg has received a $700,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for the project, which would extend the existing Urban Meadow walkway on Boyd Street from Fulton to N. 6th streets, near where the federal courthouse is being built. The project also would add 50 angled parking spaces on Reily Street between Logan and Fulton streets.

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Harrisburg creates affordable housing incentive program, approves large apartment building in Midtown

April 13, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Rendering of the approved Midtown residential and commercial building

Harrisburg City Council approved several new affordable housing measures on Tuesday, in addition to a major new apartment and parking project.

At a virtual legislative session, council passed a package of bills aimed at incentivizing affordable housing development and approved a large project that includes residential and commercial space, as well as a new parking garage.

The new affordable housing program establishes incentives for developers, including tax abatement, zoning relief and an easier street vacation application process.

In order to receive the benefits, developers must provide at least 20% of their units as affordable housing for low-income families, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The price to rent any of these affordable units must not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income.

“The goal is to really bridge the gap between our residents and the developers,” council member Danielle Bowers said at a previous work session. “If we set this threshold too high, it’s not realistic for our developers to meet. If we set it too low, it’s not really affordable for our residents.”

Bowers said that Harrisburg’s 20% threshold is higher than many surrounding municipalities.

Developers can also receive parking requirement relief if 25% of the building’s units are rented at an affordable rate.

If a developer receives a certificate of qualification and then does not continue to provide affordable housing, they could have their certificate revoked and may be fined up to $1,000, according to the new ordinance.

Council hopes developers like Philadelphia-area businessman Kevin Baird will participate in this program.

While at a previous work session, Baird wouldn’t make any promises to participate, council did approve his land development plan for an 85-unit apartment building, including a 500-space parking garage, grocery store, office and retail space.

The building will be constructed on the one-acre property surrounded by Boyd, N. 5th, Reily and Fulton streets.

Council passed the land development plan with amendments that requires Baird to conduct outreach to local contractors for bidding opportunities and to schools for internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

Baird said they plan to break ground in July or August of this year and have the parking garage portion of the project almost completed by late summer of 2022.

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Harrisburg proposes affordable housing incentive program for city developers

February 2, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

A row of houses on Hummel Street in Harrisburg.

Affordable housing has been a long-debated topic in city hall, but now it seems that words are translating into action.

Harrisburg proposed a package of affordable housing legislation on Tuesday night that would incentivize developers to incorporate affordable rental units into their building plans.

“I am very excited about this,” said Nona Watson, director of economic development in the city. “We are well on our way to establishing our affordable housing program.”

The package discussed on Tuesday consists of several bills designed to encourage affordable housing through the use of incentives like tax abatement and zoning relief. Additionally, the city will satisfy street vacation application requirements, if needed.

Other incentives to developers may include density bonuses, which would permit developers to build more units than allowed by right on a property, explained Geoffrey Knight, the city’s director of planning. Incentives may also include reducing parking requirements. Knight explained that research has found that lower-income households are less likely to own a car.

Developers who apply and receive a Certificate of Qualification will have a set of rules they must follow in order to receive benefits.

According to the proposed Bill 16-2020, which is the heart of the legislation, developers must provide 20% of their units as affordable for low-income households, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The units must be made available to rent at a price that does not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income.

Additionally, developers need to keep the units at an affordable rent for at least 10 years.

The requirements also state that units must look the same and include the same heating and cooling systems and other improvements as the market-rate units. Affordable housing units must be made available for rent at the same time as market-rate units.

“We want to make sure that what we put out there is actually going to work,” Watson said.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse clarified that the city wouldn’t be forcing developers to include affordable housing, only incentivizing it.

Council member Shamaine Daniels voiced concern over using the HUD affordable housing income threshold, saying it wasn’t specific enough to Harrisburg’s needs and wouldn’t target those who need it most.

“I feel like we are leveraging city resources, so it’s not unreasonable for us to come up with our own numbers,” she said.

However, Knight said getting Harrisburg-specific data could be challenging.

Other council concerns centered around enforcement of the requirements for developers in the program.

Papenfuse assured that participants would receive punishment for failing to comply.

“If a developer were to act in good faith to promise to build affordable housing and then not do it […] then we can revoke the certificate of occupancy for the project,” he said. “Then they’re not going to be able to rent any apartments at that complex.”

According to the proposed bill, they could also receive a fine of up to $1,000.

Council member Danielle Bowers said that the bills are still in the early stages of discussion and will undergo additional work and public comment.

“I would like to ensure this package is very full and robust,” she said.

To watch past Harrisburg City Council meetings, visit the city’s YouTube channel.

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Harrisburg temporarily bans evictions, moratorium to continue for another month

December 15, 2020 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

A sign on N. 3rd and Kelker streets.

Harrisburg residents facing eviction are safe for another month to remain in their homes.

At a legislative session on Monday, City Council voted 6-0 to approve a bill issuing a moratorium on evictions in Harrisburg. Council member Westburn Majors recused himself from the vote, due to a conflict of interest.

“I can breathe a sigh of relief going into the holiday knowing we are protecting our residents,” council member Danielle Bowers said.

City officials found that there would likely be hundreds of people facing eviction in the coming weeks, with not nearly enough shelter space available during the pandemic, city Solicitor Neil Grover explained. This could pose a danger both for newly homeless residents and for everyone else, as COVID cases continue to climb in Dauphin County, he said.

Currently, a moratorium from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is in effect through Dec. 31, but the federal government has not yet released a plan to extend the declaration.

Harrisburg’s halt on evictions fills the gap for now, extending for 30 days into mid-January. The city may then choose to renew it for another 30 days if needed.

The bill states that no resident can be evicted for non-payment of rent or lease expiration.

Greater Harrisburg Tenants United, an advocacy group, believes that the legislation, focused on non-payment and lease expiration, leaves loopholes that still could lead to evictions.

“That opens the door to all kinds of petty technicalities that a landlord could deploy to terminate a lease and evict a tenant,” said Caleb Cossick, a member of GHTU, in a public comment on Monday.

Grover said that city enforcement officers will oversee compliance with the legislation, with the power to fine non-complying landlords up to $10,000 or 90 days in jail.

“The idea is to essentially make noncompliance something very unattractive,” he said. “We have essentially criminalized the violation.”

However, Grover did say that the ordinance does not take away landlords’ right to be paid, and they will need to receive payment once the moratorium or string of moratoriums ends. They may also still file for a court hearing, although lockout of a resident is banned.

Council member Ausha Green expressed concern for what will happen once the moratorium expires and tenants must pay their debts.

Grover said that, through state law, landlords are allowed to garnish tenants’ wages, meaning take owed rent directly from paychecks.

“I would say this solves the most immediate problem, but it doesn’t solve the other large problems that are being caused by the pandemic,” he said.

Grover added that, going forward, he hopes that the city, state or federal government will be able to offer landlord assistance.

Additionally, the bill does not apply to properly registered hotels and motels. It does apply to some rooming and boarding houses.

“The city is serious in our intentions,” Grover said. “We are not going to continue or start evictions in the middle of what is a dire situation.”

To watch past Harrisburg City Council meetings, visit the city’s YouTube channel.

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Harrisburg council tweaks proposed police advisory committee, schedules final vote for next month

October 27, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen grab from Harrisburg City Council’s legislative session

Harrisburg City Council has made several more changes to a proposed police advisory body and delayed a final vote on the bill until next month.

At a virtual legislative session on Tuesday, council voted unanimously to tweak several elements of proposed Bill 8, which would create a Citizen’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.

The changes include:

Giving council the ability to appoint five board members, up from four, while reducing mayoral appointments from three to two, for the initial committee members.
Mandating that the committee meet at least quarterly, as opposed to at least annually, each year.
Staggering initial terms so that two of the original members serve four-year terms, two members serve three-year terms and three members serve two-year terms.

Council members Ausha Green and Danielle Bowers said that some of these changes were made in response to comments received from community members.

“Listening to the comments is really power to the people,” Bowers said.

Council is expected to take a final vote on Bill 8 at its Nov. 10 meeting.

At the beginning of Tuesday’s session, council read aloud comments from community members, some of whom continue to be disappointed with the limitations of the proposed committee.

Bill 8 already has been amended to give the committee administrative subpoena power and to change or remove several parts of the original bill.

However, some residents remain unsatisfied. They believe that the body should be able to exercise greater oversight over the police bureau and want to change the name of the body from an “advisory committee” to a “review board.”

According to city Solicitor Neil Grover, Harrisburg lacks the authority to create a review board, prompting some residents to advocate for a home rule charter, which may give the city greater flexibility in setting its own rules beyond what’s allowed currently in the state code.

“I do think the talk of home rule has been important and is something we should pursue,” said one resident during the legislative session.

In addition, several residents urged council to make their online meetings more accessible, including advertising meetings more broadly on social media platforms and allowing residents to make comments in real time during the virtual meeting’s live-stream.

“Over the last few months during COVID, residents have pleaded with the city to make the council meetings more accessible,” said Kimeka Campbell, co-founder of Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color, in a written comment. “Nevertheless, the city has kept comments off their YouTube videos, not allowed more than two opportunities for call-ins for public comment, only taken public comment via email and truncated public comments that seem too similar.”

At the end of the meeting, member Ben Allatt said that council should consider expanding ways of interacting with the public virtually. But he also urged residents to reach out beyond just virtual council meetings, such as emailing or calling individual council members or even arranging meetings with them.

“These (virtual) meetings aren’t held in a vacuum and aren’t the only ways to interact with us in City Council,” he said. “There is a willingness to be able to meet with the community in many different fashions.”

In other action on Tuesday, council:

Approved an agreement to pay $725,000 to MEB Partners and Brenner Motors to settle outstanding rent, tax and repair issues arising from a three-year lease of the Public Works Department site on Paxton Street.
Approved a land development plan for a 200-space parking lot at 1501 N. 7^th St. The property owner wants to turn an empty lot into a surface parking lot, primarily to serve the needs of the new federal courthouse due for completion in summer 2022.
Approved a resolution appointing resident Kali Tennis to a seat on the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB).

Lastly, council President Wanda Williams said that the city’s “Grab and Go” trick-or-treat night has been rescheduled due to predicted inclement weather for Thursday. It now will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the city’s three firehouses—Uptown at 1820 N. 6^th St., and the two on Allison Hill at 140 N. 16^th St. and 9 S. 13^th St.

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