Tag Archives: Dauphin County commissioners

January News Digest

January 31, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

AutoZone Veto Overturned

Harrisburg City Council last month rejected the wishes of the city’s mayor, unanimously overturning a veto that will allow an auto parts store to proceed with plans to locate in Harrisburg.

By a vote of 7-0, council affirmed its December vote to let AutoZone, a Memphis-based car parts store, advance in the city planning process as it seeks to build a store at N. 7th and Maclay streets.

Their vote vacated several unused “paper streets” on the lot owned by Susquehanna Township-based Vartan Group, which wants to sell the property to AutoZone.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse vetoed the measure, arguing that the city could use its discretion in approving street vacations to ask developers to abide by community standards, including the creation of affordable housing and job opportunities for minority and women laborers.

For example, council could withhold approval for a street vacation until a developer agrees to set aside affordable units in a housing project or employ local laborers—particularly minorities—on job sites.

“I think there is an opportunity for City Council to establish a review criteria for street vacations linked to the land development process that will help the city achieve some of its goals with regard to contracting and affordable housing,” Papenfuse said.

Council members, though, bristled at what they said was a new rationale for controlling a development project.

“The mayor has not sent down any legislation to address affordable housing or [minority business] participation,” Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels said. “So, I really I find this administration’s position just to be really artifice and not anything of much substance.”

Budget Dispute Resolved

Harrisburg City Council and the administration agreed to resolve a 2019 budget dispute without changing the original spending plan.

The approved, $70.8 million municipal budget contained flat spending compared to the prior year and no tax increases.

After a one-week delay, council members did not amend the mayor’s proposed budget, but they did attach two conditions to their approval. First, the mayor must provide written justification for awarding salary increases greater than 5 percent, and, secondly, must provide council with quarterly reports of unused salary funds.

Council also amended the 2019 budget to re-institute the director of community and economic development position, a role that was omitted from the city’s organizational chart as part of Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s proposed reorganization of city departments.

The amendment does not carry any new funding, so the city’s 2019 spending plan is unchanged. Councilman Ben Allatt said that the council will seek grants in the new year to pay the salary for a new director.

As always, the city’s largest operating expenditure in 2019 — $32.7 million — will be for personnel. Debt service and healthcare will eat up $9.8 million and $11 million from the operating budget, respectively. The budget also allocates $6.8 million in capital improvement spending.

Even though personnel expenses increased by $500,000 from 2018, Papenfuse said a priority for the 2019 budget is to maintain Harrisburg’s current staff capacity, which his administration has rebuilt after years of austerity.

Rather than add new personnel in 2019, the mayor proposed reorganizing the city’s departments to more closely align with the city council committee structure.

The city’s new organizational chart creates seven city departments to correspond with the seven council committees. The chart dissolves the Department of Community of Economic Development and replaces it with the Department of Engineering and Development.

Body Camera RFP Issued

The Harrisburg Police Bureau is eyeing a late spring launch for its department-wide body camera program, according to city hall documents.

The police bureau last month issued a request for proposals (RFP) to potential vendors, inviting them to submit cost estimates and specifications for 100 body-worn police cameras and a video storage system.

Bidders must provide detailed descriptions of their camera equipment and IT services, as well as a budget narrative that includes a unit price for cameras and accessories, a price for cloud-based video storage, and a fixed yearly rate for maintenance and support.

The RFP does not state a budget for the new program. The bureau was given $150,000 in Harrisburg’s 2019 budget to purchase body camera equipment, a figure that included $80,000 in unspent funds from 2018.

City officials announced in September 2017 that they would equip the city’s uniformed patrol officers with body cameras the following year.

The program was delayed, however, as police officials tried to determine which specifications they needed in recording and video storage equipment.

Kline Plaza Sells

Harrisburg’s Kline Plaza has sold to a New York-based realty company, which hopes to bring new life to the aging shopping center.

Nassimi Realty LLC, based in Manhattan, bought the mid-20th century, low-slung retail and office complex for $8.7 million on Dec. 24, according to Dauphin County property records.

Kevin Nassimi, vice president of leasing, said that the family-run company was interested in the property because “this is what we do.”

“The agent for the seller brought us the opportunity, and it made sense for us,” he said.

The company specializes in multi-unit retail and currently owns 25 million square feet of shopping center space in the eastern United States, including four other properties in Pennsylvania, Nassimi said.

Kline Village, located near the city line with Penbrook, is anchored by Giant Food, which recently signed a 10-year lease extension, and includes a Fine Wine and Good Spirits store, a Rent-a-Center and a Family Dollar, in addition to several other stores, a gas station and a state Department of Health walk-in location.

Nassimi purchased the property for about half the price of the last sale. According to Dauphin County, KOP Kline Plaza LLC, another New York-based realty investment group, bought the complex for $17.3 million in 2004.

Kevin Nassimi attributed the much lower sales price to 10 current vacancies in the 240,000-square-foot complex, including two office tenants that recently left.

“That’s a big hit financially,” he said. “That’s a tall task.”

Commissioners Seek Re-Election

Long-time incumbents Jeff Haste, Mike Pries and George Hartwick last month announced their intention to run for re-election for four-year terms as Dauphin County commissioners.

Republicans Haste and Pries have served on the three-member board since 2002 and 2010, respectively. Hartwick, a Democrat, was first elected in 2003.

In their re-election announcements, all three incumbents cited 14 years without a county property tax increase as a significant accomplishment.

Diane Bowman, a former Susquehanna Township commissioner, will join Hartwick as his running mate on the Democratic side.

This year, the primary election is slated for May 21, with the general election on Nov. 5.

So Noted

Barley Snyder last month announced that attorney Sarah C. Yerger had joined its Harrisburg office as part of the law firm’s employment practice group. Yerger worked for more than 13 years in the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office, moving to the private sector in 2013.

Elementary Coffee Co. announced last month plans to open a new roastery and coffee shop at 256 North St., Harrisburg. Owner Andrea Grove said that she expects to open this spring inside the newly renovated building, but will retain her stand in the Broad Street Market.

Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC boards of directors last month named Barb Bowker of PSECU as chair of the chamber and Jeannine Peterson of Hamilton Health Center as chair of CREDC for 2019. Other Chamber officers for 2019 include Tom Sposito of S&T Bank, Merone Yemane of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Greg Gunn of Gunn-Mowery, Karen Gunnison of Capital Blue Cross and Zachary Khuri of First National Bank. Other CREDC officers for 2019 include Ben Dunlap of Nauman Smith, Mayur Patel of Laughner Patel Developers, Mike Funck of Wohlsen Construction, Casey Khuri of NAI CIR and Wade Becker of RKL.

PSECU last month named George Rudolph as its new president. Rudolph will join PSECU in April to succeed the retiring Greg Smith, who has served as PSECU’s president for the past 28 years.

S&T Bank last month promoted Jordan Space to executive vice president, market president for the central Pennsylvania region. Space, who joined S&T in 2015, also was recently appointed to the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s board of trustees. In addition, he is a member of the Lancaster City Alliance executive leadership team.

UPMC Pinnacle plans to add several floors to its West Shore Hospital in Hampden Township to accommodate the growing needs of area residents. Plans call for adding floors above the emergency department to provide 58 more beds. The Ortenzio Cancer Center at UPMC Pinnacle is also expanding its cancer programs to include infusion treatment for thoracic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, head and neck and other cancers.

Urban Churn announced last month that it would open an ice cream production and retail space at 1004 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg. Owner Adam Brackbill expects the craft creamery and scoop shop to open in early spring. Urban Churn also has a stand inside the Broad Street Market, which Brackbill plans to retain.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2245: S. Nolan to A. Kusery, $69,000

Adrian St., 2253: D. Rivera to E. Rivera Jr., $70,000

Antoine St., 500: L. Benzie to R. & P. Kotz, $165,000

Benton St., 620: PA Deals LLC to E. Shenk, $65,900

Benton St., 632: LMK Properties LLC to R. & B. Lomax, $30,000

Berryhill St., 2419: D. Seng to PT Capital Properties LLC, $55,000

Boas St., 414: A. Antoun to Berlin Group LLC, $75,000

Boas St., 420: M. Cohen to PA Deals LLC, $55,000

Calder St., 209: D. Weaver to M. Packard & C. DeAngelis, $143,500

Cumberland St., 121: J. & K. Bowser to J. Gurreri, $124,900

Delaware St., 263: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to R. & C. Steele, $67,000

Delaware St., 267: J. Renue to H. St. Phard, $127,500

Duke St., 2441: T. Nguyen & D. Thu to A. & R. Clark, $60,000

Fillmore St., 622: KAB Rental Properties LLC to S. Pierce, $68,500

Forster St., 2007: J. Claiborn to S. & M. Simpson, $55,000

Green St., 1319: K. Umbenhauer to V. Bajpai & J. Pierce, $109,900

Green St., 1712: S. Heredia to S. Jusufovic, $35,000

Green St., 1904: S. Watkins to R. & A. Gonsar, $195,000

Greenwood St., 2031: M. & M. Kochenour to S. Thomas, $82,000

Hillside Rd., 210: P. & M. Walsh to C. Rockwell, $107,000

Hoffman St., 3102: J. & A. Edwards to E. Mishler, $129,900

Holly St., 2002: Skye Holdings LLC to J. Elias Holdings LLC, $32,000

Hunter St., 1535: S. Costa to Delmax Properties LLC, $35,000

Kensington St., 1918 & 1920: Rohrer Rentals and B., C. & K. Rohrer to J. Willingham, $45,500

Lewis St., 320: B. Williams to Wyco Investments LLC, $53,500

Magnolia Dr., 2402: J. Hamburg to R. Gatling, $170,900

Manada St., 1918: 2013 Central PA Real Estate LLC to 1918 Manada Street LLC, $64,900

Market St., 1152, 1152½ & 1154: S. Peart to 1152 1154 Market St. LLC, $135,000

Market St., 1842: Adonis Real Estate LLC to A. & R. Clark, $92,000

Market St., 1916: C. Centeno to J. Alvarado, $41,500

Muench St., 607: N. Clouser to Buonarroti Trust, $35,000

North St., 1842: SRJ Realty to Sunshine ABQ Real Estate Investment LLC, $34,250

N. 2^nd St., 110, 112 & 115; 211 Locust St.; 206 Walnut St.: Sandton Fund II Holdings LLC & NAI CIR to Second & Locust Investors LLC, $1,850,000

N. 2^nd St., 515: Candlelight Properties Inc. to E. & H. Harbilas, $525,000

N. 2^nd St., 1001: Tang & Perkins LLC to AON LLC, $212,000

N. 2^nd St., 1319: A. Pruett to A. Black, $95,000

N. 2^nd St., 1909: S. Jusufovic to S. Catanese, $167,000

N. 2^nd St., 2432: M. & R. England to B. Eisner, $60,501

N. 2^nd St., 2443: M. Myers to M. & R. Row, $112,500

N. 2^nd St., 2735: K. & H. Thornton to B. Eisner, $123,201

N. 2^nd St., 2841: W. & W. Miller to Michael Barrett Market Street LLC, $200,000

N. 2^nd St., 2846: G. Harke & B. Voss to C. Souchek, $126,500

N. 3^rd St., 1211: T. & E. Chance to C. & L. Eby, $145,000

N. 3^rd St., 2211: D. Chen to J. & A. Sanderson & B. Sheaffer, $92,500

N. 3^rd St., 3020: PA Deals LLC to D. & K. Borelli, $99,900

N. 4^th St., 1630: Leahy Family Trust to J. Parfitt, $91,500

N. 5^th St., 1619: RMAC Trust & Rushmore Loan Management Services LLC to R. Par, $67,500

N. 5^th St., 3009: N. Acharya to T. Fenderson, $119,900

N. 5^th St., 3108: J. Charlton to P. Stawski, $74,000

N. 6^th St., 2526: G. Neff to L. & N. Perry, $34,000

N. 10^th St., 23 & 27: Equity Trust Co. FBO Robert Clay IRA to 812 Market Inc. & Property Management Inc., $100,000

N. 10^th St., 31: R. & B. Clay to 812 Market Inc. Property Management, $250,000

N. 19^th St., 26: A. & S. Ali to D. Paulino, $70,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 307: PA Housing Finance Agency & U.S. Bank National Association Trustee to K. Russell, $85,900

N. Front St., 1605: M. Sibrava to AON LLC, $595,000

Paxton St., 1638: CNC Realty Group LLC & C. Brown Sr. to AUM Investments LP, $36,000

Paxton St., 1726: Kirsch & Burns LLC to L. Dinh & T. Truong, $48,000

Peffer St., 232: E. Horn to S. Leister, $119,900

Regina St., 1813: Atlantic North Star Properties LLC to Sunshine ABQ Real Estate Investment LLC, $30,000

Reily St., 309: L. Fickes & J. Heath to M. & A. Manning, $95,275

Rumson Dr., 2639: J. & C. Renninger to R. Asplen, $87,500

Rumson Dr., 2856: Zelda Marilyn Rosenbaum Trust to S. Aiken, $76,000

Sassafras St., 203: R. Sohmer to W. & E. Branter, $85,000

Seneca St., 217: D. & V. Fry to M. Hoffman, $140,000

Seneca St., 239: A. Manderino to J. Payne, $72,000

Seneca St., 323: A. Otwell to M. & R. Khan, $35,000

Showers St., 577: C. Mulkey to M. Koerner & A. Koch, $104,900

Showers St., 607: C. & R. Haigh to E. Moffet, $143,000

Showers St., 716: N. & R. Godfrey to L. Kraynak, $134,000

S. 13^th St., 1531: J. Beebe to Fruition Holdings LLC, $61,500

S. 15^th St., 351: M. Gray to R. Levasseur & R. Similien, $30,000

S. 18^th St., 916: Crist Holdings LLC to 916 S. 18^th LLC, $325,000

S. 19^th St., 232: S. & K. Sanderson to B. Dessalegn, $30,000

S. 25^th St., 101 & 101 Rear S. 25^th St.: KOP Kline Plaza LLC & Ryan LLC Tax Compliance to Kline Plaza LLC & Nassimi Realty LLC, $8,700,000

S. Front St., 315: S. Eicher to K. Campbell, $144,000

State St., 231, Unit 101: LUX 1 LP to Commonwealth Entrepreneurs LLC, $362,500

State St.,. 1720: Vista Properties LLC to J. Virbitsky, $82,300

State St., 1812: R. Burnett to R. Burnett Sr., $55,000

State St., 1934: D. Schneider to Wilton Hampshire LLC, $85,000

Swatara St., 1914: P. Miller Sr. to A. Padua, $31,000

Swatara St., 2144: D. Selvey to K. & F. Pichardo, $94,000

Woodbine St., 420: T. Griese to J. Cheatham, $51,500
Harrisburg property sales for December 2018, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

$4.5 million extension underway to link Fort Hunter Park to Greenbelt.

October 30, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Local and state officials break ground on the Fort Hunter Link, which will connect the park in Susquehanna Township to the Greenbelt Trail via Wildwood Park in Harrisburg.

Have you ever wanted to ride your bike from Paxtang to Fort Hunter Park?

That could soon be possible, thanks to a $4.5 million expansion to the Capital Area Greenbelt Trail, which runs for 20 miles through five municipalities in Dauphin County.

A two-mile trail extension will create a contiguous route from Fort Hunter Park in Susquehanna Township to Wildwood Park in Harrisburg. Local and state officials gathered at Fort Hunter today to break ground on the new segment, which has an anticipated completion date of late 2019.

Framed by sweeping views of the Susquehanna River and the Rockville Bridge, project leaders hailed the trail’s potential to make Fort Hunter accessible to cyclists and pedestrians.

“When you’re out biking, who would not want to come here?” said Barry Schoch, a former PennDOT secretary who serves as president of the Capital Area Greenbelt Association’s board of directors. “With this connection, you can come up to Fort Hunter, attend one of the many events Dauphin County puts on, enjoy this beautiful view and ride your bike back home.”

Located on the banks of the Susquehanna River, Fort Hunter is home to a historic mansion, outbuildings and playground. Its 40-acre grounds are popular for outdoor festivals, but the only safe way to travel to the park is by car, said Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick.

The Greenbelt extension will make the park accessible by foot and bike by creating a pedestrian lane on Front Street north of Linglestown Road. Front Street’s four traffic lanes will be reduced to three, with one turning lane and one northbound and southbound lane each for cars.

Traffic studies show the impact on motorists will be negligible, Hartwick said.

The project will also eliminate an on-road section of the Greenbelt trail along industrial sites near Wildwood Park. The new segment will start at the northern tip of Wildwood Park at Linglestown Road, running west to link with the new pedestrian lane on Front Street.

Click to enlarge the map of the 20-mile Greenbelt, including the 2-mile Fort Hunter Link.

In addition to the $4.5 million expansion, the leaders also heralded an additional $3 million in safety enhancements planned elsewhere along the Greenbelt.

Six sites along the trail will get new paving and crossing signals in coming months, including intersections at Front and Vaughn streets in Harrisburg; Herr Street and Parkway Drive in Harrisburg; Market and 28th streets in Penbrook; Paxton and 32nd streets in Penbrook; Route 511 at the Five Senses Garden in Swatara Township; and Cameron and Elliot streets near the Dauphin County Recycling Center in Harrisburg.

Other downtrodden segments of the Greenbelt will also be repaved, among them the riverfront trail outside the PennDOT building in Harrisburg.

The bulk of the $7.5 million project budget came from a $5 million grant from PennDOT. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources contributed $1 million, and the remainder came from state and county agencies, including Dauphin County Gaming Grants.

More than 400,000 visitors use the Greenbelt annually, Hartwick said. The 20-mile trail was conceived more than 100 years ago by Harrisburg resident Mira Lloyd Dock, who advocated for Harrisburg to join the nationwide City Beautiful movement and improve its public spaces.

Along with the landscape architect William Manning, Dock envisioned the Greenbelt as an “emerald necklace” connecting the city’s Riverfront Park to surrounding communities.

The project was partially completed by 1917, but extensions stalled until a group of residents formed the Capital Area Greenbelt Association in the 1990s. Grants that CAGA obtained in 1999 allowed it to complete the trail according to Dock’s original vision.

Plans for the CAGA Fort Hunter Link extension. (Courtesy of Dauphin County.)

Free Parking? No, it’s not Monopoly. It’s Harrisburg.

March 30, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

To butcher a famous literary phrase:

“Let us now praise HBG famous men (and women).”

In my column last month, I took to task certain Harrisburg officials who seem determined to strangle downtown’s housing renaissance in its infancy.

But I feel I also should offer praise where it’s due, and nowhere is it due more than with the complicated, difficult issue of downtown parking.

Yes, parking.

Four years ago, Harrisburg’s financial recovery plan went into effect, and, to save itself from insolvency, even bankruptcy, the city entered into a convoluted, 40-year deal to lease out its cash-rich parking system.

Harrisburg surrendered control of its garages, rates, fees, ticketing, enforcement—the whole shebang. From then on, city officials, it seemed, would be able to do little more than smile and accept it as the new operator hiked rates and tightened enforcement.

But that’s not what happened at all.

Oh, sure, the rate hikes happened—street-parking fees doubled—with the adverse effect on downtown business that everyone predicted, especially for the coveted happy hour/dinner business of downtown’s many restaurants and bars. But city officials proved far more resilient and imaginative than I would have thought possible, given their seemingly powerless position.

First, Mayor Eric Papenfuse made a risky bet that reducing street parking rates from $3 to $2 per hour from 5 to 7 p.m. would not lead to any loss for Park Harrisburg. With the support of City Council, the administration pledged to compensate the system operator for any lost revenue. The scheme worked. The city never had to shell out a cent, and the rate for these hours has remained at $2 since.

Next, the city reached a deal with its mobile parking application provider for four free parking hours on Saturday by using the code “LUVHBG.” It then convinced Park Harrisburg to allow 15 minutes of free parking in downtown’s many loading zones, helping to address the problem of people avoiding downtown businesses for quick trips to pick up a sandwich or buy something at the hardware store.

Then, last month, City Council agreed to the grandest stroke yet. Under a new plan, the city will put up some money ($110,000 from a fund that Park Harrisburg already owes the city) to make parking free after 5 p.m. throughout much of downtown.

Now, this idea didn’t start with the city. The credit really goes to the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, which got both the city and Dauphin County on board and is splitting the cost with them.

But there you go: free parking after 5 p.m., four hours free on Saturday and free loading zone parking for those who want to zip in and zip out—all implemented from a position of utter powerlessness. That deserves praise.

Several years ago, I took flack from some readers after I had the audacity to say a few nice things about the new parking regime. I said that I liked the freshly installed digital meters, which actually took credit cards, not just quarters. Also, with better enforcement, I finally could find parking downtown, previously impossible since, with little fear of getting a ticket, people would never move their cars. I didn’t even mind (too much) the admittedly ridiculous $3 hourly rate if that was the price for helping the city get back on its feet financially.

However, I realize now that mine was a minority opinion. Most people in and around Harrisburg had grown used to cheap (or free) parking, seemed to regard it as their birthright, and nothing was going to change their minds. Even reducing the rate to $2 an hour didn’t bring back after-work drinkers and diners in their former numbers.

Honestly, I lay part of the blame on the business owners themselves, who, with a few exceptions, seem utterly allergic to the concepts of marketing and community engagement. The same goes for Park Harrisburg and its parent, SP+, which have never bothered to try to educate people about the system and why and how to use it.

Do most folks even understand that downtown parking costs just $2 an hour after 5 p.m., is free after 7 p.m., is free on Sunday and, with the mobile app, is basically for free on Saturday? For the most part, I don’t think so. Heck, it seems that, almost every day, I have to tell someone that Harrisburg no longer runs the parking system—four years after the city relinquished control of it.

This lack of outreach has allowed the problem to fester, giving people (especially suburbanites) another reason to hate on Harrisburg. It fed and affirmed an existing prejudice against the city, which sustained education and encouragement might have overcome. But that wasn’t done.

But maybe “free” will work. Maybe two bucks an hour is all that stands between suburbanites and a great meal or night out. Maybe any cost—a penny, a nickel, a dollar—is too much for folks accustomed to complimentary parking in vast surface lots. In time, we’ll see. We’ll also see if people actually get the message.

In any case, here’s to inventive, responsible local government. Harrisburg officials took a problem they had no business solving, in a system they had no right to change. And they helped solve it and change it. Praiseworthy indeed.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

March News Digest

March 30, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda and Lizzy Hardison

Free Evening Parking

Free parking could come to downtown Harrisburg as early as this month, as City Council passed a resolution that would offset street parking costs after 5 p.m.

Council agreed unanimously last month to join Dauphin County and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID) in ponying up money to offset parking revenues that operator Park Harrisburg would lose between 5 and 7 p.m.

“I think it’s a boost for the city,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “I think it will lead to more people visiting downtown.”

Harrisburg’s contribution will amount to $110,000 over the next year and will come from money that the parking system already owes the city, said Papenfuse. The county has also pledged $110,000, and HDID will pay $50,000.

The county and HDID had hoped for a three-year deal, though council approved just a one-year test period.

By entering into the “memorandum of understanding,” the three entities—the city, county and HDID—must finalize the exchange with the parking system operator. Papenfuse has said he expects no pushback, as the system operator, SP+/Park Harrisburg, and its asset manager, Trimont, just want to ensure that contributions offset lost revenue, which, last year, amounted to $270,000 between 5 and 7 p.m.

Papenfuse said the parking subsidy could kick in as soon as April, but may take longer.

Since 2014, the city has tried several tactics to mitigate the cost of street parking. First, the Papenfuse administration convinced the system’s operators to lower the “happy hour” rate from $3 to $2 an hour between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. It later turned many of downtown’s loading zones into 15-minute free parking areas.

Nonetheless, downtown bar and restaurant owners continued to complain about a loss of business, which they largely blame on high parking rates.

If implemented, the plan would come with some conditions. First, it would apply only to street, not garage, parking. Secondly, it would take effect only within the HDID boundaries, which run downtown from State to Chestnut streets.

Loan Fund Launches

Whether you’re a shop owner looking to expand your storefront or an aspiring entrepreneur with a business dream, you may benefit from a new loan fund that launched last month in Harrisburg.

Impact Harrisburg is partnering with the Community First Fund and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to launch the Harrisburg Business Opportunity Fund (HBOF) with $1 million in seed money, according to Sheila Dow Ford, executive director of Impact Harrisburg.

Impact Harrisburg, which was founded with proceeds from the sale of Harrisburg’s incinerator, will contribute $350,000 to the fund. The Pennsylvania Housing and Financing Authority has pledged $650,000 through its nonprofit subsidiary, the Commonwealth Cornerstone Group.

Loans will be available to small, for-profit business owners or aspiring business owners in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. According to Dow Ford, the goal of the fund is to encourage economic development, job creation and a diverse workforce in the city of Harrisburg.

“We’re providing for a segment of the population that has, for various reasons, been overlooked by traditional lending institutions,” she said.

Any for-profit business or startup in Harrisburg can apply for a loan, Dow Ford said, though real estate trusts or businesses that buy and sell property will not be eligible.

The new fund bears some resemblance to Harrisburg’s old revolving loan fund, which was launched in 1984 and languished in the 2000s as many borrowers became delinquent.

Dow Ford acknowledged that some HBOF loans might be considered risky by traditional lending standards, since they will be issued to people and ventures that might be denied by traditional lenders. However, she hopes that the partnership with Community First Fund will prevent the same mismanagement and delinquency that plagued the city’s revolving loan fund.

Superintendent Search Begins

The Harrisburg School District is putting up a help wanted sign, but there won’t necessarily be a personnel change in its highest office.

In a 5-4 vote, the Harrisburg School Board decided last month to accept applications for the position of superintendent. The vote means that if current Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney wishes to stay in her post, she must apply for her job and beat out other candidates.

The vote came after more than an hour of spirited public comment at last month’s school board meeting, as near-equal numbers of district residents encouraged the board to vote for or against a resolution to initiate the hiring process.

Residents who supported renewing Knight-Burney’s contract emphasized the importance of consistent leadership during the district’s recovery process. Those who called for an open hiring process said that the district deserved to consider candidates who might make more dramatic gains in student achievement.

Knight-Burney became Harrisburg’s superintendent in 2011. Since 2013, she’s been responsible for implementing the actions in a state-crafted recovery plan, which outlined almost 100 initiatives to improve the district’s academics and operations.

Her current contract, which was renewed in 2014, expires on June 30. Asked if she would reapply for her job, Knight-Burney declined to comment.

Act 47 Status Considered

“The clock is ticking” on the next step in Harrisburg’s path to financial recovery.

That’s the message that a state official had for Harrisburg’s administration and City Council last month, as both bodies were briefed on the timeline for the city’s remaining six months in the state’s Act 47 program for distressed municipalities.

Marita Kelley, Harrisburg’s Act 47 coordinator, appeared at a council work session to explain the city’s duties before Act 47 status expires on Sept. 23.

Here’s what lies ahead, according to Kelley. The mayor and the city clerk will receive a financial condition report, prepared by Kelley and the Pennsylvania Economy League. A public meeting on its contents should take place this month.

After the meeting, she and the Pennsylvania Economy League will have 90 days to prepare a final exit plan for the city. In that plan, they’ll make a formal recommendation for what the city should do in September: extend its Act 47 status, exit the program or enter the oversight of a state-appointed receiver.

The exit plan should arrive before city officials in mid-July. After another round of commenting and a public meeting, Kelley will finalize the exit plan in time for the Sept. 23 expiration deadline.

Kelley thinks it’s highly unlikely that Harrisburg will enter receivership in September. She was hesitant to recommend an action to the city last month, but said during a budget meeting in December that Harrisburg will likely spend another three years in the program, at least.

Reports Released for Train Station, Paxton Creek

A restaurant and café in Harrisburg’s train station, a pedestrian bridge over the train tracks, a flood-controlled Paxton Creek.

Those are a few of the ambitious goals laid out in two reports released last month by the state Department of Transportation, which is taking the lead on rehabilitating the blighted Market Street corridor just east of the Harrisburg Transportation Center, roughly from the train station to Cameron Street.

“These studies serve as a road map to help the city continue to develop as an attractive place to work and play,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards.

PennDOT’s first priority is rehabilitation of the train/bus station itself, set out in a report titled, “Harrisburg Transportation Center Transit Oriented Development Master Plan.”

That project includes removal of the large office space in the main lobby, the addition of an “open-concept café” in the lobby, new seating in the station concourse, the addition of a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a new entry plaza from the lower-level Market Street entrance and the addition of office space on the upper floors.

According to Richards, work is expected to begin relatively soon, as the department has completed 90 percent of the design for the $15 million renovation and is now working with Amtrak on a construction schedule.

The next priority is a massive flood control project designed to restrain, improve and restore Paxton Creek, as delineated in the “Paxton Creek Master Plan.”

The plan outlines steps to modify the channel size and make other improvements that would take 133 acres out of the 100-year flood plan and partially remove another 275 acres, making the area far more attractive for redevelopment. The plan also envisions enhancing the creek area with recreational paths and restoring it to a more natural environment.

PennDOT anticipates four to five years of preliminary work before construction on the project could begin. The estimated cost of the creek improvements is $60 to $90 million, with potential grants coming from the state’s Multimodal Fund, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The transportation master plan envisions other projects, which include:

Streetscaping and façade enhancement, including new sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, signage and utility and lighting poles.
A pedestrian bridge that would extend the station concourse over the railroad tracks, through the former Harrisburg central post office and into the redevelopment area.
Relocation of the intercity bus terminal from Market Street to the redevelopment area and expansion of the facility.
Development of the area near an east entrance to the station.
A new plaza on Market Street.

“These projects will provide exciting opportunities for development in the city of Harrisburg, and for enhancing the quality of life for our residents,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with PennDOT on projects that will benefit not only Harrisburg residents but the entire region.”

New Districts Upheld

Pennsylvania’s redrawn congressional districts withstood two court challenges last month, clearing the way for some areas, including the Harrisburg area, to be unified under new district lines.

First, a three-judge federal panel threw out a Republican-led challenge to the new district map. The same day, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a Republican request for an emergency stay that would block use of the new map in this year’s elections.

As a result, the state Supreme Court’s redrawn district map will stand. This includes a new 10th congressional district that encompasses all of Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York counties, including Harrisburg, York and Carlisle.

The primary election is slated for May 15.

Gaming Grants Given

The Dauphin County commissioners shelled out some $6 million to dozens of projects last month in the annual disbursal of gaming grant money.

The commissioners spread the money around to municipalities throughout the county, with the largest sums, by state law, going to those nearest to the Hollywood Casino at Penn National in Grantville.

In and around Harrisburg, grants to governments included:

* City of Harrisburg: $229,724 for police equipment, the engineering bureau and for Fire Bureau dive team equipment

* Susquehanna Township: $159,900 for sanitary sewer system extension, for Progress Fire Co. vehicle replacement and for Wedgewood Hills Swim Club heat pump installation

* Lower Paxton Township: $82,825 for Devon Manor pool improvements, Koon’s pool improvements and Ranger and George Park soccer upgrades

* Hummelstown: $58,471 for municipal building debt service

* Highspire: $57,200 for roadway rehabilitation

* Steelton: $43,000 for Fire Department apparatus and Skate Park debt reduction

* Swatara Township: $13,000 for Police Department K-9 and training

Grants to Dauphin County entities included:

* MDJ Court Administration: $200,000 for construction of MDJ buildings

* Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority: $137,000 for solar farm project debt reduction

* Dauphin County Parks & Recreation: $101,000 for Detweiler Park master plan and Fort Hunter Station planning project

* Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority: $100,000 for a project on the former State Hospital grounds

* Dauphin County Land Bank Authority: $100,000 for renovation of vacant homes

Grants to organizations included:

* Camp Curtin YMCA: $100,000 for conversion of an indoor pool into a recreational area

* Central Dauphin School District: $75,600 for a school safety improvement project

* Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg: $75,000 for an emergency generator project

* Penn FC (Harrisburg City Islanders): $72,562 for a field conversion project

* Humane Society of Harrisburg Area: $70,000 for an expansion of veterinary services

* Salvation Army: $50,000 for a new headquarters and services facility

* Harrisburg Rugby Food Club: $50,000 for Perseverance Field improvements

* Homeland Center: $40,000 for an emergency generator project

* The Nativity School: $40,000 for furniture purchase and building renovations

* Open Stage of Harrisburg: $32,000 for facility and equipment upgrades

* Capital Region Literacy Corp.: $30,000 for books in schools and clinic program

* Habitat for Humanity: $28,000 for weatherization project

* Heinz Menaker Senior Center: $25,000 for ADA-compliant restrooms

* Midtown Action Council: $13,652 for historic marker renovation and expansion

* Beacon Clinic: $5,000 for HVAC installation and renovations

More Downtown Apartments

More apartments appear headed for downtown Harrisburg, though it may be awhile before you’ll be able to move into one.

Harrisburg City Council last month introduced a resolution that would allow Harristown Enterprises to convert a circa-1952 office building to a 25-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor.

The building, at 124 Pine St., currently houses Keystone Human Services, which would seek new space following a sale, said Harristown CEO Brad Jones.

Keystone currently has the six-story, 30,000-square-foot building on the market for $1.5 million.

Over the past few years, Harristown has converted several downtown office buildings to higher-end apartments, most recently at the corner of N. 2nd and Cranberry streets. That 12-unit building, Jones said, has been renamed “The Bogg on Cranberry.”

The Pine Street project, he said, would consist of 18 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom units that would range from about 700 to 850 square feet in size. Jones said that he expects rents to be about $1,095 to $1,395 a month. The project includes 19 off-street parking spaces, which would be rented separately.

If Harristown gets City Council approval, the company hopes to close on a building purchase in May. Jones, however, expects that Keystone will then lease the building back until it can find a new home, meaning that renovation work probably won’t begin until early 2019.

So Noted

Blake Lynch was named Harrisburg’s new community policing coordinator last month. In this position, Lynch, formerly director of development at the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisburg, will serve as a liaison between the city’s Police Bureau and the community.

Club XL is set to open this month near S. Cameron and Hanna streets in an industrial area of Harrisburg. Owner Phil Dobson said the 18,500-square-foot nightclub and concert venue will feature a large stage, a sophisticated light and sound system and an exterior patio, among other amenities.

Gamut Theatre Group this month plans to begin the second phase of the build-out of its building in downtown Harrisburg. The Gamut Theatre Education Center will include the Alexander Grass Second Stage, two renovated classrooms and other areas for students to learn various aspects of theater operations. The $700,000 project should be completed by August, according to Gamut.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is making plans to open in the newly constructed Hershey Towne Square on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey. The company expects the 9,000-square-foot space to be ready late this year or early next year.

Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority announced last month that Robert “Bob” Zorbaugh will replace Jim Warner as CEO when Warner retires at year-end. Zorbaugh, the current chief operating officer, has served with LCSWMA, which owns Harrisburg’s waste-to-energy incinerator, since 1990.

PSECU last month announced the planned retirement of President Greg Smith, effective February 2019. Smith has served with the credit union for nearly 30 years.

Right on Reily is slated to open late this month in restaurant space across the street from Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg. Owner Dylan Simon said he plans to open at 7 a.m. and will feature freshly made breakfast items, sandwiches, soups and salads from the eatery at 263 Reily St.

Theatre Harrisburg last month announced the departure of its executive director, Allison Graham Hays, who served in the post for about one year. A search for a new director has begun. Those interested should send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2421: J. Howard to L. Brown, $69,900

Berryhill St., 2216: PA Deals LLC to A. & L. Smith, $64,900

Boas St., 111: P. & M. Keelen to J. Swope, $67,000

Boas St., 409: A. Antoun to P. Cannon & M. Hertrich, $84,000

Boas St., 1910: Dobson Family Limited to M. Cardona & S. Guzman, $36,000

Duke St., 2433: 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,900

Evergreen St., 17: E. Ordonez to P. Paniagua, $40,000

Fulton St., 1625: Z. & H. Khan to J. Seibert, $125,750

Fulton St., 1722: Wilmington Savings Fund & Society FSB to PA Deals LLC, $77,500

Green St., 2322: Lake Como REI LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $36,000

Hale Ave., 383: 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,000

Hale Ave., 403: O. Peck to C. & A. Bullock, $71,000

Harris St., 204: G. Olives to A. Hermany & T. Minnick, $149,900

Holly St., 1916: W. Aikens Jr. to R. & B. Cook, $43,000

Hummel St., 243: Tri County HDC Ltd. to B. Dixon, $69,900

Kensington St., 2267: M. Eismann to Blackfoot Viking LLC, $40,000

Kensington St., 2328: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to S. Henry, $65,900

Market St., 1028: J. & A. Karagiannis to R. Luu, J. Son & KS Property Management LLC, $250,000

Market St., 1800: G. Walker to Horizon Trust FBO, Timothy Carter IRA, $105,000

Mayflower St., 1366: G. Vargas to D. Tellado, $60,000

N. 2^nd St., 221: CJ2 Group LLC to Second and Cranberry LLC, $350,000

N. 2^nd St., 2338: H. Witte & A. Atkinson to V. Paredes, $95,000

N. 3^rd St., 3218: T. & B. Seely to S. Dudek, $139,900

N. 4^th St., 1911: K. & D. Fletcher to M. DeMeo, $73,900

N. 5^th St., 1948: L. Blanton to B. & K. Feidt, $73,500

N. 5^th St., 2554: J. Johnson to D. Mallek & W. Sarris, $60,000

N. 5^th St., 3201: Branch Banking and Trust Co. to F. Nestico, $80,000

N. 15^th St., 2: R. Sharma & N. Saini to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $100,000

N. 15^th St., 1425: Top Notch Properties LLC to B. Wevodau Sr., $30,000

S. 24^th St., 563: Lake Como REI LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $65,000

Parkway Blvd., 2509: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to A. & L. Smith, $118,500

Peffer St., 321: K. Whitehead to V. Robinson, $74,000

Penn St., 1504: R. Davis to D. & M. Witwer, $70,000

Penn St., 1612: A. La Luz to N. Giustra, $140,000

Race St., 552: G. & K. Nguyen to A. & H. Appleberry, $144,000

Revere St., 1722: R. Brunstetter to Top Unit Properties LLC, $80,000

Rolleston St., 1153: A. Phillips to C. Suriel, $43,000

Rudy Rd., 2492: HT Properties LLC to W. Marca, $59,000

Rumson Dr., 2899: S. Markowitz to M. Gleason, $58,000

S. 14^th St., 1404: S. McMurray to City of Harrisburg, $47,000

S. 14^th St., 1409: V. Brice to City of Harrisburg, $48,000

S. 14^th St., 1411: DRW Properties LLC to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 14^th St., 1412: M. Hudson to City of Harrisburg, $53,000

S. 14^th St., 1420: S. Crittenden to City of Harrisburg, $52,500

S. 14^th St., 1436: J. Newhouse to City of Harrisburg, $49,000

S. 14^th St., 1441: W. & B. Hornung to City of Harrisburg, $39,000

S. 14^th St., 1442: Blue Real Estate LLC to City of Harrisburg, $51,000

S. River St., 315: Red Realty LLC & D. Shearer to J. & S. Bachman, $109,000

State St., 1713: D. Schneider to J. Virbitsky, $85,000

Susquehanna St., 1622: R. & G. Harris to H. Maierle & C. Kostelecky, $134,500

Susquehanna St., 1704 & 1706: J. Shoop to N. Lotze & A. Anderson, $122,000

Sycamore St., 1421: G. Neff to C. Pizarro, $35,000

Waldo St., 2627: PA Deals LLC to S. Henry, $54,000

Wyeth St., 1413: M. & J. Boyer to J. Hegarty, $105,000

Harrisburg property sales for February 2018, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Dauphin County Doles Out Annual Gaming Grants

March 8, 2018 | by Lawrance Binda

The Dauphin County administration building in downtown Harrisburg

The Dauphin County commissioners shelled out some $6 million to dozens of projects yesterday in the annual disbursal of gaming grant money.

The commissioners spread the money around to municipalities throughout the county, with the largest sums, by state law, going to those nearest to the Hollywood Casino at Penn National in Grantville.

In and around Harrisburg, grants to governments included:

* City of Harrisburg: $229,724 for police equipment, the engineering bureau and for Fire Bureau dive team equipment

* Susquehanna Township: $159,900 for sanitary sewer system extension, for Progress Fire Co. vehicle replacement and for Wedgewood Hills Swim Club heat pump installation

* Lower Paxton Township: $82,825 for Devon Manor pool improvements, Koon’s pool improvements and Ranger and George park soccer upgrades

* Hummelstown: $58,471 for municipal building debt service

* Highspire: $57,200 for roadway rehabilitation

* Steelton: $43,000 for Fire Department apparatus and Skate Park debt reduction

* Swatara Township: $13,000 for Police Department K-9 and training

Grants to Dauphin County entities included:

* MDJ Court Administration: $200,000 for construction of MDJ buildings

* Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority: $137,000 for solar farm project debt reduction

* Dauphin County Parks & Recreation: $101,000 for Detweiler Park master plan and Fort Hunter Station planning project

* Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority: $100,000 for project on former State Hospital grounds

* Dauphin County Land Bank Authority: $100,000 for renovation of vacant homes

Grants to organizations included:

* Camp Curtin YMCA: $100,000 for conversion of indoor pool into recreational area

* Central Dauphin School District: $75,600 for school safety improvement project

* Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg: $75,000 for emergency generator project

* Penn FC (Harrisburg City Islanders): $72,562 for field conversion project

* Humane Society of Harrisburg Area: $70,000 for expansion of veterinary services

* Salvation Army: $50,000 for new headquarters and services facility

* Harrisburg Rugby Food Club: $50,000 for Perseverance Field improvements

* Homeland Center: $40,000 for emergency generator project

* The Nativity School: $40,000 for furniture purchase and building renovations

* Open Stage of Harrisburg: $32,000 for facility and equipment upgrades

* Capital Region Literacy Corp.: $30,000 for books in schools and clinic program

* Habitat for Humanity: $28,000 for weatherization project

* Heinz Menaker Senior Center: $25,000 for ADA-compliant restrooms

* Midtown Action Council: $13,652 for historic marker renovation and expansion

* Beacon Clinic: $5,000 for HVAC installation and renovations

Click here for a complete list of all recipients.

Pieces of Peace: This spring, take a contemplative stroll along Harrisburg’s new Peace Promenade.

February 28, 2018 | by Diane McNaughton

Lenwood Sloan

Lenwood Sloan brought home a peace offering from Hawaii.

Inspired by a conference on global tourism in the Aloha State, he accepted the challenge to take part in the 2018 Global Peace Park Project, with the vision of erecting “peace parks” in all 24 time zones.

In Harrisburg, his idea now spans more than two scenic miles along the east bank of the Susquehanna River. He assembled a “Peace Promenade,” featuring seven existing, but frequently overlooked, monuments, along with the Harrisburg Riverboat, to represent eight pieces of peace.

He hopes that joggers, bikers, power-walkers, festival-goers and motorists moving along Front Street will pause for a moment and consider this pathway of peace. He realizes that far too many passersby never even look up, blinded by haste, jaded by the familiar, or unaware of the significance that inspired the stones.

The promenade is a passion project for Sloan, a self-anointed “catalytic agent” who formerly worked as the city’s arts and culture director and the state’s film commissioner.

When he began, Sloan found that the monuments along the riverfront, tragically, “were foster children.” The city cut the grass around them, but no one took responsibility for them, he said. Worse, few people even knew they existed—even though they may push a stroller or zoom by them in their climate-controlled cars every day.

He was initially “despondent” after several potential supporters declined to help with the project. But he persisted, eventually stitching together what he calls “a crazy quilt” of more than 40 organizations and 200-plus individuals, including state Rep. Patty Kim, the Dauphin County commissioners, local history aficionados and the downtown community.

Riverfront Park, he said, was a natural fit for the park because it already served as a backdrop to so many summertime celebrations on long holiday weekends and is the scene of many 5Ks and family reunions.

“Although we are often a diverse and conflicted community, everyone finds the river as common ground,” Sloan said.

The promenade starts at Market Street and continues to the Peace Pole and Garden, near Emerald Street, built decades ago by the Physicians for Social Responsibility. In the yearlong program, many businesses along 2nd and 3rd streets are offering community conversations as part of the “ground-up movement of coalition-building,” Sloan said, including the Art Association of Harrisburg and the Susquehanna Art Museum.

“This is a passion project by people who are already doing this work, but often in isolation,” he said.

Oasis
The project began last fall with dialogues on the nature of war and peace. After a mid-winter break, it was re-started in late February, as the group honored exemplars of peace, including Homer Floyd, Dr. George Love, K. Leroy Irvis and Dr. and Mrs. John Judson.

The next event in the series will be held later this month to honor the sacrifice of women, Sloan said.

The women’s monument at Front and Clinton streets is the centerpiece of the commemoration.

Erected after World War I, the monument features five women embodying five iconic roles: a mother waving to her military son, a woman in uniform herself, a farm woman holding a rake, a refugee and a Salvation Army nurse.

When the endeavor started, the monument was filled with graffiti and looked like a tombstone, Sloan said.

Former city economic development director Jeb Stuart helped identify cemetery experts who lent advice on how to clean the stone and plate. The Tri-County Federation of Democratic Women and the Harrisburg Keystone Rotary Club adopted the stone, which will be re-dedicated on March 24, and a circular sitting garden will be planted.

Two days later, a civic dialogue will be held with five area residents who will represent the iconic women symbolized on the monument. The Rev. Brenda Alton will moderate the discussion, featuring former York mayor and veteran Kim Bracey; Suzanne Sheaffer, a Gold Star mother; Major Elizabeth Greiner, who will represent the Salvation Army; Tara Bronbeck, who will represent the farmer; and Ho-Thanh Nyguen of the Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network.

“Harrisburg is an oasis and safe house for refugee women all over the world,” Sloan said.

On April 9, the group will advance through time to World War II, focusing on the riverfront’s silhouetted Holocaust memorial. Lillian Rappaport of the Jewish Community Center will lead the dialogue for the event, which will be held at the House of Music, Arts & Culture (formerly Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center), which once served as Harrisburg’s Jewish Community Center.

Sloan said that not only was the Jewish population persecuted in the dark days of Hitler, but so were Catholics, the gay and lesbian community and the disabled. So, representatives from the LGBT Center of Central PA and the disabled community will take part in the discussion, too.

Change Agent
Sloan also pointed to the time capsule that sits virtually unnoticed at Front and Locust streets across from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral.

“People sit and eat their cheeseburger at Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day and never know it’s there,” Sloan said. “The capsule is a pretty shabby lady right now.”

It holds yearbooks, letters and more, but, because it was assembled in the early 1960s, many voices were left out, he lamented, including the voices of women and people of color.

To release those voices, a Chautauqua, or educational gathering, will take place on May 6 at St. Stephen’s. David Carmichael, the new director of PA State Archives, will be the keynote speaker and facilitator.

“All our events are free,” Sloan said, encouraging all to attend. “Just bring your heart, your spirit, and your will to be a change agent.”

For more information on the Peace Promenade, visit www.dauphincounty.org or email [email protected].

Harrisburg Council confirms CRW appointments, delays action on financial advisor, downtown parking

February 27, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Harrisburg City Council tonight

Harrisburg City Council approved four of the mayor’s board appointments tonight but bucked his will on two other pieces of legislation, including one that would bring free evening parking to the city’s downtown business district.

The city’s legislative body appointed Garvey Pressley, Crystal Skotedis, Alisa Harris and Andrew Enders to serve on the board of Capital Region Water. Skotedis and Pressley are current board members. Enders and Harris are newcomers, replacing vice chair William Cluck and board director Daryl Walters.

CRW’s board approves all contracts, budgets and strategic plans for the city’s water/sewer authority. All of the board appointees were nominated by Mayor Eric Papenfuse and endorsed by current board chairman Marc Kurowski.

Council also confirmed the appointment of Shannon Gority, a former CRW executive director who stepped down last year, as a member of the city’s Zoning Hearing Board.

In other action, council sparred with the mayor over a resolution to hire a financial planner for the city, which would allow it to enter into negotiations with one of its creditors and potentially secure a lower interest rate on loan payments.

Papenfuse said that Ambac Insurance Corp., which the city agreed to pay $125 million over a 20-year period as part of its 2013 debt deal, has expressed interest in re-negotiating the terms of the city’s debt payments. Due to requirements under the federal Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, however, the city can’t enter those negotiations without a financial advisor.

Last year, the city issued an RFP and convened a selection committee to choose an advisor. The selection committee unanimously picked Fairmont Capital, which was recently restructured as Marathon Strategic Advisors LLC. The firm, based in New Jersey, is not yet incorporated in Pennsylvania.

Papenfuse explained that Marathon’s senior advisor was favorably recommended by Marita Kelley, the city’s Act 47 financial oversight coordinator. But Kelley’s word alone wasn’t enough for council members, who said tonight that they would not approve the contract with Marathon until they were able to consult two additional references.

Papenfuse warned council that delaying the vote would delay the negotiations with Ambac, which could, in turn, jeopardize favorable interest rates.

“Interest rates will continue to go up,” he said. “This is time sensitive, and to delay even a few more weeks could end up costing the city in the long run.”

Council members rejected the allegation that they were delaying a potential loan restructuring. They claimed that they were applying the same level of due diligence as they would for any city contract.

“We’ve been burned by consultants before,” said Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels.

Council also delayed voting on a deal that would eliminate parking enforcement in Harrisburg’s downtown business district from 5 to 7 p.m. The deal calls for Harrisburg, the Dauphin County commissioners and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District to pay a combined $270,000 a year to Park Harrisburg, the private company that manages Harrisburg’s parking assets.

The agreement originally called for a three-year term, but council proposed adopting it as a one-year trial period. Council President Wanda Williams recommended delaying the final vote until the county commissioners could discuss and agree to the single-year term.

No Tax Hike as Dauphin County Finalizes 2018 Budget

December 13, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

The Dauphin County Administration building.

The Dauphin County commissioners today passed a 2018 budget that keeps property taxes steady for a 13th consecutive year.

The three-person board passed a $241 million budget that contains no increase in the county portion of the property tax, which will remain unchanged at 6.876 mills.

The county does expect to spend more than it takes in for 2018, but plans to use as much as $12.5 million in reserve funds to make up the shortfall. The county stated that it still expects to have a reserve fund balance of about $25 million by the end of 2018.

Last year, Dauphin County also balanced its budget by dipping into its reserve fund. It estimated that it would spend $12.5 million in reserves, but will only spend about $5.2 million by year-end, according to current county estimates.

The county stated that it will add funds to the county coroner’s office in 2018 to deal with the rise in opioid-related deaths. Last year, there were 85 overdose deaths in the county, but the coroner expects more than 100 by Dec. 31.

“This board continues to balance the need for conservative budgeting with the corresponding responsibility to provide vital services for our residents,’’ board Chairman Jeff Haste said in a statement. “We also never stop looking for ways to make our limited resources go farther, which is why we are pursuing a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers to force them to help pay for drug treatment and prevention programs.’’

Legacy of the Land: Detweiler Park welcomes locals into the family

July 31, 2017 | by Allison Moody

On a beautiful summer morning, I strolled the trails of newly established Detweiler Park with two people instrumental in creating it.

We talked about the nuts and bolts of the process, pausing along the way to admire the gorgeous landscape of pine trees, deciduous forest and fields surrounding us.

“This is the same kind of walk I took with David that eventful day three years ago,” Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Director Carl Dickson told me.

Dickson and M. David Detweiler IV met through work in the Parks and Recreation Department, but their friendship grew deeper as the years passed. It was on a tour of David’s childhood home that he asked the question: “Would Dauphin County be interested in turning this land into a park?”

David died in September 2014, but this initial conversation led to the creation Dauphin County’s newest and largest park.

Detweiler Park includes 411 acres of sprawling Pennsylvania wilderness with seven miles of trails spread throughout. Situated between Peter’s Mountain and Clark’s Creek, within view of the Appalachian Trail, the property’s preservation is vital for wildlife and keeping local waterways clean.

“This is a critical piece of land that needed to be preserved,” Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste said.

Pieces of the land can be traced back through four generations of the Stackpole and Detweiler families. Mary Frances “Frankie” Stackpole and Meade D. Detweiler III married and built a house on the property, which still stands. Every summer, children and grandchildren would come to visit, making this land the heart and soul of the family.

“No matter what happens to me or my mom, that place will be there for generations and generations of other families to enjoy,” said David’s son, John Detweiler.

Meade and his wife Frankie, as well as their son David, were cremated, and their ashes were spread throughout the estate. Before he died, Meade made his intentions clear that the land should be preserved and passed on to members of the community.

“We were not really owners, so much as stewards of the property,” said Meade’s daughter, Esme Detweiler Freedman.

In December 2016, the time came for the land to change hands. Appraised at $2.4 million, the property was acquired by Dauphin County through a combination of donation by the

Detweiler family and grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Dauphin County.

The property already had many trails in place, though it needed some love and care. Dickson’s Parks and Recreation team worked to prepare for the opening, cleaning up trails and building a bridge from recycled materials.

“Our staff loves this park, and they really take it to heart,” said Haste. “They’ve gone above and beyond to make this what it is.”

Historically, parks add to property values in the area, as well as quality of life, giving locals another opportunity to get into nature for their health and wellbeing. Though many county parks consist of little more than baseball fields and a playground, Detweiler Park offers something different.

“Where else can you live in a capital city and, within 10 minutes, have 411 acres of pristine nature?” Haste said. “You can’t really put a price on that.”

While the park property is preserved forever, its full potential has yet to be realized. There are farm dumps to dispose of and trails to be blazed, but much of the input on improvements will come from the community.

Over the coming years, there will be community meetings where people can share their recommendations for the future of Detweiler Park with members of the family, Dauphin County and DCNR. If you are eager to share your opinion, you can submit your ideas at detweilerpark.org or send a letter to the Dauphin County commissioners.

Detweiler Park is located at 1451 Peter’s Mountain Rd. in Dauphin. For more information, visit www.detweilerpark.org.

Author: Allison Moody

Fire Funds Update: Bureau of Fire to receive $250,000 to renovate 1980s-era fire stations

March 1, 2017 | by Danielle Roth

Firehouse #1 is a brown concrete building with four garage doors for fire trucks. A firetruck is seen the the background.

Built in 1980, this fire station is slated to receive renovations to the dormitory.

Harrisburg’s two fire stations will receive a $250,000 grant to update the 1980s-era facilities.

This morning, the Dauphin County commissioners unanimously voted to approve this grant and 48 others, which come from a fund generated by revenue at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. The unanimous vote came after the commissioners reviewed the Dauphin County Gaming Advisory Board’s award recommendations last week.

The $250,000 is earmarked to renovate Fire Station #2’s roof and the dormitories in Fire Stations #1 and #2, both built in 1980.

“Really, the projects we have are overwhelming,” said Brian Enterline, Fire Bureau Chief. “We are just trying to hammer away and get the most bang for the buck.”

The current dormitories lack privacy, Enterline said. Right now, 16 beds sit in large, square rooms in each fire station. The renovation plans include adding walls to divide the space and installing locker rooms, he said.

“We are trying to utilize the most space possible so we don’t have a ton of wasted space,” he said. “Right now, we have a ton of wasted space.”

This will be the first major change to the dormitories since the stations were constructed, he said.

The roof renovation for Fire Station #2 includes incorporating aspects of Capital Region Water’s community greening project, an environmentally friendly way of managing stormwater runoff.

Enterline said the last roof renovation was in 1988 and now its deteriorating state threatens to lead to leaks and damages.

“Everything is original. It’s been a real challenge,” Enterline said. “We are trying to do projects as we get the money to do them, and we are trying to be the best stewards of that money.”

This funding is part of $5.6 million county-wide grants generated from a tax on Hollywood Casino in accordance with the Pennsylvania Gaming Act. A September State Supreme Court ruling determined this act violated the state constitution, leaving the future of the grant program in jeopardy.

Hollywood Casino agreed to provide grants for the first half of 2017, said Jeff Haste, chairman of the county board of commissioners.

“If it was not for Penn National Gaming coming forward … being a good partner in the community, [these grants would not happen],” Haste said at today’s meeting.

The casino has made $150 million in local-share grants since its opening in 2008, said Mike Pries, board of commissioners vice president.

“If we didn’t do these gaming grants, the cost would be passed onto the taxpayers,” he said, with Haste adding that the grants give local municipalities leverage to receive additional funds.

Enterline also doesn’t want to see this funding disappear.

“The Fire Bureau has always gotten great support from the [Gaming Advisory Board],” he said. “It’s a huge benefit for our city, the region and everybody.”

These other local projects will receive funding:

$350,000 to Dauphin County Parks & Recreation for Detweiler Park acquisition
$163,236 to Susquehanna Township for public safety building debt reduction
$151,000 to Lower Swatara Township for bridge replacement and fire apparatus debt reduction
$140,650 to Paxtang Borough and Central Dauphin School District for school building safety improvements
$217,100 to Lower Paxton Township for park playground project, Penn Colonial Pool improvements and Linglestown Fire Co. Building improvement
$39,250 to Steelton Borough for firefighting equipment replacement
$110,154 to Swatara Township for water rescue response boat and vehicle and Reliance Hose Co. Station improvements
$55,000 to Penbrook Borough for Elm Street Park improvements
$43,152 to Highspire Borough for firefighting equipment
$30,000 to Dauphin County Human Services to purchase a van for transportation program
$200,000 to Dauphin County Court Administration for the construction of MDJ buildings
$127,000 to Dauphin County Conservation District for agricultural stewardship project
$69,001 to Dauphin County Land Bank Authority to renovate two vacant homes
$100,000 to PinnacleHealth for an addiction and substance abuse urgent care clinic
$33,000 to Dauphin County General Authority for maintenance equipment acquisition
$35,000 to Steelton Borough/Homeland Center for upgrades to emergency back-up generator
$70,000 to Salvation Army for new headquarters and services facility
$50,000 to Steelton Borough/Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg for John Hall Clubhouse renovation
$50,000 to Steelton Borough/Monumental AME Church for HVAC upgrade and boiler removal
$26,204 to Susquehanna Township/Jewish Family Services for headquarters renovations
$35,000 to Susquehanna Township/American Literacy Corps for Books in Barbershops program

Author: Danielle Roth

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