Tag Archives: Derek Dilks

Harrisburg Chamber names recipients of 2022 Catalyst Awards

October 13, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

M&T Bank and the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University have been named 2022 Catalyst Award winners, as the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC announced its most recent list of people and organizations serving as positive forces for our area.

The recipients are among eight awardees for one of the area’s most prestigious annual honors.

“We are incredibly proud to honor this group of visionary and dynamic individuals and businesses for their commitment to our region,” said Ryan Unger, president & CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. “This diverse group has demonstrated the characteristics and values of being true catalysts for change and opportunity in our region.”

In addition to the Catalyst Award itself, the chamber and CREDC announced the winners of additional awards under the Catalyst framework to honor others in the Harrisburg area. They are:

Athena Award: Kathleen McKenzie, Highmark Blue Shield
Corporate Diversity Champion of the Year: The GIANT Company
Diversity Influencer of the Year: John “Ski” Sygielski, HACC
Entrepreneur of the Year: Derek Dilks, Dilks Properties
Government Leader of the Year: Nathan Silcox, Hampden Township Commissioner
Small Business of The Year: Cornerstone Coffeehouse
Volunteer of The Year: Davis Holliday, Searcher Films

Each year, a panel of local business and community representatives select the recipients, according to the chamber.

In 2018, TheBurg received the Catalyst Award.

The annual Catalyst Awards ceremony will take place on Dec. 7 at the Hilton Harrisburg and is open to the public. For more information and tickets, visit www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.

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Downtown Harrisburg apartment project to move forward following City Council approval

August 23, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Rendering of the building planned for 512-514 N. 2nd St. (image courtesy Chris Dawson Architect)

A mixed-use building project planned for downtown Harrisburg has the go-ahead to proceed with construction.

At a legislative session on Tuesday night, Harrisburg City Council approved a land development plan for a five-story residential and retail structure at 512-514 N. 2nd St. The resolution passed with a vote of 6-0, with council member Dave Madsen recusing himself due to a conflict of interest.

Developer Derek Dilks plans to demolish the two dilapidated buildings that currently sit on the property and build a new 5,000-square-foot building with first-floor retail space and seven apartments above.

According to Dilks, his company will construct six one-bedroom units and a penthouse suite on the top floor. Rents are expected to range from $800 a month to $1,900 a month for the penthouse.

The current dilapidated buildings at 512-514 N. 2nd St.

The project received approval from the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board in 2021 for its contemporary design.

In other news, council approved the submission of a grant application to the Dauphin County Gaming Grant Program requesting $300,000. The grant would fund the rehabilitation of the atrium floor of the city’s MLK City Government Center and the first-floor public restrooms, as well as the purchase of three police vehicles.

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November News Digest

October 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Senior Housing Gets Go-Ahead

An affordable housing development for seniors planned for Harrisburg is free to break ground.

At a recent legislative session, City Council unanimously approved the land development plan for Bethel Village, a 49-unit apartment building for low-income seniors at N. 6th and Herr streets.

“I think this is a win for the community,” said Blane Stoddart of RB Development, one of the partners in the project. “So many people are going to benefit from the building of this building to provide affordable housing for the residents of Harrisburg.”

While many council members voiced support for the mission of creating affordable housing in the city, some did have hesitations about the limited parking.

Officials of the $15 million Bethel Village plan to have only four off-street parking spaces. Council President Wanda Williams expressed concerns about the lack of planned parking for building residents.

Bethel officials have said that they believe a majority of their residents, all low-income and elderly, will not own a car.

The developers also have letters of intent with Tabernacle Baptist Church for the future use of 15 surface parking spaces and with the state Department of General Services for use of 10 spots.

Williams noted that using the church and DGS parking lots will require senior residents to walk uphill and across busy streets, something she saw as a safety hazard.

“I want to make sure everything is right for the senior citizens,” she said.

However, in the end, with reassurance from Stoddart that they would increase their safety measures, Williams voiced her support for the project.

“I’m excited for this because I know the city needs this,” she said.

Building Design Approved

A new, mixed-use building in downtown Harrisburg received its first city approval last month, despite some lingering concerns over its contemporary design.

By a 3-1 tally, the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) voted to approve a five-story residential and retail structure at 512-514 N. 2nd St. that includes an exterior of brick, glass and metal.

Currently, two long-empty, neglected buildings occupy the site. Under the plan by developer Derek Dilks, they would be razed and a new, 5,000-square-foot structure would be built consisting of first-floor retail space and seven apartments on four floors above.

“I think it’s great to see more projects that are going to improve the city and turn a couple of dilapidated buildings into occupied, new construction,” said architect Chris Dawson, following the meeting.

At a prior meeting, several HARB members questioned the modern aesthetic of the design, saying that it stood in stark contrast with the streetscape, which largely consists of century-plus-old brick buildings.

However, at last month’s meeting, a majority seemed satisfied overall with the project design.

HARB member Kali Tennis stated that cities need a blend of historic and modern architecture, with buildings not mimicking older styles but reflecting the times in which they’re constructed.

“My personal opinion is that it both blends and distinguishes itself,” she said, of the building design. “Our job is to thoughtfully look at a proposal like this and think about it in the context of the whole city.”

The project now needs to go through the city’s land development process.

Fire Bureau Announces Hires, Awards

The Harrisburg Fire Bureau last month held its annual awards ceremony and announced new hires for the department.

Three new firefighters, Dylan Landuyt, Johnathon Felty and Codie Schaffner, officially joined the bureau. The swearing-in of these firefighters brings the bureau to a full complement of 90 personnel, Chief Brian Enterline said.

In addition to the swearing-in ceremony, the following awards and recognitions were given to firefighters in the bureau:

Award of Bravery—Kyle Paul

Award of Merit—Capt. Aldo Morelli, James Grundon, Zachary Miller, Patrick Giberson, John Peskie, Battalion Chief Jason Lloyd

Unit Citation—Lt. William Skinner, Nathaniel Barbolish, Justin Zimmerman, Michael Stender, Lt. Jeffrey Miller, Jared Day, Thomas Propst, Joseph Kuhn, Battalion Chief Brian Bastinelli, David Gilkey, Shane Conrad, Lt. Robert Lohin, Brandon Trygar, Jamie Kleckner, Thomas Cucchiara

CPR Save—Jared Day, Lt. Corey Stone, William Junkin, Shane Conrad, David Aguayo, Johnathan Little, Thomas Cucchiara, Austin Howard, Capt. Charles Zavrel, Richard Brocius, Nicholas Hurst, Lt. Brian Yonkin, Marty Henderson, Glenn Raudensky

Bureau members of the Pennsylvania Task Force 1 also received National Deployment Awards for assisting throughout the country. They were recognized for assisting at the presidential inauguration, during Hurricane Ida and at the collapse of the Champlain Towers in Florida.

One firefighter, Brent Hill, received a National Deployment Award for supporting the National Interagency Fire Center during California’s wildfire season.

Downtown Tasting Rooms Debut

Last April, downtown Harrisburg lost Sip@SoMa, a rotating, limited-engagement brewery concept on S. 3rd Street.

This was actually good news, as Swatara Township-based Boneshire Brew Works opened a permanent tasting room in the space.

But now Sip@SoMa is back—times two.

Last month, Harristown Enterprises debuted a new Sip@SoMa just a few doors down from the original location. In addition, it plans to open another tasting room on the street, Sip@17, which will cater to small-group gatherings and tastings.

Both locations will feature products from a rotating lineup of Pennsylvania brewers, vintners and distillers, in limited engagements.

“Harristown is thrilled to add these two new tasting rooms to this thriving neighborhood,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown. “These two new tasting rooms will add to the vibrancy of this block and create a destination tasting row for the SoMa neighborhood.”

Located at 23 S. 3rd St., the new Sip@SoMa is larger than the original location at about 1,000 square feet, plus a 600-square-foot patio in the back, which together seats about 40 customers. The industrial-style design also features a small bar and performance stage.

Sip@17, located at 17 S. 3rd St., is a smaller space of about 600 square feet. It is intended mostly for special, more intimate events, such as wine tastings.

Sara Bozich will be responsible for booking vendors and promotion.

Longer term, Harristown’s plan for the two spaces is the same as for the original Sip@SoMa, now occupied by Boneshire—to lease them permanently and turn S. 3rd Street into a “tasting row,” according to the company.

“Harristown intends to offer these spaces for lease eventually and will be looking to build additional tap rooms in the neighborhood at other storefronts it owns,” Jones said.

New LGBTQ History Markers

The LGBT Center of Central PA’s History Project last month unveiled two state historical markers in downtown Harrisburg that honor local LGBTQ history.

The plaques, one at N. 3rd and North streets and the other at 205 State St., tell the stories of past Pennsylvania Gov. Milton J. Shapp and Richard Schlegel, a pioneering gay activist, respectively.

“People look to these historical markers as a window into our state history,” said Barry Loveland, chair of the LGBT History Project. “It’s really rewarding to know that finally some of this history will get recognized.”

These are the first historical markers for LGBTQ history in the commonwealth outside of Philadelphia, Loveland said.

The LGBT History Project started in 2012, and since then, Loveland and others have uncovered and documented many stories from LGBTQ history. Shapp and Schlegel’s stories were two that had huge impacts in central PA and nationally, Loveland explained.

In 1974, Shapp met with activist Mark Segal, which is believed to be the first meeting of a sitting governor with a gay activist. Shapp later appointed a task force to study and advise him on improving public policy for LGBTQ people, Loveland said.

Schlegel began working for the PA Department of Highways in 1963. He became active in the Janus Society, one of the first LGBTQ organizations in the state, and established a central PA chapter in 1964. The group met at Schlegel’s apartment at 205 State St., Loveland said. Schlegel was investigated for his involvement in gay activism and fired from his state job, later setting up a foundation to benefit LGBTQ organizations.

Loveland said that he was surprised to learn of Shapp’s advocacy for the LGBTQ community.

“He’s not particularly known for gay rights accomplishments,” he said. “That’s something we were surprised by. Shapp was really ahead of his time.”

Street Renamed to Honor Black History

A downtown Harrisburg street will get a new name to recognize Black history in the city.

At a legislative session last month, City Council unanimously approved a resolution to designate a section of Walnut Street as T. Morris Chester Way.

“I think it’s important that we recognize and highlight the contributions of African Americans in the city of Harrisburg and what we’ve done to improve Harrisburg despite the odds,” council member Westburn Majors said.

The idea was brought to council by the IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade, which is responsible for the recent installation of the Commonwealth Monument at N. 4th and Walnut streets.

According to the Commonwealth Monument Project, Chester was a prominent figure in Harrisburg history during the 1860s. He was a lawyer, soldier and the only Black war correspondent during the Civil War. He also is recognized as one of the bronze figures in the Commonwealth Monument.

Walnut Street will keep its name, but, from Commonwealth Avenue to Front Street, it will gain T. Morris Chester Way as a second name. This will allow addresses to remain the same and avoid confusion, city Engineer Wayne Martin explained.

Lenwood Sloan of the Peace Promenade and executive director of the Monument Project said that the name “would concretize our designation as a national heritage site.” It will help create a pathway that connects several of the group’s African American history memorial sites, which include the Commonwealth Monument and the Bethel Heritage Trail, which commemorates the Bethel AME church in Harrisburg, he said.

Home Prices Up, Sales Dip

Harrisburg-area home prices continued a months-long climb while sales dipped in September, according to the most recent report on existing home sales.

For the month, 757 houses sold in the three-county region compared to 812 in September 2020, but the median sales price surged to $231,000 from $204,200 last year, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 356 homes sold for a median price of $205,000 in September, versus 370 homes at $178,000 last year, GHAR stated.

In Cumberland County, 347 houses sold, a drop of 21 units from last year, as the median price climbed to $255,000 compared to $226,250 in September 2020.

Perry County saw sales of 34 houses for a median price of $217,450. Last September, 51 houses sold at a median price of $180,000, according to GHAR.

Houses were selling more quickly than last year, as the “average days on the market” dropped to 20 days versus 33 days the prior September, GHAR stated.

So Noted

Andrea Britt last month was named 2021 New Librarian of the Year by the Pennsylvania Library Association. Britt has served for the past three years as the STEM librarian at Penn State Harrisburg Library.

Autumn Cooper and Anthony Burnett last month were named the first two appointees to Harrisburg’s Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory Board, which will be focused on police accountability. The mayoral nominees must be approved by council, which also must make five of its own board appointments.

Capital Region Water last month opened its customer service center for walk-in customers at its new location at 3003 N. Front St., Harrisburg. CRW also was recently featured as a community “anchor institution” for the Harrisburg area, according to a U.S. Department of Environmental Protection report titled, “Water Utilities as Anchor Institutions.” The piece highlights CRW’s programs and efforts to assist lower-income residents.

Elvis Solivan was hired last month as Harrisburg’s new business development/LERTA administrator. Solivan has experience in affordable housing, workforce development, government affairs and customer services, according to the city. He previously served as a regional senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and as a communications specialist at the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Kelly A. Gollick last month was named the new executive director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Harrisburg, replacing Mark Totaro, who retired in July after serving in the post for 18 years. Gollick previously served as executive director of CONTACT Helpline in Harrisburg.

Lorien Reese Mahay last month began as the new executive director of Theatre Harrisburg, responsible for the day-to-day operations of one of the country’s oldest community theaters. Mahay has over a decade of experience in theater management, education and development, including as associate director for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, based in Stony Brook, N.Y., according to the theater.

Nate Spriggs is the new director of Harrisburg’s Public Works Department. Spriggs worked for Harrisburg for 22 years before leaving in 2017 to become public works director for Susquehanna Township. He replaces Dave West, who is retiring at the end of the year, and, before that, Aaron Johnson, who retired in March.

TheBurg was named “News Organization of the Year” last month, an annual honor from the PA NewsMedia Association Foundation. TheBurg won first-place in the “weekly” category, while another Harrisburg-area newspaper, PennLive/The Patriot News, took first in the “multi-day” category. In all, 120 news organizations competed for the honors, according to the foundation.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2450: J. Alicea to R. Mondesi, $120,000

Adrian St., 2467: L. Locke to Alliance Estates LLC, $82,000

Bartine St., 925: Federal National Mortgage Association to A. Bryce, $41,000

Berryhill St., 1243: M. Seif to TKO Properties LLC, $38,000

Berryhill St., 2443: T. Yanich to K. Murphy, $69,900

Boas St., 124: A. Masser & A. Byrne to R. Schlicker & D. Della Loggia, $162,000

Boas St., 213: L. & S. Godinez to Z. Woodward, $190,000

Brookwood St., 2456: D. Stockley to Alliance Estates LLC, $80,000

Brookwood St., 2460: G. Trout to C. Mellinger, $96,500

Calder St., 109: Peter J. Lawson Trust to B. Smith, $163,500

Calder St., 319: J. Rivera to T. Russ, $113,000

Cumberland St., 107: T. Shovlin to C. & J. Askin, $160,000

Cumberland St., 212: N&R Group to E. Vera, $220,000

Cumberland St., 257 & 259: CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown II LLC to N&R Properties, $340,000

Derry St., 1127: Medallo Real Estate LLC to K. Purnell, $47,000

Derry St., 1240: S. Akhter to G. Olivo, $195,000

Derry St., 1632: M. Wijaya to K. Gonzalez, $50,000

Derry St., 1950: Next Generation TC Parvez Akhter IRA to SPG Capital LLC, $50,000

Division St., 650 & 2997 Jefferson St.: D. Walker Jr. & J. Alwine to 650 670 Division Street Ventures LLC, $650,000

Elm St., 1714: Tridents Partners LLC to SRC Capital LLC, $34,000

Emerald St., 247: M. Bekelja to W. Correa & E. Rose, $115,000

Emerald St., 248: C., A., & K. Thompson to M. Nolan, $136,250

Emerald St., 520: J. Perkins to R. Feiler & B. Braun, $60,000

Emerald St., 635: Great Row LLC to C. Arango, $61,000

Forster St., 1912: PA Deals LLC to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $49,900

Fulton St., 1713: M. Fagan to C. & R. Ellis, $170,900

Geary St., 610: CPenn Patriot Properties LLC & Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Parfait Real Estate LLC, $119,995

Green St., 711: R. Coldren to S. Patrick, $190,000

Green St., 1122 & 1210 and 1114 Penn St.: Salvation Army Inc. to High Pointe Apartments LLC, $658,200

Green St., 1711: B. Rockwell & N. Gurley to B. Foster, $231,000

Green St., 2235: V., D. & J. Brown to P. Thomas, $115,000

Green St., 2316: U&N Properties to Dolly Properties LLC, $40,000

Hale Ave., 414: D. Wilson to I. Yolov, $65,000

Hale Ave., 415: J. & J. Fickett to B. Fickett, $70,000

Herr St., 119: J. Cooper to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $142,000

Herr St., 1500: R. Welborn to C. & T. Stephens, $120,000

Herr St., 1507: P. Akhter to SPG Capital LLC, $57,000

James St., 1327: S. & D. Noto to K. Lupold, $110,000

Jefferson St., 2999: J&S Estates LLC to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $345,000

Kensington St., 2227: B. & L. Nguyen to KCA Holdings LLC, $60,000

Liberty St., 1343: HBGRE LLC to SRC Capital LLC, $36,000

Liberty St., 1406: PI Capital LLC to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $75,000

Logan St., 1938: P. Abel & R. Rolan to SPG Capital LLC, $74,000

Maclay St., 236: D. Lee to Bebe LLC, $289,000

Maclay St., 401 & 407: Trinity Church of God to Viva Iglesia Manatial de Agua, $100,000

Market St., 1907: J. Alvarado to H. Johnson, $155,000

Market St., 2203: J. Hunter to D. De La Rosa, $189,900

Midland Rd., 2317: J. Jordan to M. & P. Sweeney, $261,000

Muench St., 318: P. Sisemore & K. Hugo to V. Adams, $124,900

Mulberry St., 1823: Mid Penn Bank to H. Ali, $43,500

Mulberry St., 1848: Kirsch & Burns LLC to Quality Rentals LLC, $70,000

Mulberry St., 2002: C. Keester to H. Saldana, $87,000

North St., 1936: Y. Smith to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $30,000

N. 2nd St., 224: Nicholas E. Dunphy Jr. Trust to A. Sidhu, $210,000

N. 2nd St., 1718: 1718 Realty Associates to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $330,000

N. 2nd St., 1807: D. Keech to PDI Properties LLC, $98,500

N. 2nd St., 2138: R. Nagy to S. & J. Toole, $125,000

N. 2nd St., 2527: K. & D. Maltzie to J. Sutter, $270,000

N. 2nd St., 2711: V. & A. Montgomery to N. Corado, $282,000

N. 4th St., 1426: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to E. Drum, $89,900

N. 5th St., 1632: T. Kenenitz Jr. to A. Rasheed, $175,000

N. 5th St., 1738: M. Meads to A. Brown, $185,100

N. 5th St., 2744: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC & R. Rudy to C. Peterson, $60,000

N. 6th St., 2450: D. & A. Semancik to D. Aibangbee, $122,500

N. 6th St., 2633: CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown LLC to Dreams2Reality Services LLC, $50,000

N. 6th St., 2703: G. & J. Rhiel to J. De Grullon, $46,000

N. 6th St., 2915: N. Frazier to J. Brubaker, $150,000

N. 14th St., 1211: F. Burgos to T. & F. Jenkins, $115,000

N. 15th St., 1329: 2013 M&M Real Estate Fund LLC to E. Drum, $69,900

N. 16th St., 618: C. & E. Henderson to C. Henderson & S. Ranson, $130,000

N. 16th St., 1002: D. Wilson to L. Deane, $71,000

N. 17th St., 52: Akilis Realty LLC to Akilys Real Estate LLC, $30,000

N. 17th St., 92: H. Pitt to ZM Penn Group LLC, $38,000

N. 17th St., 1105: R. & L. Overton to S. Simmons Sr., $55,000

N. 18th St., 905: M. Johnson to K. Mills Jr., $125,000

N. Front St., 1631: Front & Hamilton Streets Associates to PASA Sustainable Agriculture, $750,000

N. Summit St., 45: Evolution Properties LLC to N. & J. Hoover, $37,500

Paxton St., 1801: TNT Properties LLC to MMLM Realty LLC, $170,000

Peffer St., 230: Keystone Brothers Investments LLC to D. Tepper & E. Lowe, $190,000

Peffer St., 272: J. Bush to L. Kirkwood & H. Sindelar, $163,800

Penn St., 913: J. Robinette to A. Wooditch, $143,000

Penn St., 1915: J. Bankard to A. Birkhimer, $171,000

Penn St., 2117: TKO Rental Properties LLC to Sound Community Solutions, $60,000

Penn St., 2320: J. Compton to R. McCullough, $120,000

Pennwood St., 3200A: Husky Assets LLC & Ron Gensil LLC to Men of Morals LLC, $45,000

Race St., 552: A. & H. Appleberry to C. Martinez, $185,000

Radnor St., 403: TKO Rental Properties LLC to O. McCadney, $131,000

Revere St., 1715: S. Wallace to PA Deals LLC, $65,000

Rudy Rd., 1919: A. Ross to J. Kimble, $106,000

Rudy Rd., 2478: M. Murphy to J. George, $82,000

Rumson Dr., 2965: T. Jones to K. Jackson, $115,000

Showers St., 606: N. Jones to T. Buehler, $185,000

S. 13th St., 445: R. & T. Smolsky to S. & T. Jefferson, $100,000

S. 15th St., 27: Notable Investments LLC to SRC Capital LLC, $36,000

S. 18th St., 15: Gilligan Realty LLC to L. Rivas, $45,000

S. 18th St., 1100: S. Savage to J. & I. Lusan, $128,000

S. 19th St., 10: J. Gritten to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $80,000

S. 19th St., 1201: D. Greene to R. Rodriguez & C. Ross, $160,000

S. 20th St., 1200: G&H Holdings to R. Yussif & S. Alhassan, $220,000

S. 25th St., 704: E. & P. Southard to S. & M. Mejia, $120,000

S. 25th St., 734: SPG Capital to J. Pichardo, $81,000

S. Front St., 549: J. Benjestorf to Raas Properties LLC, $359,900

S. River St., 313: K. Mahoney to K. Grant, $119,900

State St., 211: SREG H LLC to State Capital Property Holdings LLC, $318,500

State St., 231, Unit 603: LUX 1 LP to Kreit Group LLC, $150,500

Susquehanna St., 2246: Harrisburg Mini Storage LLC to SJL Rentals LLC, $251,000

Swatara St., 1314: Peter & Rose Abel Properties LLC to D. Boyle, $43,000

Swatara St., 1937: R. Purdy to K. Watson, $115,000

Verbeke St., 1325: Care Properties LLC to K. Brunner, $87,600

Walnut St., 403: Get Rich Early Associates & R. Heaney to J. Charles Realty LLC, $575,000

Wayne St., 1400: W. Owens & L. Razo to S. Saxton, $170,000

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

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Contemporary design for downtown building gets nod from Harrisburg review board

October 5, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

A rendering of the proposed building for 512-514 N. 2nd St. Image: Chris Dawson Architect

A new, mixed-use building in downtown Harrisburg received its first city approval on Monday night, despite some lingering concerns over its contemporary design.

These two long-vacant buildings (right) would be razed for the proposed project.

However, at Monday’s meeting, a majority seemed satisfied overall with the project design.

HARB member Kali Tennis stated that cities need a blend of historic and modern architecture, with buildings not mimicking older styles but reflecting the times in which they’re constructed.

Another member, Camille Bennett, continued to voice concerns.

“It looks like it’s going to overpower all the buildings in the back,” said Bennett, who voted against the concept. “It looks like someone took a big, modern building and dropped it right there on 2^nd Street.”

The HARB approval was a first step forward for the project, which still must go through the city’s planning and zoning processes.

This is the second recent HARB approval for Harrisburg-based Chris Dawson Architect.

In June, the review board unanimously approved a proposal in Midtown that has some similarities to the one downtown.

Like the Dilks project, Harrisburg-based ModernRugs.com wants to demolish two small, long-vacant, dilapidated commercial buildings and build a new structure with a contemporary aesthetic, designed by Dawson’s firm.

A rendering of the proposed new building at N. 3rd and Basin streets. Image: Chris Dawson Architect

The ModernRugs proposal calls for a 10,000-square-foot structure at the corner of N. 3rd and Basin streets, adjacent to the company’s existing buildings along the block. The new building would feature a façade of dark brick, large windows and metal mesh screens.

The project also will need to go through the city’s land development process before it can move forward.

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Developer proposes contemporary-style, mixed-use building for downtown Harrisburg

September 14, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Under a current proposal, the two buildings on the right would be razed for a new mixed-use building.

A Harrisburg-area builder is proposing a five-story, mixed-use building for downtown Harrisburg, which would require demolition of two derelict structures now on the site.

On Monday night, the project’s architectural firm presented a plan for 512-514 N. 2^nd St. to the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB).

Project architect Allison Krichman told board members that the design reflected a contemporary aesthetic that respects the historical integrity of the block.

“We hope that we’ve evolved the project to be a very contextual, 21^st century contemporary building that fits in with the context around it,” said Krichman of the Harrisburg-based firm, Chris Dawson Architect.

She stated that the building’s structural design, materials and balconies combine to yield a modern look that addresses a contemporary desire for open space while still respecting the block’s architectural legacy.

A rendering of the current design for a building proposed for the 500-block of N. 2nd Street in Harrisburg

At the meeting, the firm represented their client, developer Derek Dilks, who is proposing to raze the dilapidated buildings now on the site and construct a new, 5,000-square-foot building with first-floor retail or restaurant space and seven apartments on four floors above.

Last year, Dilks bought the two forlorn buildings for $90,000 from former area attorney Gilbert Petrina, who had owned them for decades. Three years ago, HARB gave Petrina permission to raze the buildings, but he never did so.

The city’s Planning Bureau has pushed back on the proposed design, stating that it lacks continuity with the historical streetscape.

“Replication or reproduction is not the goal with new infill construction but the retention of character and continuity of the existing fabric is important to preserve the feel, character, and experience of the historic district,” states the bureau’s case report. “The current proposal is more differentiated than it is compatible, and it is recommended that the design is amended to ensure more contiguous architectural harmony with surrounding buildings.”

Several HARB members on Monday agreed with the report’s findings, stating that they believed that the design could fit in better with the other buildings along the street, which generally are a century-plus old.

HARB members requested possible design alternatives, and the case was tabled and continued to the October meeting.

HARB approval constitutes just one step in what could be a lengthy approval process for the project, which also must go through the land development process, with final approval by City Council.

At the meeting, HARB also voted to allow some modifications to a Midtown building slated to become a 16-unit, market-rate apartment building, but pushed back on some of the changes requested by the developer.

Notably, the builder, Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners, agreed to install aluminum casement windows to better match the materials originally used in the mid-century, former Salvation Army building at 1122 Green St. in Harrisburg.

The developer also will be permitted to mount a sign to the building at the corner of Green and Cumberland streets, while closing off building access from Green Street, instead employing the main entrance on Cumberland Street.

The project will convert the 10,920-square-foot building to one- and two-bedroom units. The developer plans to begin the project soon, with an expected completion date of mid-2022. The city already has approved the project’s land development plan.

We Re-Built This City: Harrisburg hasn’t experienced this much development in a century. What’s driving the trend?

March 31, 2021 | by M. Diane McCormick

The Hudson Building will become the Atlas 1923

In a world emerging from strife and disease, Harrisburg plants its flag. Grand buildings emerge. Neighborhoods fill with new homes. People congregate to celebrate life.

So, is it 1921 or 2021? Harrisburg has seen building surges in other ages, but right now, a perfect storm of trends is driving a renaissance that’s reshaping the cityscape for the 21st century.

Waiting List

Twenty-seven projects. That’s the number of development projects planned or underway as counted by Harristown Enterprises, and the number keeps growing. Total investment in the city: $601 million.

Many projects are clumped in a few blocks of Midtown Harrisburg. Whatever could be going on there?

While the federal courthouse at 6th and Reily streets is not the sole reason for the surge, it is the catalyst that city leaders hoped for when they stopped the mighty U.S. government from gouging a gash in the heart of downtown, choosing instead to build in a once-blighted area about a mile away.

Historic Harrisburg Association recently talked with two federal judges who want to get to know their new neighborhood and “be a part of the community,” said Executive Director David Morrison.

“That’s what we think is spurring a lot of this development—federal employees wanting to live in that part of Midtown, as well as people who do business with the U.S. courts,” he said.

One major project clearly spurred by the courthouse is the Reily House—seven floors of apartments, retail, urban grocer and restaurant, with a 500-space garage for courthouse parking neatly disguised to the rear.

“That’s a really creative approach to killing a couple birds with one stone,” said historian Jeb Stuart.

Single causes have never driven Harrisburg’s historic “spikes in development and lulls in development,” said developer Derek Dilks. Some of today’s projects are “obviously” attributable to the courthouse, but others are like his—redevelopments of townhomes, offices and a Midtown church to satisfy demand for Class-A, market-rate apartments and retail spaces.

“For the best and the newest products, there’s a waiting list,” he said. “People in older apartments, paying the same or similar rent, are going to go from older stock to newer. Hopefully, that encourages the owners of those older buildings to redevelop.”

Good Stock

With their historic perspective, Morrison and Stuart emphasize that the city has had multiple growth spurts.

The City Beautiful movement of 1901-02 was sparked by construction of the new state Capitol and a comprehensive plan to clean up a filthy city. In the 1920s, growth pushed northward, creating the Zembo Mosque, William Penn High School, Italian Lake and new homes. Municipal historic districts created in the 1970s—earlier than in many cities—protected priceless architecture from the wrecking ball. The “Harristown Plan” of the 1980s focused development on downtown.

For today’s resurgence, all of those phases add up to good bones. Harrisburg has a robust inventory of buildings sought by character-craving apartment-hunters and restaurateurs.

“We have some really nice architecture here,” said Harristown President and CEO Brad Jones. “No question about it. Two of our projects are that kind of adaptive reuse. I was showing that (27 projects) slideshow to someone from Philly recently, and he said, ‘Wow, you picked some nice buildings.’”

Increasingly, developers and community groups contact Historic Harrisburg to vet their ideas for adaptive reuse. Developers responding to market demands—driveways in the 1920s, walkability in the 2020s—are a key force in growth, said Morrison.

“The municipality is a helpful partner, but it’s not a monolithic domineering factor that prohibits things from happening,” he said. “It’s kind of a partnership that happened then and we’re seeing now.”

At the Gateway

While the courthouse visibly represents Midtown development, people don’t see the interest that Harrisburg Director of Economic Development Nona Watson is fielding for projects citywide. She won’t cite the projects yet, but “wheels are turning in other parts of the city.”

“They’re using what’s happening to continue to branch further and further out,” she said.

From her perch, Watson tries to formulate “a holistic approach” that convenes existing assets, funding and multiple partners to revitalize not just buildings but entire neighborhoods. It worked organically for Mulder Square at Mulberry and Derry streets, she said, and now, it’s a model for such areas as Camp Curtin, to extend the courthouse’s redevelopment juice farther up the 6th Street corridor.

There at the Camp Curtin gateway, Adam Maust is redeveloping the long-abandoned Hudson Building at 6th and Maclay streets into The Atlas 1923. With no development experience, Maust dove into a massive project that, he hopes, will help smooth out the neighborhood’s “rough areas.” He has worked with neighbors and community groups to design the Atlas elements, aiming for a market or grocery store, and perhaps a community center for exclusive use by neighbors.

“I’m excited about saying we can come in here and really help foster a safe environment, a lit-up environment, with things that are just going to organically help the area,” he said.

Affordable housing is high on Watson’s agenda. At the direction of Mayor Eric Papenfuse, she is working with City Council members to develop an affordable housing plan that could incentivize developers to mix affordable housing with market-rate units. And as she notes, affordable housing means housing for moderate-income people as well as low-income.

“We have to have housing on all levels,” Watson said. “If you have too much affordable housing, especially in a particular area, then you have concentration of poverty. If you talk about all market-rate, then you have gentrification.”

Watson is seeing the difference that the development surge is making in—yes—grocery stores. Food chains that rejected her overtures before now want in on the action.

“Development is going to draw more investors, is going to draw more businesses, and with that, of course, you’re going to need more housing,” she said. “Everybody wants to be on the winning team.”

From a developer’s perspective, Harrisburg is “manageable,” said Maust. Out-of-state developers spooked by the cost points of redeveloping in big cities are stretching their budgets in Harrisburg.

“We have the Farm Show,” said Maust. “We have the Susquehanna River, which is gorgeous. You have the historical, long-term buildings and residences all around the area. It is a beautiful city that is actually very tangible, and that’s why you’re seeing all these big projects.”

Value Proposition

Harrisburg real estate is “red hot,” said Jones. One of the reasons: The scrutiny that secondary and tertiary cities—the terms come up a lot—are getting from metropolis residents who have become work-from-home converts.

“There’s lots of flight from bigger, more expensive cities to places that offer a strong value proposition but still give you some of the things you loved about your urban environment,” said Jones, whose company is building more two-bedroom apartments in response. “If I only have to work in the office a couple times a month, I can live in Harrisburg.”

Big-city companies and people are looking for value in tertiary markets, agreed Dilks.

“If you’re in Chicago or D.C. or New York and you just want to get out of the city, you’re going to come to a smaller market, like a Philly or Harrisburg or Lancaster,” he said.

Dilks is tailoring his apartments to the remote-work trend, with bonus spaces or sliding walls to keep the dog from crashing Zoom calls. Such spaces could also be attractive to lobbyists and others who travel regularly to Harrisburg on state business. Once, they rented an office space and a hotel room. Now, they want a single space year-round.

Like Watson, Jones sees “more projects coming into the pipeline, all over the city. The more you see, the more there will be. One project’s success leads to the next one’s evolution.”

Dilks plans to wait for the pandemic’s after-effects to materialize before deciding on his next projects. In the meantime, he counts himself among developers who are “doing what we do because we love the city.”

“We love the architecture. We love development. There just happens to be a market here that supports what we’re doing,” he said. “Those are the ingredients you need. You need somebody who loves to do it, and you need a customer to appreciate what you’re doing.”

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Harrisburg City Council approves former Methodist Church transformation, six-story downtown apartment building

March 9, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

The former First United Methodist Church will become apartments.

A few Harrisburg developers have cleared the final hurdle to begin their projects.

At a Tuesday night legislative session, City Council approved land development plans to convert a vacant church into an apartment building and another to build a six-story apartment and retail building, along with four other projects.

Developer Derek Dilks plans to transform the former First United Methodist Church at 260 Boas St. into an eight-unit apartment building. He received zoning relief for the $1.2 million project in January in order to change the use of the 140-year-old church building.

Also approved were a range of renovation projects that Dilks plans for downtown. These include:

25 N. Front St., converting an office building into an eight-unit apartment building
321 N. Front St., converting an office building into a six-unit apartment building
130 State St. converting an office building into a five-unit apartment building

With a unanimous vote, Harristown Development can also move forward on its project at 21 S. 2^nd Street. The company plans to construct a six-story, mixed-use building with apartments, offices and first-floor retail space.

Harristown purchased the property in 2017, demolishing the blighted commercial building that then occupied the site.

Other approved resolutions included:

1605-1609 Swatara St., consolidating and re-subdividing the parcels comprising the project site into three parcels and constructing three, single-family townhomes
Awarding up to $10,000 in funding to the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium to co-sponsor the Pennsylvania Environmental Justice Symposium

Several more land development plans for new projects are slated to appear on the City Council agenda in the coming weeks, including the “Carpets and Draperies” building on N. 3rd St., a long-blighted retail building that will be repurposed as apartments.

Also coming to council is a large project in the block bounded by Boyd Street, N. 5th Street, Reily Street and Fulton Street, which will include 85 apartments, a grocery store and a parking garage.

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Apartment conversion, “tiny house” project for veterans get Harrisburg zoning approval

January 26, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Two Harrisburg development projects jumped a key hurdle on Monday night, getting the approval of the city’s Zoning Hearing Board.

A split board first granted a variance and special exception to developer Derek Dilks, who plans to convert the former First United Methodist Church (pictured) into an eight-unit apartment building.

Dilks needed zoning relief because he has proposed a change in use for the 140-year-old church building at 260 Boas St. Also, the proposed one-bedroom apartments range in size from 550 to 1,125 square feet, which is smaller than the city allows by right.

Dilks explained that he plans to invest about $1.2 million into the building’s redevelopment and that the project would not be financially viable with fewer units.

“We’re projecting that eight apartments is a little bit better than break even,” said Dilks, who added that he considered as many as 12 units before scaling back to eight.

Rents would range from $1,250 to $1,800 a month, Dilks said. Some of the units include lofts and additional home office space, he said.

Last July, Dilks bought the property for $99,000 from the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, which put most of its churches on the market in 2019.

The city’s zoning code did not require Dilks to provide off-street parking, but the issue came up both at the meeting and at the previous Harrisburg Planning Commission meeting. In response, he said that he’d provide eight dedicated parking spaces at the Lofts at 909, an apartment building he owns a block away at Green and Forster streets.

Only one resident spoke at the virtual meeting about the project and voiced support.

“My interest is only to say that I totally support it,” said Green Street resident Shane Fox. “It seems great. I would love to have more neighbors in Midtown.”

The Zoning Hearing Board approved the variance and special exception by a 2-1 vote, adding a condition that each unit be assigned a designated parking space at the Lofts at 909. Board Chair Thomas Leonard voted against it.

“I’m opposed . . . because the impact on the neighborhood is excessive,” he said.

Later on during the nearly four-hour meeting, the board gave unanimous approval for a variance and special exception for a project that proposes 15 “tiny houses” and a community center on vacant land along the Susquehanna River in south Harrisburg.

A nonprofit called Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania has proposed the project at 1103 S. Front St. to provide temporary housing and support services for homeless veterans. The organization needed zoning relief for that specific use and because the community center does not meet the height requirement for the “riverfront” zoning district.

A rendering of the proposed “tiny house” community.

The development would be built on about 5.5 acres of what is commonly called Phoenix Park, former industrial land adjacent to the Capital Area Greenbelt. The property owners, Harrisburg philanthropist Peggy Grove and her son, Michael, have agreed to donate the land to the group, according to Thomas Zimmerman, president of Veterans Outreach of PA.

“Our homeless veterans are ones who were willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom,” Zimmerman said to the board. “We want to give them the opportunity to have transitional housing to get them back on their feet so they can get back into society and live a life of normalcy.”

He said that they are modeling their village upon similar developments in places like Kansas City, Mo., San Diego, Calif., and Savannah, Ga., among other cities.

“This model has been proven in other parts of the country,” he said. “So, we’re just bringing it here to central PA.”

The project also includes 15 parking spaces.

With these approvals, both the church-to-apartment conversion and the veteran’s tiny house project now must have their land development plans approved by the city.

Several other significant development projects were on the Zoning Hearing Board agenda for the meeting on Monday. However, they were either given a continuance until the February meeting or will be heard at a special meeting scheduled for next week.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 25, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

The CATE mobile COVID-19 testing unit stopped in Allison Hill this week.

The first day of fall arrived this week. Enjoy the brisk weather and something pumpkin-flavored while you catch up on the news from this past week.

Bob’s Art Blog highlights artist Jovana Sarver, a true “polymath of the arts.” Sarver is a sculptress, textile interpreter and major works art installer. Check out Bob’s story to see some of her work.

COVID-19 bonuses are coming to the city’s essential workers who served throughout the pandemic. Harrisburg hopes to show its appreciation by compensating each employee $2,500, our reporting found.

COVID-19 cases in PA declined slightly over the past week, our online story found. There was an average of 788 newly diagnosed cases per day.

Forster Street has some pedestrian-friendly changes coming, our online story reports. Harrisburg announced it will receive a federal grant to reduce the width of the road between the Harvey Taylor Bridge and N. 2^nd Street, among other improvements.

The Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup will go on this weekend after a delay from April, due to the COVID-19 crisis. Organizer Tri County Community Action hopes to encourage neighborhood respect and ownership amongst community members, reported our online story.

Harrisburg’s Comprehensive Plan was approved by the Planning Commission, our online story reports. The plan, “HBG2020,” is intended to set goals for the city for the next 10 to 20 years. Next, it will need approval from City Council.

The Harrisburg School District decided to adjust its online class schedule after feedback from families that students were having trouble staying engaged, our online story reports. Also, Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer is considering allowing voluntary workouts for student-athletes after canceling the fall sports season.

Harrisburg’s Zoning Hearing Board approved developer Derek Dilks’ plan to convert historic properties on State Street and Front Street into apartments. Our online story has the list of properties and Dilks’ plans for them.

A mobile COVID-19 testing unit visited Allison Hill in Harrisburg this week, our online story reported. The Community-Accessible Testing & Education (CATE) unit aims to provide testing for free to underserved communities.

Roots of My Land is a new Ecuadorian restaurant in Allison Hill. Our magazine article tells the story of Marisol Aviles de Ortiz and Hector Ortiz who, over 20 years ago, dreamt of opening their own restaurant.

Sara Bozich has plenty of activities to get you in the fall mood this weekend. Enjoy a movie night at the bandshell in Reservoir Park, check out Oktoberfest at the PA Renaissance Fair or enjoy a corn maze at Paulus Mt. Airy Orchards.

Shalom House plans to expand its capacity to serve women and children experiencing homelessness in Allison Hill, our online story reports. Harrisburg City Council approved the development of three vacant lots behind the organization’s community center for use as a shelter and transitional housing.

Trick or treat night in Harrisburg will look different this year, our online story reports. Local officials canceled city-sanctioned trick-or-treating and offered an alternative. A few locations around the city will hand out grab-and-go candy bags.

Visit Hershey & Harrisburg created their Beer Barons Beer Trail to encourage tourism in the area. Read in our magazine story about the new mobile app that links about 20 local craft breweries for trail-hoppers to check out.

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More apartments headed for downtown Harrisburg, as developer plans project blitz

September 22, 2020 | by M. Diane McCormick

These long-time office buildings at 122-124 State St. are slated to become apartments.

Developer Derek Dilks stands to significantly expand his Harrisburg footprint, as the city Zoning Hearing Board has approved his plans to convert historic properties on State Street and Front Street into apartments.

During a virtual meeting on Monday night, the board approved special exceptions to transform two State Street buildings into “multifamily dwellings”:

122-124 State St. into three apartment units.
130 State St. into five apartment units, including a first-floor live-work unit. Dilks agreed to designate an accompanying lot for tenant parking.

130 State St. in Harrisburg.

Before the Zoom meeting, Dilks withdrew from the agenda yet another office-to-residential proposal for six apartment units up the block at 223 State St. Dilks later said that he is discussing the project with the neighboring Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association and expects to resubmit to the zoning board in October.

Zoning board members split on two other projects, proposed for Front Street, that Dilks brought before them on Monday:

25 N. Front St. The board approved eight apartment units, including first-floor office space, along historic Governor’s Row.
321 N. Front St. Dilks received a continuance until the board’s Oct. 19 meeting after two members objected to the inclusion of only four parking spaces for the nine units proposed.

The city Planning Commission has already approved all the projects, citing the revitalization of historically and architecturally significant buildings, plus the injection of residents to enliven downtown on nights and weekends.

25 N. Front St. in Harrisburg

Dilks expects State Street construction to begin this fall, with completion in spring 2021. The more extensive Front Street projects require City Council approval, and he projects their completion in summer or fall 2021.

Dilks owns several other buildings in Harrisburg, including the Lofts at 909, an apartment building in the former Boas Street School at Green and Forster streets.

At the virtual meeting on Monday, several State Street neighbors, mostly attorneys, balked at what they claimed could be parking constraints and traffic congestion along their storied avenue.

“Those of us who have invested here, who have worked very, very hard to create a street that has become the heart of the legal, lobbying, government affairs community of this city want to maintain that,” said Charlie Gerow, CEO of Quantum Communications. “We’ve all invested significant money, significant time, significant effort into that. We’re here every day. We work here every day. Our money is at play here every single day. Granting relief downgrades all of our properties, and by extension, the city itself.”

Dilks conceded that a first-floor professional office at 122 State St. would be acceptable, but he told the board that he and Harrisburg-based architect Chris Dawson were “simply seeking to utilize these buildings to the highest and best use.”

“It’s going to be the same staircase, the same restoring to its original historic character,” he said. “The new use, whether it’s two people there, watching TV, having dinner, or whether it’s two people there practicing law or having a meeting—we’re not increasing the density.”

321 N. Front St. in Harrisburg

At 321 N. Front St., the former Clark Resources building, Dilks promised to address the parking shortage for that office-to-residential conversion by encouraging tenants to use parking garages, but board Chairman Thomas Leonard and member Aaron Holt were not persuaded. On the other hand, board member Shannon Gority saw a fit with contemporary lifestyles.

“I understand your concern with parking,” she told Leonard. “But I also am aware of a shift in the way people are living nowadays with respect to modes of transportation or the lack thereof.”

Dilks later said that he would return in October with an acceptable parking plan. At that meeting, he also expects to submit a plan for conversion of the former First United Methodist Church at 260 Boas St. in Midtown into six apartment units, possibly including a bakery. Dilks bought that property, one of the many Harrisburg-area UMC churches put up for sale last year, in late July for $99,000.

The former First United Methodist Church on Boas Street

With Mowery Construction owner and President David Cross, Dilks also is co-developer and equity partner for Schoolhouse Flats, the conversion of the former Lemoyne Middle School into 46 apartments.

State Street will see yet more change, as the Zoning Hearing Board on Monday night also approved WCI Partners’ proposal to create a takeout café adjoining the Little Amps coffee shop at State and N. 2nd streets.

Little Amps plans a takeout cafe in this building next to their location at N. 2nd and State streets.

Customers would use a separate entrance to buy from an expanded menu of food items prepared in a new kitchen shared by the two spaces. On the two floors above the takeout café, WCI Partners would create two new apartments and renovate a third.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler, co-publisher of TheBurg, is a principal with WCI Partners.

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