Tag Archives: Eugenia Smith

August News Digest

August 28, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Museum Funding Targeted

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse has asked the Dauphin County commissioners to cease channeling a portion of the countywide hotel tax to the National Civil War Museum.

Papenfuse said that he objects to an arrangement worked out by former Mayor Stephen Reed that funnels a certain amount of money each year to the 13-year-old museum, despite a county ordinance designating that the money be spent on promoting tourism in the city. In the last fiscal year, the museum received $290,000 out of the portion meant for promoting the city, which totaled around $500,000.

The museum, located in Reservoir Park, used that money to pay for operational costs as part of its $1.1 million budget.

Instead of giving that money to the museum, Harrisburg would be better off using it to promote other tourism initiatives, such as the city’s annual summertime festivals, Papenfuse said.

The city owns most of the museum’s artifacts, as well as the building, which it rents to the museum for $1 a year. The museum pays its operational expenses, but the city is responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the building.

Tax Abatement Discussed

The Harrisburg school board last month listened to a proposal to revive tax abatement for property improvements in the city.

Brian Hudson, executive director of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, shared with the board a plan to stimulate development and renovation in the city through a 10-year, citywide abatement program.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse is expected to push this fall for an initiative that would lead to no tax increases for property improvements over a decade. Instead, taxes would be levied for that time based upon the pre-improvement value of the properties.

In order for the program to take effect, the school board, the city and Dauphin County all would have to sign off on it.

New School Administrator

Education consultant Drue Miles, author of the education chapter in the Harrisburg school district’s state-sponsored recovery plan, last month was named the district’s new acting school improvement administrator.

The position, which pays $600 per day, was vacant after the departure of Sherry Roland-Washington, who left Aug. 15.

Gene Veno, the district’s state-appointed chief recovery officer, said that he recommended the emergency hiring of Miles while the superintendent searched for a permanent replacement for Roland-Washington.

City Audit Delayed

Harrisburg’s audit has been delayed several months due to a budget oversight that did not fund the outside assistance the city needed for prep work before the audit could begin.

The Thompson administration did not request—and City Council did not approve—funds for the engagement of Trout Ebersole & Groff, the accounting firm that has assisted the short-staffed budget office with audit preparation in recent years.

The oversight stemmed in part from a decision by the state Department of Community and Economic Development not to assist the city with audit prep this year, as it had in prior years under Act 47 and receivership.

After taking office, the Papenfuse administration worked to apportion the necessary funding for outside help, which will cost around $45,000. Brian Ostella, chair of the city’s audit committee, said that prep work was completed in mid-June and actual audit work began in mid-July.

Maher Duessel, the accounting firm that has performed the city’s audit for the last decade, expects to complete the audit by mid-November, Ostella said.

Sinkhole Probe Launched

Harrisburg City Council has approved hiring an engineering firm to conduct an emergency sinkhole investigation.

Camp Hill-based Gannett Fleming is performing the work, focused around the 1400-block of S. 14th St., where several sinkholes have formed in recent months. The probe, which will employ seismic surface waves and verification drilling to develop a site map, should be completed by year-end.

The cost of the investigation will be shared with Capital Region Water. It is estimated to cost $166,000.

Trash Fees Adjusted

Harrisburg’s small business owners have received some relief, after City Council temporarily lowered fees for trash collection.

For years, small businesses have complained that they were subject to high commercial collection rates, even though they generated little trash.

Under the new provision, small businesses will be charged the same rate as residential customers: $156 a year or $13 a month. To qualify for the lower rate, they must produce no more trash each week than can fit into two trashcans with lids.

The lower rate applies only until the end of the year. In November, the Department of Public Works will assess the impact of the reduction and report to council whether it should be made permanent.

Mansion Re-Named

The mansion in Reservoir Park last month was officially re-named in honor of Harrisburg Councilwoman Eugenia Smith.

The prominent building was named the Honorable Eugenia Smith Family Life Center during a ceremony featuring music, speakers and a release of doves.

Smith, 53, died suddenly in April at the start of her second term as city councilwoman.

Changing Hands

Cumberland St., 119: R. Nordberg to JB Buy Rite LP, $50,000

Duke St., 2614: A. & V. Morelli to PI Capital LLC, $61,300

Ellerslie St., 2346: PA Deals LLC to D. Clark, $70,000

Fulton St., 1419: JP Morgan Chase to G. & D. Hanslovan, $63,000

Green St., 1112: M. Monathan & M. Taylor to M. Fitzgerald, $165,000

Green St., 1514: J. Couzens to E. Sheaffer & D. McCleskey, $180,000

Green St., 1711: R. Mehiel & L. Kackman to B. Rockwell & N. Gurley, $168,000

Green St., 1811: R. Ruiz to M. Bonsall, $100,000

Green St., 1921: J. & A. Webb to WCI Partners LP, $117,000

Green St., 2031: J. & A. Webb to WCI Partners LP, $119,000

Green St., 3234: R. Krasevic to T. Ash, $119,900

Locust St., 122: DLK Partners LLC to Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Inc., $130,000

Luce St., 2332 & 2314½: R. & C. Sheetz to Care Properties LLC, $60,000

Mercer St., 2441: M. Davenport et al to O. Diallo & M. Barry, $46,000

N. 3rd St., 1408: F. & M. Cavanaugh to GreenWorks Development LLC, $139,900

N. 3rd St., 3026: L. Curtis to R. Daniels Jr., $35,000

N. 4th St., 2427: D. Seymore to B. Jones Sr., $35,000

N. 6th St., 3014: J. Hadfield & W. Grace to K. Dixon, $73,000

N. 6th St., 3212: R. & B. Snyder to RT Home Solutions Inc., $30,000

N. 12th St., 33: Kirsch & Burns LLC to LMK Properties LLC, $40,000

N. 18th St., 1000: JLB Properties LLC to S. Donald, $44,900

N. Front St., 111: J.A. Hartzler to BCRA Realty LLC, $250,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 101: A. Ferraiolo to A. Mohanavel, $156,500

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 602: M. & C. Heppenstall to R. Hostetter Jr., $250,000

Paxton St., 1924: L. Zaydon Jr. to Steve Fisher Rental Properties LLC, $125,000

Penn St., 1520: S. Litt to A. Fortune, $114,000

Penn St., 2411: J. Shockey to D. Wendt, $78,375

S. 2nd St., 314: J. Wansacz to D. Bowers & K. Shifler, $115,000

S. 3rd St., 19: P. Dobson to Dewberry LLC, $325,000

S. 13th St., 506: PA Deals LLC to J. & A. Garbanzos, $65,000

S. 19th St., 1133: M. & B. Faulkner to N. Colon & R. Romero, $85,000

S. 23rd St., 600: G., D. & M. Complese to S. Wright, $69,900

State St., 219: WCI Partners LP to B. & K. Sidella and J. & N. Jones, $225,000

State St., 1516: Kirsch & Burns LLC to LMK Properties LLC, $37,000

Susquehanna St., 1737: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to L. Reapsome, $43,500

Walnut St., 1206: Kirsch & Burns LLC to LMK Properties, $32,000

Walnut St., 1525: ABC Solutions LLC to Choukri Auto Services LLC, $40,000

Wiconisco St., 620; 621 Emerald St.; 2352 Derry St.; and 612 & 614 Seneca St.: R. Shokes Jr. & Shokes Enterprises to JDP 2014 LLC, $259,000

Harrisburg property sales for July 2014, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

July News Digest

July 31, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Zoning Code Gets OK

Harrisburg has a new zoning code, as City Council last month approved a complete overhaul to how the city guides residential and commercial development.

Council members gave their unanimous consent to the code, the first complete update in 64 years. The new code substantially streamlines the city’s zoning map, reducing the number of base zoning districts from 27 to nine and overlay districts from six to four.

At the last minute, council made a number of changes to the code to respond to concerns voiced by several developers during a series of hearings in June. Therefore, with a special exception, a wider variety of uses now will be permitted in certain zones, including the Institutional, Commercial and Downtown Center zones.

Notably, council narrowly defeated an amendment that would have allowed the owner of the former U.S. postal facility at 815 Market St. to continue a full range of industrial uses by right. Under the new code, his property falls into the Downtown Center zone, where most industrial uses are banned.

Under a grandfather clause, businesses will be able to continue their properties’ current uses, regardless of the new zoning.

The effort to revamp the zoning code began years ago. In 2010, the council introduced a new code, but it died in committee. With several changes, the Papenfuse administration re-introduced that code earlier this year, stating that a new code was needed to move the city forward economically.

Land Bank Established

City Council last month passed legislation creating the Harrisburg Land Bank, an effort to strengthen the city’s fight against blight.

The land bank aims to take vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties and return them to productive use, according to the city.

A seven-member board of directors will direct the land bank, giving it the right to acquire properties before they go to judicial tax sale. The board will make such decisions as which properties to acquire, how the properties will be managed, how funds will be acquired to make purchases, and how property will be disposed of.

It also allows the city to purchase and assemble clusters of property to make them more appealing for redevelopment.

“This is a major tool in our efforts to tackle the problem of abandoned and blighted properties in our city,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We can now proceed to refine our strategy to improve the housing stock in our city.”

HUD Funds Allotted

Harrisburg last month voted to disperse about $3 million in federal funds for housing, community and public service groups.

As it usually does, City Council made a number of changes to the administration’s recommendations on how to allot the annual funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In the end, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds went to:

Administration and Indirect Costs: $376,279
Debt Service: $335,358
Housing Rehabilitation Program: $300,000
Emergency Demolition: $295,000
Homeowner Demolition Program: $150,000
Harrisburg Fair Housing Council: $131,000
Camp Curtin YMCA: $125,000
Heinz-Menaker Senior Center: $101,209
Park Playground Equipment: $100,000
Fire Station Roof Repairs: $98,050
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area: $90,000
Code Enforcement: $69,500
Public Safety: $50,000
Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry: $35,000
Tri-County Community Action: $25,000

Home Investment Partnerships Program funds went to:

Targeted Area Rehab/New Construction: $330,326
Homeowner Improvement Program: $200,000
Operating Expenses: $66,065
Grant Administration: $44,043

Emergency Solutions Grant Program Funds went to

Christian Churches United/H.E.L.P.: $39,765
Shalom House: $39,765
YWCA Greater Harrisburg: $39,765
Grant Administration: $9,678

The Papenfuse administration had sought $150,000 for a rental rehabilitation program. Council, though, decided to redirect that money to several groups that had been denied funding in the administration’s initial proposal.

Sinkhole Probe Launched

Harrisburg City Council last month approved hiring an engineering firm to conduct an emergency sinkhole investigation.

Camp Hill-based Gannett Fleming will perform the work, focused around the 1400-block of S. 14^th St., where several sinkholes have formed in recent months. The probe, which will employ seismic surface waves and verification drilling to develop a site map, should be completed by year-end.

The cost of the investigation will be shared with Capital Region Water. It is estimated to cost $166,000.

Trash Fees Adjusted

Harrisburg’s small business owners received some relief last month, after City Council temporarily lowered fees for trash collection.

For years, small businesses have complained that they were subject to high commercial collection rates, even though they generated little trash.

The lower rate applies only until the end of the year. In November, the Department of Public Works will assess the impact of the reduction and report to council if it should be made permanent.

Jackson Hotel Gets Go-Ahead

The historic Jackson Hotel may be saved after all, as the Harrisburg City Council last month approved a plan that should lead to its renovation.

Council gave the OK to a land use plan that will subdivide the property at 1006 N. 6^th St. from the Jackson House restaurant next door. Decades ago, the two parcels were combined into a single lot.

With council approval, Harrisburg residents Kerry and Lessa Helm can complete the purchase of the four-story, 6,000-square-foot Victorian townhouse from Dave Kegris, the owner of Jackson House.

Kegris has owned both properties since inheriting them from German Jackson, an African-American entrepreneur whose hotel once served prominent black celebrities and other visitors to Harrisburg who were not allowed to stay in whites-only establishments.

Kegris long has run the eatery, but couldn’t afford the extensive renovations to the hotel next door, which has deteriorated badly over the years.

The Helms learned about the house by reading a story in the May 2013 issue of TheBurg. They now plan to stabilize the rundown building and begin a long-term renovation with the goal of making it their home.

Mansion Named for Eugenia Smith

The Reservoir Park mansion has been renamed in honor of Eugenia Smith, a Harrisburg city councilwoman who died suddenly in April.

The mansion now will be called The Honorable Eugenia Smith Family Life Center.

The administration originally proposed renaming the smaller Brownstone Building for Smith. However, City Council changed the resolution after Councilwoman Susan Brown-Wilson insisted that the mansion would be a more fitting tribute to Smith.

City Requests Noise Exemption

Harrisburg plans to ask the state Liquor Control Board for an exemption to its noise regulations for establishments selling alcohol downtown.

City Council last month approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for an exemption, so that it could enforce its own noise control ordinance. Currently, downtown Harrisburg restaurants, bars and nightclubs are under both sets of regulations.

The city has asked for—and been granted—exemptions to the state’s noise ordinance several times before.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2449: R. & H. Dougherty to A. McKune, $51,000

Bigelow Dr., 40: Fannie Mae to G. Neff & M. Murphy, $32,000

Boas St., 209: M. Roda to V. Padilla, $112,900

Brookwood St., 2624: J. Thompson et al to K. Patel, $220,000

Capital St., 1214: E. Hoynes to J. Forbes, $99,500

Chestnut St., 2113: G. Yarnall to J. Dos Santos, $190,000

Edgewood Rd., 2312: Fannie Mae to J. Whiteman, $85,000

Hale St., 427: J. Fox to D. & C. Taylor, $55,582

Manada St., 1905: U.S. Bank NA Trustee to PA Deals LLC, $30,000

Market St., 1317, 1321: W. & N. Schubauer to S. Betz, $440,000

N. 2^nd St., 902: J. Salvemini & D. Vitale to L. & S. Freeman, $147,000

N. 2^nd St., 1303: PA Deals LLC to D. Reinhart, $95,000

N. 2^nd St., 2644: M. Ventresca to D. Castle, $250,000

N. 4^th St., 2250: R. & T. Ruiz to Equity Trust Co. Custodian Linda Dean IRA, $39,000

N. 4^th St., 3108: P. Purdy to E. & C. Thomas, $122,000

N. 7^th St., 2712: PA Deals LLC to Merrick Solo 401K Trust, $57,000

N. 15^th St., 1309: R. Floyd et al to M. Gabrielle, $47,000

N. 17^th St., 88; 1150 Mulberry St.; 2332 N. 6^th St.; 2519 N. 6^th St.; 2308 Jefferson St.; 448 Hamilton St.; & 612, 613, 614, 616, 617, 619 Oxford St.: Redevelopment Authority of Harrisburg to SMKP Properties, $327,273

N. 7^th St., 3205 & 3133: K. & J. Rust to Bass Pallets Realty LLC, $240,112

N. 17^th St., 1007: Wells Fargo Bank NA to J. Mosley, $60,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 610: M. & C. Heppenstall to M. Hadginske, $80,000

N. Front St., 2901: M. Knackstedt to R. Edwards, $395,000

N. Front St., 2909 & 2917: M. Knackstedt to M. & S. Wilson, $361,000

Penn St., 1105: Fannie Mae to G. Knight, $40,000

Penn St., 2334: E. Stawitz to A. Yates, $83,000

Pennwood Rd., 3214: 360 Home Services LLC et al to CNC Realty LLC, $100,000

S. 17^th St., 1701: J. & H. Garcia to Niel Real Estate Investments LLC, $225,000

S. 27^th St., 634: A. & S. Velez to S. Moore, $55,000

Susquehanna St., 1709: G. & D. West to A. Fortune, $108,000

Susquehanna St., 1910: R. McLean to WCI Partners LP, $87,500

May News Digest

May 29, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Baltimore Named Councilman

The Harrisburg City Council last month named Jeffrey Baltimore as its newest member, filling a seat left vacant by the sudden death of Eugenia Smith.

Baltimore bested a field of 12 candidates, but not before a deadlocked vote was broken by Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

For six rounds, the council split its vote between Baltimore, accountant Alex Reber and former Councilman Kelly Summerford. After Summerford dropped out, the council remained torn between Baltimore and Reber, a key aide to former city controller and mayoral candidate Dan Miller.

Papenfuse then cast the tie-breaking vote for Baltimore, lauding him for his “dedication to education and youth,” his community spirit and his “extensive background in economic development.”

Baltimore once served in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development under former Mayor Stephen Reed. After leaving the administration in 2000, he worked for the state Department of Community and Economic Development and for the York County Economic Development Corp.

Currently, Baltimore is a postal worker, a building contractor and heads up BMORE U, a “personal training enterprise” that teaches that healthy living is key to a successful life.

The council seat had been vacant for about a month following Smith’s death on April 11.

Kim Takes Democratic Primary

Incumbent state Rep. Patty Kim is set to claim a second term after handily beating back a primary challenge.

Kim tallied 4,251 votes versus 1,172 for challenger Gina Johnson-Roberson in the Democratic primary for the 103rd legislative district, which includes Harrisburg, Steelton, Highspire and part of Swatara Township. She is likely to win re-election as the Republican Party failed to run a candidate for the seat.

In other local races, former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson won the Democratic primary for the fourth Congressional district after running unopposed. She will face incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Perry in the Nov. 4 general election.

Harrisburg Councilman Brad Koplinski placed fourth in a field of five in his bid for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor. The victor, Philadelphia state Sen. Mike Stack, will run with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tom Wolf against Republican incumbents Gov. Tom Corbett and Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley in November.

City Plans Light Fixes

Harrisburg plans to replace most of its streetlights by the end of the year, fixing a years-long problem that has left many streets in the dark, the city said last month.

Shortly, Harrisburg will issue a request for proposals to install energy-efficient LED lights for its 4,269 “cobra-head” light fixtures, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

“I believe [the installation] can be done before the end of the year,” he said.

The $2 to $3 million project will be paid through funds from the city’s infrastructure silo, which was set up as part of its economic recovery plan.

The city also has 1,131 “acorn-style” fixtures. Those lights will be replaced in a later phase of work.

LED lights should save the city about $250,000 a year in energy costs and are as much as 10-times brighter than the existing lights, said Papenfuse.

In addition, Harrisburg has begun repairing and replacing the 72 broken light fixtures in the city, many of which have been downed by auto accidents or age. So far, seven fixtures have been fixed. This work will continue over the next few months, independent of the RFP.

Harrisburg also is asking for help from the community. On June 7, two groups—Historic Harrisburg Association and Lighten Up Harrisburg—will sponsor a Glow Run to help raise money to defray some of the cost of the light replacement. A new bulb costs $75 to purchase, plus the cost of labor, said city Treasurer John Campbell.

To find out more about the Glow Run 5K, see our story in this issue or visit https://historicharrisburg.com.

Trash-Cleanup Campaign

City Councilwoman Sandra Reid last month unveiled a new program of aggressive enforcement of Harrisburg’s trash and litter ordinances.

The program, nicknamed Operation C.O.P.E., would encourage citations for landlords and homeowners who improperly dispose of household waste or allow unsightly garbage to pile outside their properties.

“The days of you throwing out anything you want, wherever you want, whenever you want, are over,” Reid said at a press conference in City Hall.

Under Operation C.O.P.E., for “Clean Up, Observe/Organize, Provide, Enforce,” tickets would be issued for anything from leaving trash curbside on a non-pickup day to setting out garbage that is not properly enclosed in a lidded trashcan.

The program also would encourage volunteer groups to organize cleanup days in city neighborhoods.

Reid has also planned for a new position of “solid waste education enforcement technician,” who will bear primary responsibility for ticketing property owners for improper disposal.

The position, which was budgeted for in 2014 at a $40,700 salary, is currently unfilled and will remain so at least until the city lifts its temporary hiring freeze. Nonetheless, Reid said she hoped to begin stepping up enforcement in late July or early August.

City Hall Donations Received

Harrisburg last month received several donations to improve City Hall and the Public Safety Building.

Penn National Insurance donated $5,000 to help make repairs and renovations to the downtown building and will repair the flag post in the courtyard that was damaged recently when a car struck it, said city spokeswoman Joyce Davis.

Touch of Color Flooring soon will re-carpet the public hallway on the second floor, she said. Harrisburg-based Touch of Color already has installed new carpeting in the Public Safety Building’s Emergency Operations Center and walkway from City Hall, as well as in the main elevators.

In addition, the College Club of Harrisburg recently donated $100 to the City Hall Beautiful Fund, which has received other donations from individuals throughout the Harrisburg area, according to the city.

The family of the late Gov. George M. Leader has donated labor and materials to renovate the police bureau’s roll call and break rooms, in addition to providing new appliances for the break room, the city said.

“We continue to see area businesses and individuals step up to show support for Harrisburg’s recovery,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “The outpouring of local and regional support to help our capital city thrive is truly heartening. We encourage other civic-minded businesses throughout the region to join in this important program to maintain our government center.”

West Shore Hospital Opens

PinnacleHealth’s West Shore Hospital opened last month in Mechanicsburg, the first new hospital to be built in central Pennsylvania in decades.

The five-story, 188,000-square-foot facility features 108 private rooms, seven operating rooms and a 12-bed intensive care unit. Services offered include acute and emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics, surgical services and chronic disease management.

“We are excited about the opening of the West Shore Hospital and our ability to provide area residents with access to world-class care close to their homes,” said Michael A. Young, PinnacleHealth president and CEO. “The hospital represents a new chapter in healthcare that will touch the lives of West Shore residents for decades to come.”

The hospital campus offers a walking trail available to the public. The scenic, paved footpath is divided among its one-mile distance for exercise and respite.

West Shore Hospital is expected to create 500 new healthcare jobs by 2017, said PinnacleHealth.

Changing Hands

Barkley Lane, 2510: U.S. Bank National Association to Nish Properties, $35,000

Bellevue Rd., 1901: Anthony Properties LLC to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $67,500

Benton St., 543: PA Deals LLC to L. Shoffner & T. Samsel, $37,500

Berryhill St., 1701: Unilever Manufacturing US Inc. to Philadelphia Macaroni Co., $1 million

Boas St., 302: J. Hammer to M. Cantwell, $134,900

Briggs St., 209: J. & S. Brellos to C. Delozier, $39,900

Derry St., 2336: Mahe Enterprises LLC to E. Hernandez, $48,000

Green St., 1801 & 1803: B. Winpenney to Heinly Homes LLC, $190,000

Green St., 1834: L. & A. Lara to WCI Partners LP, $55,000

Green St., 1839: SCS Partnership to WCI Partners LP, $1.8 million

Green St., 2047: T. & J. Leonard to A. & A. Selkowitz, $175,000

Hoffman St., 3221: S. & S. Keo to W. Wood, $75,000

Holly St., 2020: B. Budesheim to W. & L. Brown, $51,000

Kelker St., 435: A. Krawczyk to E. Gish, $112,500

Kensington St., 2128: W. Scott to T. & S. James, $58,000

Kensington St., 2240: S. Lascara to D. Murphy, $31,000

Kensington St., 2316: D. Andres Jr. to B. Kelley, $40,218

Lewis St., 309: H. Lonon et al to J. Laing, $65,000

Market St., 315: Susquehanna Bank to 26th Street LLC, $82,000

Muench St., 210: K. Kingston et al to WCI Partners LP, $225,000

Muench St., 236: Bank of New York Mellon Trustee to WCI Partners LP, $53,500

North St., 260, 262: R. & T. Hanna to TJC East Properties, $370,000

N. 2nd St., 1901: Pharma Enterprises LLC to WCI Partners LP, $225,000

N. 2nd St., 2131: M. Owens & S. Luci to J. & R. Miller, $87,500

N. 3rd St., 2317: Centric Bank to Sam Hill Properties LLC, $49,636

N. 3rd St., 2319: Centric Bank to Sam Hill Properties LLC, $61,091

N. 3rd St., 2419: S. Pierce to M. & S. Kreines, $138,000

N. 7th St., 1641 & 1803: Aizen LLC to US Recycling LLC, $350,000

N. 16th St., 520: Trusted Source Capital LLC to M. McWilliams, $30,000

N. Front St., 2837, Unit 201: M. Seipos to R. & L. Barry, $77,000

Paxton St., 1640: J. Booth to C. Barboza, $52,000

S. 4th St., 19: Mater & Mater to S. Mater, $175,000

S. 14th St., 361: J. Rodriguez to Urena Diaz Property, $33,000

S. 14th St., 400: D. Boyle to J. Rodriguez, $40,000

S. 15th St., 916: D. White to R. & A. Mortha, $83,000

S. 25th St., 610: M. & B. Sumy to I. Yolov, $57,000

State St., 1624: M. Guerrero to WLW Holdings LLC, $58,000

Summit St., 160: P. Bayer to J. & J. Domenico, $30,000

Swatara St., 1316: D. & J. Boyle to K. Daniel, $32,000

Verbeke St., 252: A. O’Neal to A. Kennedy-Shaffer, $169,900

Vernon St., 1451: D. & J. Boyle to J. Rodriguez, $30,000

Wyeth St., 1403: S. Guszick III to M. Miller, $116,000

Harrisburg property sales for April 2014, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

City Releases List of 12 City Council Hopefuls

May 7, 2014 | by Paul Barker

Susan Brown-Wilson, foreground, and other members of City Council at council's legislative session, Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Susan Brown-Wilson, foreground, and other members of City Council at a legislative session in February.

The city has released the names and resumes of applicants to an open seat on City Council, left vacant by the death of Councilwoman Eugenia Smith in April.

The list of 12 city residents includes current and former state workers, former city employees and two former members of council. Also represented are a local landlord, several consultants, an attorney, an accountant and one self-identified former “free lance political operative.”

The candidate who is chosen will serve until the next municipal election, in the fall of 2015. Members of council are paid $20,000 per year.

Council will conduct two-minute interviews with each candidate tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m., during a public meeting in city hall. Following the interviews, council members will anonymously cast paper ballots to winnow the list of applicants and then perform a second round of interviews with the remaining candidates. Next Monday, May 12, council will vote to appoint their newest member.

Council most recently completed this process in December 2012, after then-Councilwoman Patty Kim was elected to the state House of Representatives. During that process, Bruce Weber was selected out of a field of more than 30 candidates. Weber now works as the city’s budget and finance director.

TheBurg has compiled this list of candidates, along with brief biographies, based on information the candidates reported in their applications.

The 12 council hopefuls are:

Jeffrey A. Baltimore, a postal worker and former deputy director in the office of economic development under Mayor Stephen Reed.

Michelle Blade, a retired conference facilitator for the Metanexus Foundation, a Philadelphia non-profit studying science and religion.

Ron Burkholder, a landlord and self-identified “solar energy pioneer,” and a former employee of the Department of Labor and Industry, where he reviewed unemployment compensation claims.

John Downs, a security officer and driver at Harrisburg Auto Auction in Mechanicsburg and a former city employee in the office of insurance and risk management.

Stanley Gruen, CEO of the Gruen Group, a local consulting firm, and a former “free lance political operative” consulting on the campaigns of Democratic candidates in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Matthew Krupp, an attorney with the Department of Labor and Industry and a board member at Historic Harrisburg Association.

Rhonda Mays, a former budget analyst in the state Department of Public Welfare and the president of RE Mays Funding Solutions, which provides research and grant-management services to local non-profits.

Alex Reber, a senior accountant at Miller Dixon Drake and a member of Harrisburg Young Professionals.

Ellis R. Roy, Jr., a retired Harrisburg police lieutenant who currently serves on the Harrisburg Civil Service Commission.

Kathy Seidl, a research analyst with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democratic caucus, and a member of the Governor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities.

Patricia Stringer, a retired state employee, former Harrisburg City Council member and former human relations commissioner for the city.

Kelly Summerford, an arts management consultant with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts who served on Harrisburg’s City Council from 2010 to 2014.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that council members would hold a “closed-door caucus” to narrow the original 12 applicants down to a smaller number of finalists. Council members selected finalists by using anonymous paper ballots.

April News Digest

April 29, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Grand Jury Probes City Finances

A state grand jury has been empaneled to investigate the various dealings that led to Harrisburg’s financial crisis.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month confirmed that he recently testified before the grand jury, which reportedly is meeting in Pittsburgh. He would not give specifics of his testimony.

City officials and former receivers William Lynch and David Unkovic all have supported criminal investigations into how the city wound up on the verge of bankruptcy, largely due to crippling debt tied to the city incinerator.

Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico turned the matter over to state Attorney General Kathleen Kane after citing a possible conflict of interest in the case.

The grand jury probe appears to be wide-ranging. Investigators have taken large quantities of documents both from City Hall and the school district, according to sources.

In City Hall, many of the documents were discovered in locked filing cabinets and in locked closets that were opened once Papenfuse took office in January, sources said.

After its investigation is complete, the grand jury will recommend whether to file charges in the case. The prosecutor then determines whether or not to issue indictments.

Councilwoman Eugenia Smith Dies

Councilwoman Eugenia Smith died suddenly last month at age 53.

Smith, a lifelong city resident, died at Harrisburg Hospital after suffering a heart attack. She had begun her second term on City Council in January and was chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee.

“This is deeply shocking,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “I share the pain and loss that people throughout our city assuredly feel as we try to absorb this sudden news. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.”

Council now must fill the open seat. City residents have until May 2 to submit applications, and a brief, public interview will follow. After nominations by council members, a final vote is slated for May 12. The new council member will serve until January 2016.

Judith Hill, Harrisburg’s first African-American councilwoman, also died last month.

Firefighter Contract Approved

Harrisburg City Council last month approved an agreement with the firefighter’s union designed to save the city about $70,000 a month.

The contract sets up a 14/1 shift, meaning that 14 firefighters and one commander will be on duty across the city at all times. Previously, the department operated with 16 firefighters and one commander for each shift.

The contract changes should significantly reduce firefighter overtime, a key element in city and state efforts to bring Harrisburg’s budget into balance.

The city last month also proposed closing the aging Paxton Fire Co. station in Shipoke. This proposal, an outgrowth of the new contract, caused concern among some residents, leading the Papenfuse administration to hold a community meeting to explain its plan.

Former Mayor Linda Thompson also had proposed closing the station, but dropped the idea after encountering resistance.

Mayor Moves to Replace Veno

Mayor Eric Papenfuse has asked the state to replace Gene Veno as chief recovery officer for the school district.

Papenfuse last month said he met with state Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq to “express his alarm at the lack of progress at improving academic standards” in city schools and request that Veno be replaced.

“My concern is that Mr. Veno does not believe Harrisburg schools will meet academic benchmarks under the plan he devised,” he said. “This is unacceptable and compromises the future of our children.”

Papenfuse also came out in support of Key Charter School, which wishes to locate in the old Bishop McDevitt High School at 2200 Market St. The school board, which has rejected many charter school applications in recent years, must approve Key’s application.

“There should be a sense of urgency about these under-performing schools,” Papenfuse said, “and parents ought to have other possibilities to ensure their children are well educated and ready for the workplace. Harrisburg’s economic recovery won’t succeed unless we have an educated workforce ready to claim the jobs that will be created.”

“Mary K” Mansions Sell

A decade-long saga came to a close last month as the “Mary K mansions” sold at auction for a total of $756,000 to two buyers from the west shore.

On a sunny, cool day, multiple bidders dueled for about 2 1/2 hours at the outdoor auction, held on one of the four lots near the corner of Front and Manor streets.

In the end, Mike and Sally Wilson of Lisburn paid $361,000 for two of the properties at 2909 and 2917 N. Front St. Rob Edwards of Dillsburg paid $395,000 for 2901 N. Front St., which includes a large house and a parking lot off of Division Street.

Mike Wilson, the owner of Integral Construction, said that he and his wife intend to renovate and live in the mansion at 2909 N. Front, but he wasn’t sure what they’d do with 2917 N. Front, a dilapidated building that long served as an office building.

Edwards said he had no plans yet for his properties. He said he often buys and sells properties at auction and was attracted to these houses because of the location on the river.

Previous owner Mary Knackstedt bought the properties in 2004, planning to raze them and build a 32-unit condominium development. However, her land use plan met fierce resistance in the neighborhood, and City Council ultimately rejected it.

She later defaulted on her mortgages and declared bankruptcy. A last-ditch effort last year to sell the properties for $2.5 million failed, leading to the auction.

Illegal Gun Project Launched

Harrisburg and Dauphin County are teaming up to increase penalties for carrying illegal weapons.

Under the “$100K Illegal Gun Project,” Harrisburg police officers and the county district attorney’s office will request that courts set bail at a minimum of $100,000 for anyone charged with illegally carrying a firearm.

The bail amount would be recommended for felons who are prohibited from carrying a gun and for anyone carrying one on themselves or in their vehicle without a license, according to a joint city/county announcement.

In addition, police and prosecutors will request juvenile detention for any juvenile older than 15 who is charged with illegally carrying a firearm.

Historic Train Moved

The historic GG1 Pennsylvania railroad locomotive No. 4859 was temporarily moved from its spot at the Harrisburg Transportation Center last month to a siding 1,000 feet west of the station.

Rail enthusiasts gathered to watch and take photos of the GGI locomotive and caboose, which were moved so that Amtrak could continue its $36 million project to improve power, signals, track and switches in the station.

An Amtrak locomotive pushed the GGI and caboose to a siding near the 7^th Street garage about ¼-mile away. The locomotive then was “shrink-wrapped” to protect it from the elements until it can be moved back to its current location.

The GG1 served the Harrisburg station on service to Philadelphia and New York between 1938 and 1981. It was located at the station as a memorial to that service in 1986, designated as the official state locomotive and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Harrisburg Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society maintains both No. 4859 and the caboose.

Changing Hands

Calder St., 211: T. Chapin to I. Blynn, $165,000

Charles St., 232: L. Milner & A. Lee to R. Gosnell, $120,000

Chestnut St., 2048: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development et al to S. Reyes, $70,875

Disbrow St., 97: J. Handy Jr. to J. Hobbs, $45,000

Duke St., 2452: PA Deals LLC to M. & D. Graeff, $68,000

Harris St., 230: Fannie Mae to Klimke Holdings LLC, $51,000

Jefferson St., 2241: Kirsch & Burns LLC to LMK Properties LLC, $45,000

Manada St., 1918: K. & J. Frobenius to 2013 Central PA Real Estate LLC, $55,000

Market St., 1827: K. Frobenius et al to 2013 Central PA Real Estate Fund LLC, $55,000

North St., 231, 233, 235: F. Galiardo Realty Management Associates LLC to Murphy & Laus Real Estate LLC, $325,000

N. 2^nd St., 817: R. Baker to HCH Investments LP, $127,000

N. 3^rd St., 1633: B. Jones & C. Heintzelman to J. & S. Compton, $38,000

N. 4^th St., 2737: M. Horgan & Innovative Devices Inc. to T. Murphy, $37,000

N. 5^th St., 3024: S. Zerbe to J. Olan, $89,000

N. 6^th St., 2013: Sixth Street Clover Club to Victor Ventures, $30,000

N. 16^th St., 921: J. & V. Waid to Equity Trust Co., $38,250

N. Front St., 1107: J. Farrell to M. Perrone, $184,900

Parkway Blvd., 2507: R. Zogby & L. Sfier to B. & B. Reid, $120,000

Peffer St., 214: BFI LP to M. Magaro et al, $51,000

Penn St., 1424: R. Benton to R. Essig, $30,000

Penn St., 2315: BFI LP to M. Magaro et al, $36,000

Regina St., 1849: J. Vogelsong to D. Moore Sr., $40,000

Rolleston St., 1315 & 1411: S & R Estates LLC to Keystone RH LLC, $890,000

Rudy Rd., 2400: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to J. & M. Caulfield, $90,000

S. 14^th St., 361: J. Rodriguez to Urena Diaz Property, $33,000

S. 15^th St., 438: J. Vogelsong to D. Moore Sr., $30,000

S. 16^th St., 336: Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority & Tri-County HDC to L. Wilson, $101,000

S. 20^th St., 1226: G. & H. Fabiankovitz to R. & G. MacWhinnie, $110,000

S. 25^th St., 713: Fannie Mae to S. Mosley, $50,500

S. 26^th St., 710: Fannie Mae to S. Mirenda, $62,500

S. 27^th St., 724: E. & R. Kolp to S. Armstrong & P. Hudson, $125,000

Walnut St., 1261: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA to G & G Property Services LLC, $35,000

The First Hundred

April 16, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Papenfuse speaks before the media mob.

What’s in a round number?

Today, Mayor Eric Papenfuse marked his 100th day in office, and, for the occasion, the local media dutifully swarmed in, elbowing into the mayor’s conference room for a briefing alternately self-serving and brutally honest.

The self-serving portion should be no surprise. Politicians are always their own loudest megaphones, and, to be fair, Papenfuse has worked hard and conscientiously during those first 2,400 hours. He has a right to crow over what he perceives to be his accomplishments.

Looking down at his notes, Papenfuse ticked off a list of achievements since Jan. 6, the day he took the oath of office. He made a number of appointments he’s proud of; he convinced the firefighter’s union to agree to a new contract that included significant concessions; he started a promised battle against blight; he located long-lost files in City Hall that have aided a grand jury investigation into the city’s finances.

Many of these achievements, however, have had significant downsides or remain in an unfinished state. Upon questioning, Papenfuse readily admitted that he wished several of his goals were further along.

While he was able to get most of his appointees confirmed, he lost an important battle over the creation of the position of sustainability director and another over securing raises for key staff.

City Council has not yet approved the firefighter’s contract, insisting on holding a hearing before voting on it, at a cost to the city of about $17,000 a week. The untimely death of Councilwoman Eugenia Smith has delayed the process further.

Papenfuse’s fight against blight took a weird, unwelcome turn when the first person arrested under his get-tough policy happened to be a prominent religious figure, the Bishop Augustus Sullivan, whose church began crumbling down onto neighboring houses.

Papenfuse also is proud that, after stumbles by the previous mayor, he’s revived the effort to update the city’s comprehensive plan. City Council, however, has yet to hold any hearings on it. His appointees to various boards also have been hung up in council.

“I will have to redouble my efforts to give them [City Council members] a sense of urgency,” he said.

Then there’s his escalating feud with the school district’s Chief Recovery Officer Gene Veno. Last month, Papenfuse appealed to state Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq to replace Veno and, two weeks ago, he took his dissatisfaction with Veno to the public. Nonetheless, Veno remains in that office.

One hundred days is far too early to make any real judgments of the Papenfuse administration. At this point, I would expect many ambitious agenda items to be half-finished–or not finished at all–which, in fact, is the case.

However, if you turn on the TV news tonight, or read PennLive right now, you’ll see numerous stories trying to make significance from this random round number. PennLive even has a poll asking readers what they think of Papenfuse’s first 100 days (sample question: “How has dining in Harrisburg changed since Papenfuse took office?”).

It’s silly, really. If I hadn’t received an email informing me that there’d be a press conference today, I wouldn’t even have realized that this “milestone” was upon us. How do you assess a mayoralty based upon a tenure of three months and change?

By the end of the year, I expect many of Papenfuse’s half-done efforts to be done.

When it reconvenes, City Council should ratify the firefighter’s contract pretty quickly. It likely will move with more urgency to approve his nominees and start the comprehensive planning process, too. Papenfuse said he also expects to revive the process of potentially outsourcing trash collection. And the Sullivan matter ultimately won’t make any difference to the fight against blight.

Who knows? Once council and Papenfuse get used to working together, he might even get his sustainability director back.

The media, residents, even Papenfuse himself need to exercise patience. Harrisburg is just emerging from an unprecedented financial crisis and still is adapting to major changes in who holds power, how it’s exercised and what it’s focused upon. Meanwhile, the administration is still wet behind the ears, adjusting to the reality of governing this often-chaotic city.

A hundred days means nothing; an audit of achievements or failures is profoundly premature. Harrisburg, like any city that wants to progress and not just manage crisis, needs to take the long view.

Perhaps, by the end of the year, I’ll have an informed opinion of life in Harrisburg under Mayor Papenfuse. Maybe I’ll even have an opinion of how dining has changed. However, as I sit in one of the half-dozen new restaurants that are set to open by then, I’ll likely judge him more on whether my drive over was a smooth one than how much I enjoyed the meal.

Backfire

April 7, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

“I’m not certain how the city will be served with only three fire stations,” said Harrisburg Councilwoman Susan Brown-Wilson.

It was November 2010, and former Mayor Linda Thompson had just proposed an austere budget for 2011 that included several significant changes to the operations of the city’s Fire Bureau, including the closing of one of the city’s four fire houses, the aged Paxton Fire Co. station in Shipoke.

A furor ensued.

Downtown business owners, apartment residents and Shipoke homeowners all flocked to City Council meetings to complain. The firefighters’ union held a press conference condemning the proposal. Signs popped up in the windows of city homes and businesses asserting that they were with the firefighters (and, by implication, against the mayor).

“I’ve been inundated with phone calls and emails about the closing of [the Paxton] station,” Councilwoman Eugenia Smith said at the time.

By the time council passed its 2011 budget, most funding had been restored to the bureau, and the fire station remained open. Thompson wisely never went there again.

Fast-forward three-plus years.

Late Thursday, somewhere around 5:15 p.m., a press release popped into the email inboxes of the usual gang of City Hall reporters. Mayor Eric Papenfuse, it said, planned to shut down the Paxton station, citing the same reasons that Thompson had back in 2010—the aging fire station needed costly repairs, was in a flood zone and was not essential to ensure the safety of city residents. A press conference Friday afternoon affirmed this plan and these reasons.

The surprise, late-afternoon statement was the second press release that Papenfuse issued that day on a controversial subject. A few hours earlier, he had publicly called for the dismissal of Gene Veno, the school district’s chief recovery officer, as well as the approval of the proposed Key Charter School, which hopes to open in the old Bishop McDevitt site at 2200 Market St.

On that day, he even let leak that he had been called to testify before a grand jury in Pittsburgh that is investigating actions that led to Harrisburg’s financial crisis.

My reaction to these events can be summarized in a single word: why? Or, to be more specific and slightly more verbose: why now?

Since taking office in January, the Papenfuse administration has been trying to find its operational groove. It spent the first month attempting to get acclimated, only to find itself battling with council over budget priorities, raises for key managers and the attempted creation of new cabinet positions. Almost immediately afterwards, it fell into an unexpected controversy over a deteriorating church and, more significantly, the arrest of the man who owns it.

Now this.

What struck me most about the announcements was how unnecessary they seemed. I respect Papenfuse’s commitment to improving the city’s low-performing schools (even though the administration has little power over them). And I further respect his desire to remove the chief recovery officer if he feels that Veno is not the right man for the job.

Papenfuse, however, already had privately urged state Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq to replace Veno. I saw little value in a public statement lambasting him, followed by press interviews that once again placed the city in the midst of conflict in the public eye. Furthermore, Papenfuse has little say in how the city’s schools operate, making his high-profile stance seem like turmoil for no real purpose.

Likewise, I don’t understand why Papenfuse decided to reignite the firestorm over the Shipoke fire station at this time. I accept his word and and that of Fire Chief Brian Enterline that the station is in need of repair. In addition, closing the station, it seems, will result in substantial savings to the city.

Papenfuse, however, set himself up for exactly the backlash that greeted Thompson. Moreover, the proposal was dropped on Shipoke and downtown residents without preparation or warning, again recalling the former mayor. The completely predictable uproar caused Papenfuse to hastily arrange a public forum late Sunday at the closed restaurant, Char’s Bella Mundo, to try to undo some of the damage from engaging only the press–and not the impacted community–before acting.

As to the grand jury leak–as much as I desire justice for this city, that information isn’t supposed to be public at all in fear that it will affect the investigation.

The Papenfuse administration has a great deal on its plate, foremost continuing to adjust to the business of running an effective government. The Paxton fire station is simply not a high-priority issue and easily could have put off for six months until the administration had a firmer bearing and had addressed more pressing issues. In addition, it should have learned a lesson from the Thompson days, taking the time to engage residents instead of potentially angering them.

Harrisburg needs stability and confidence. Residents need to be assured that there’s a steady hand on the wheel, an administration that does not seek out, manufacture or exacerbate controversy.

Our two previous mayors embraced, even relished, conflict and controversy, offering this city more than its share of unnecessary melodrama. Harrisburg now needs sober, methodical leadership, even if that means feeding less red meat to the 6 o’clock news.

January News Digest

January 30, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Receivership to End

The state last month submitted a petition to end Harrisburg’s 26-month-old receivership, stating that “critical components” of the city’s financial recovery plan had been completed.

If the petition is approved by the Commonwealth Court, the receivership would conclude on March 1, concurrent with the end of the state-declared “fiscal emergency” for the city. At that time, an Act 47 coordinator would replace the receiver to oversee and help guide implementation of the rest of the Harrisburg Strong Plan.

Just last November, the receiver’s term was extended for two years.

“The receiver is no longer vital and necessary to successful implementation of the remaining components of the Harrisburg Strong Plan in the absence of a fiscal emergency, and the remaining components of the plan can be successfully implemented by a coordinator appointed by the secretary (of DCED),” according to the petition by C. Alan Walker, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

While most of the plan has been implemented—including the sale of the incinerator and the long-term lease of the city’s parking assets—a few parts remain unresolved, such as a new labor agreement with the city’s firefighters’ union.

The state imposed receivership on Harrisburg in November 2011 after the squabbling city government could not reach an agreement to resolve its financial crisis. Bond lawyer David Unkovic served several months in the post, drafting the initial recovery plan.

After Unkovic resigned, Air Force Maj. Gen. William Lynch took over as receiver, overseeing the creation of the final recovery plan and its implementation to date.

Officials Sworn In

The leadership of Harrisburg’s municipal government changed dramatically last month as several recently elected officials took the oath of office.

Eric Papenfuse became the city’s 38^th mayor at a brief swearing-in ceremony in City Hall, replacing one-term Mayor Linda Thompson in the office.

At the same event, Charles DeBrunner took the oath as the new city controller, and Ben Allatt and Shamaine Daniels were sworn in as new council members. Returning Councilwomen Wanda Williams and Eugenia Smith also began four-year terms.

Following the ceremony, City Council held its reorganization meeting. Williams was re-elected council president, while Sandra Reid became council vice-president.

In addition, council made committee assignments. The new committee chairs are:

Administration Committee: Wanda Williams
Budget and Finance Committee: Ben Allatt
Building and Housing Committee: Shamaine Daniels
Community and Economic Development Committee: Brad Koplinski
Parks, Recreation and Enrichment Committee: Susan Brown-Wilson
Public Safety Committee: Eugenia Smith
Public Works Committee: Sandra Reid

Each committee is made up of three council members except for the administration committee, which includes all council members.

Papenfuse Announces Cabinet

Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month announced his choices for most of the top administrative posts in city government. These include:

Neil Grover, who took over as city solicitor from Jason Hess. An attorney in private practice, Grover had served recently as special counsel to City Council.

Aaron Johnson, who replaced Kevin Hagerich as director of the Public Works Department. Johnson, previously the department’s deputy director, ran against Papenfuse as a write-in candidate for mayor in November, garnering about 17 percent of the total vote.

Bruce Weber, director of budget and finance, a post last held by long-time director Bob Kroboth. Weber formerly served on City Council.

Joyce Davis, a key Papenfuse advisor, as director of communications.

Jackie Z. Parker, a former mayor of Lebanon, as director of community and economic development.

Roy Christ, former president of the Harrisburg school board, as director of building and housing.

Lenwood Sloan as director of the newly named and reorganized Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism.

Carlesha Halkias, former deputy city solicitor, as director of human resources.

In addition, Karl Singleton was named as senior advisor on education and youth and Catherine Stetler as scheduler.

The Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corp. (CREDC) will fund Parker’s position in full for the first year and at 50 percent for the second and third years. The city will take over full funding of the position in year four.

Budget Revisited

Harrisburg City Council last month reopened the 2014 budget to better reflect the spending priorities of the Papenfuse administration.

The $78.5 million budget is about $280,000 more than the budget passed in December, reflecting a slight increase in projected revenues from the earned income tax and intergovernmental transfers.

The greatest changes came on the spending side.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse proposed abolishing the post of chief operating officer, which paid $110,000 a year. Instead, he wants to establish the position of chief of staff/business administrator at an annual salary of $79,500. A new post of community services coordinator, paying $50,000 a year, would replace the position of assistant to the COO, which paid $41,000 annually.

Other proposed changes included:

Creation of several new posts, including director of arts, culture and tourism, director of sustainability and director of planning.
Raises for a number of management-level positions, including for the director of building and housing development, the director of financial management, the director of human resources, the police chief and the communications director.
Consolidating certain positions, decreasing salaries for others and not filling several vacant posts.

The council’s first budget review committee hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30. A final vote on the new budget is currently slated for Feb. 11.

Transition Report Released

The Papenfuse administration last month released a report with dozens of recommendations on how to improve government performance.

The 17-page report contained suggestions ranging from aggressively seeking grant money to making greater use of technology to tighter integration and communication between segments of government.

A few of the recommendations include:

Adequately staffing the finance unit by filling vacant positions and completing financial reporting on a timelier basis.
Appointing or designating an arts, culture, heritage and tourism liaison officer to oversee programs, activities and events.
Developing and implementing a plan for upgrading the city’s website, improving content and implementing social media.
Negotiating public/private partnerships to supplement resources.
Creating a new department focused on education, youth, recreation and related matters, hiring a qualified director and staff and securing new funding and partnerships.
Adopting a “broken windows” law enforcement approach to reduce crime and preserve order in targeted neighborhoods.
Conducting an independent feasibility assessment of alternative ways of providing sanitation service.

More than 70 people served on Mayor Eric Papenfuse’s transition teams and contributed to the report, which was compiled by consultant Robert Melville.

“This report represents hours of hard work from very dedicated people who want to see Harrisburg rise out of its problems and become the model capital it should be,” Papenfuse said.

The report contains many more ideas to improve the city government’s functions and operations. Read the entire report on TheBurg’s website, www.theburgnews.com, under the “News” category.

Brewery Eyes Midtown Building

If all goes right, a new brewery will debut in the heart of Midtown Harrisburg in the early fall.

Alter Ego Brewing Co. hopes to open a brewhouse in long-vacant space at the corner of Susquehanna and Boyd streets, at the rear of Midtown Cinema. The 3,500-square-foot brick building would house a beer-making operation, in addition to a tasting room with a limited menu featuring small plates, paninis and finger foods, said Brandalynn Armstrong, who operates Alter Ego with her husband, Theo.

The Armstrongs have numerous hurdles to overcome before they can open, including securing a liquor license and probable land use approvals. The building also requires a complete renovation, which should begin in late spring.

The couple took their first step late last month, holding a community meeting at Midtown Cinema, where they presented their plan and answered questions.

“We want to be good neighbors and an active member of the community,” said Brandalynn. “We think it’s a good fit for Harrisburg and that Harrisburg is a good fit for us.”

In addition to offering Alter Ego beers and a limited menu, the Armstrongs will feature local Pennsylvania wines and art gallery space. No liquor will be served.

The building is owned by Lift Development LLC, which includes two partners of GreenWorks Development. A couple of years ago, the state tried to relocate the former Midtown magisterial district justice’s office and courtroom to the building, but an agreement could not be reached.

More information on Alter Ego Brewing is at www.alteregobrewing.com.

Changing Hands

Berryhill St., 1940: PA Deals LLC to S. Maurer, $75,000

Briggs St., 1823: Wells Fargo Bank NA to S. Dial, $99,000

Brookwood St., 2420: P. White to M. Rodriguez, $63,900

Chestnut St., 2403: H. & L. Miller to L. & M. Walton, $149,000

Green St., 1703: Wells Fargo Bank NA & J. Landis to PA Deals LLC & J. Etzle, $116,500

Green St., 2013: WCI Partners LP to L. Binda, $209,000

Green St., 2135: D. Boyle to V. Brown, $35,000

Green St., 2233: R. Shokes Jr. & Shokes Enterprises LLC to R. & D. Requa, $60,000

Kelker St., 213: J. Henning to M. Porter, $124,500

Lewis St., 228: D. Hartman to C. Moss, $59,000

Manada St., 1903: PA Deals LLC to M. & D. Graeff, $90,000

N. 2^nd St., 606: D. Brown Jr. to 606 Dalmatian House LP, $754,000

N. 2^nd St., 1311: Susquehanna Bank to J. Feldman, $36,000

N. 2^nd St., 1313: Brick City Investments LLC to 1313 Real Estate Holdings LLC, $245,000

N. 2^nd St., 1522: T. & A. Magrory to J. Cantarell & A. Meck, $168,900

N. 2^nd St., 2731: Sierra Real Estate LLC to T. & N. Schmitt, $240,000

N. 6^th St., 2667: J. Vogelsong to G. Di Bosco, $31,500

N. 15^th St., 1603, 249 Maclay St., 438 Muench St. & 614 Wiconisco St.: R. Shokes Jr. & Shokes Enterprises to R. & D. Requa, $266,000

N. Cameron St., 1817: Integrity Bank to 1817 Cameron St. Associates LLC, $100,000

N. Front St., 1721: Susquehanna River Basin Commission to Hersha H. & Hasu P. Shah Family Foundation, $875,000

North St., 263: B. Josephs to B. Minner, $84,000

North St., 2009: J. & C. Mills to K. Snoke, $42,000

Paxton St., 1638: T. & A. Ferguson to CNC Realty Group Inc., $55,000

Penn St., 1612: J. & E. Rosentel to A. La Laz, $152,500

Penn St., 1703: Fannie Mae to B. Swisher Houtz, $63,000

S. 13^th St., 342: K. & S. Probst to B. & R. Lehman, $53,000

S. 13^th St., 502: PA Deals LLC to J. & A. Garbanzos, $45,000

S. 15^th St., 446 & 141 N. Cameron St.: G. Neff to San Pef Inc., $45,000

S. 17^th St., 325: R. Ekvall to J. Tran & D. Nguyen, $50,000

S. 18^th St., 1115: K. & W. Watson to M. Kaman & A. Phatimah, $68,000

S. 19^th St., 1670: The Harrisburg Authority to the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, $121,898,000

S. 28^th St., 806: DML Properties LP to AWK Consulting Engineers Inc., $225,000

Swatara St., 2025: Mussani & Co. to I. Fernandez, $65,000

Valley Rd., 2301A: F. & J. Haas to S. Thornsley, $195,000

Vine St., 114: F. Hutchinson to J. Robles, $135,000

Walnut St., 407: J. Brown & Graci LaPorta Partnership to J. & C. Bowen, $50,000

Harrisburg property sales for December 2013, greater than $30,000. Source Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

December News Digest

December 30, 2013 | by Lawrance Binda

2014 Budget Passed

Harrisburg residents will see no tax hike in 2014 as part of a $77.8 million budget that unanimously passed City Council last month.

The 2014 budget process was remarkably smooth following several years of annual conflict between the council and administration over spending priorities, allocations and tax increases.

Council held just a single, 90-minute budget hearing then approved the spending plan with little additional comment.

A direct comparison to last year’s budget is difficult due to the provisions of the Harrisburg Strong plan, which included the sale of the incinerator, the lease of the parking system and the transfer of the water/sewer system.

That said: expenditures from the city’s general fund, which covers most day-to-day operations, will increase about 1.7 percent, from $56.2 million in 2013 to $57.2 million this year.

City Council expects to reopen the budget this month to better reflect the priorities of newly elected Mayor Eric Papenfuse. However, major changes are not expected, as the anticipated amount of revenue will not change, and the current budget already has the blessing of the receiver’s office.

Water/Sewer Rates Going Up

Harrisburg water and sewer customers will see a 27 percent rate hike this year for their service under a budget passed by The Harrisburg Authority.

The rate increase was necessary to pay for long-delayed system improvements, said Executive Director Shannon Williams.

“For too long, necessary investments in Harrisburg’s water infrastructure have been deferred to future generations,” she said. “That ends with the adoption of this budget. It will allow us to deliver service and reliability that our customers deserve and that will sustain the city into the future.”

An average customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water per month will pay about $825 per year, an increase of about $175.

Initially, the Authority had projected a 47 percent rise in rates for 2014. However, that amount was reduced after the board of directors and staff developed strategies to control costs, said Chairman Bill Cluck.

Sanitation Outsourcing on Hold

City Council last month put the brakes on privatizing trash pickup, as it refused to approve an administration-brokered deal with Republic Services.

Councilwoman Sandra Reid said the city would issue a new request for proposals early this year, which would delay the plan to hire an outside waste hauler well into 2014.

Council balked at the Thompson administration’s selection of Republic Services, the nation’s second-largest trash hauler. Council members claimed they were shut out of the selection process and objected to certain requirements of the proposed agreement, including that sanitation workers would have to pick up their equipment each day in York.

Receiver William Lynch has recommended privatizing sanitation services to save the city money. The contract with Republic would have saved Harrisburg about $1.1 million per year, according to a memo to City Council from Chief Operating Officer Robert Philbin.

Separately, the Department of Public Works is relocating its headquarters and operations to the 1600-block of N. Cameron Street, said Director Kevin Hagerich. The move is due to be completed by March 1.

For many years, the department occupied space on the property of the Harrisburg Authority. That land, though, is no longer available due to the sale last month of the incinerator to the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority.

Projects Get Go-Ahead

Harrisburg City Council gave the green light to numerous development plans last month, allowing construction to begin for several critical projects.

Council unanimously approved land use plans for the following:

The conversion of the Stokes Millworks building, 340 Verbeke St. in Midtown, to a farm-to-table restaurant and art studio/gallery by Historic Holdings LLC.
The conversion of the First Church of God, 15 N. 4^th St. downtown, into a new theater and home for Gamut Theatre Group.
The construction of four new apartment buildings with 171 units at Brookwood and Melrose streets on South Allison Hill by Brookwood Commons LP.
The demolition of small, vacant apartment buildings and their replacement with five townhouses at 222-224 Hummel St. on South Allison Hill by Brethren Housing Association.
A 33,000-square-foot expansion of an industrial warehouse at 4000 Industrial Rd., including two parking lots and on-site stormwater infrastructure improvements, by the Sygma Network.

These projects come on the heels of several other recent development initiatives, including the planned completion of the abandoned, half-finished Capitol View Commerce Center on N. Cameron Street by Moran Industries.

No Tax Increase from County

For the ninth straight year, Dauphin County will not raise its property tax, as county commissioners last month passed the 2014 budget.

The county tax will remain at 6.87 mils, in addition to a .35-mil library tax.

For 2014, overall spending is actually expected to fall, as the $230.6 million budget clocks in at about 5.5 percent less than the 2013 budget. The decrease is largely due to the Harrisburg Strong recovery plan, which freed the county from most of its obligation from incinerator bond guarantees.

Swearing In Slated

Harrisburg will ring in new leadership on Jan. 6 with the swearing in of several key municipal officials.

New Mayor Eric Papenfuse will be sworn into office in a ceremony that will begin at 10 a.m. in the lobby of City Hall. In addition, City Controller Charles DeBrunner will take the oath of office, as will newly elected council members Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt and incumbent council members Wanda Williams and Eugenia Smith.

After the swearing in, the new administration will begin to move into its offices. City Council will hold its reorganization meeting in council chambers at 3 p.m.

Changing Hands

Barkley Ln., 2509: T. Huynh & L. Lee to C. & S. Moore, $74,900

Boas St., 406: C. DeLorenzo to A. Heisey, $90,000

Brookwood St., 2610: D. Krekstein to Scottsdale Commercial Partners LP, $170,000

Croyden Rd., 2986: PA Deals LLC to N. Peterson, $79,000

Green St., 1608: PA Deals LLC to G. & J. Modi, $137,000

Green St., 1816: J. Tran to G. Brown, $92,945

Green St., 1911: T. & S. Cohen to G.E. Morris III, $159,000

Kensington St., 2252: S. Myers to C. Dell, $52,900

Locust St., 130: D. Bohn et al to WCI Partners LP, $300,000

Market St., 1501 & 1507: Martin Luther King Baptist Church to Eastern PA District Christian & Missionary Alliance, $130,242

N. 2^nd St., 1303: U.S. Marshall Service to PA Deals LLC, $30,000

N. 2^nd St., 2447: E. & S. Lupyak to M. DePhillip, $57,500

N. 3^rd St., 1421: Third Street Development LP & Powers & Assoc. LLC to E. & C. Papenfuse, $60,000.

N. 3^rd St., 1912: PA Deals LLC to N. Peterson, $76,000

N. 16^th St., 1106: Community First Fund to R.J. Murphy III, $31,500

N. Front St., 111: Front & Locust LLC to J.A. Hartzler, $200,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 312: P. Lafferty to R. & C. Chaudhuri, $160,000

N. Front St., 2509: A.L. Schein MD to Pennsylvania Builders Assoc., $575,000

Reily St., 219: J. Williams to PA Deals LLC, $44,450

Rumson Dr., 369: PA Deals LLC to J. Gaidos, $80,700

S. 14^th St., 404: D. Boyle to J. Lopez, $30,000

November 2013 property sales for Harrisburg, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

November News Digest

November 27, 2013 | by Lawrance Binda

Papenfuse Elected Harrisburg Mayor

Democrat Eric Papenfuse last month assumed the mantle of mayor-elect of Harrisburg, besting Republican candidate Dan Miller and write-in candidate Aaron Johnson.

Papenfuse won the race with 3,618 votes versus 2,333 for Miller and 1,213 for Johnson. Various others received another 121 write-in votes, including eight for former independent candidate Nevin Mindlin, who was tossed off the ballot after a successful petition challenge. Four votes went to Lewis Butts Jr., who campaigned as a write-in after losing the Democratic primary.

“The real victory will lie in the years ahead when our streets are clean, when our homes are safe, when our young professionals rush to get back to Harrisburg, rather than flee from it,” said Papenfuse, who, in his acceptance speech, encouraged his supporters at Midtown Scholar Bookstore to be humble and seek reconciliation with his opponents in the election.

“The true victory will lie in the days, the months, the years ahead when Pennsylvanians are once again proud of their capital,” he said. “When the people of Harrisburg once again cherish their homes, and when the rest of the nation connects Harrisburg with culture, prosperity and renaissance and not bankruptcy, despair and defeat.”

Running unopposed, Democrats Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt earned four-year terms on Harrisburg City Council, while sitting councilwomen Wanda Williams and Eugenia Smith were re-elected. Charles DeBrunner was elected in an uncontested race for city controller.

Papenfuse, DeBrunner and council members will be sworn in on Jan. 6.

For Harrisburg school board, Democrats Danielle Robinson, Patricia Whitehead Myers, James Thompson and Kenneth Mickens earned four-year terms. Monica Blackston-Bailey, LaTasha Frye and Adara Jackson each won two-year seats on the school board.

In Dauphin County races, Bill Tully outpolled Democrat Anne Gingrich Cornick for Court of Common Pleas judge, and incumbent Republican Stephen Farina won his contest for prothonotary against Democrat Kelly Summerford.

Parking Deal Passed

The Harrisburg City Council last month approved one of the most important parts of the city’s financial recovery plan, the long-term lease of its valuable parking assets.

The council authorized the city to enter into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Agency (PEDFA) and another with the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. They, in turn, will contract with a group known as Harrisburg First to run and enforce the city’s on-street parking system.

The council also authorized the transfer of city-owned off-street parking to the Harrisburg Parking Authority, which is entering into its own agreements so that Harrisburg First can operate the HPA’s parking garages and surface lots.

These steps are necessary as the city fulfills the requirements of Harrisburg Strong, the financial recovery plan designed to free the city of about $600 million in debt, solve its long-term structural deficit and provide pools of funds for infrastructure and economic development.

Water/Sewer Rates Going Up

Water and sewer rates for city residents are about to go up significantly, according to the Harrisburg Authority’s proposed budget for 2014.

The budget, which had not been officially adopted as of press time, projects an average increase of around $325 per customer per year. That amounts to a nearly 50 percent hike to current rates, which average around $687 annually.

Shannon Williams, the executive director of the Harrisburg Authority, explained that the increased rates are necessary to pay for long-overdue investments in infrastructure. Harrisburg’s aging water and sewer system has not been adequately maintained for years, and it now requires expensive repairs, Williams said.

“No one likes to pay more for utility services—including me. But the reality is that there were more than 40 sinkholes identified in Harrisburg in 2013. Just one of them—the famous 4^th Street sinkhole—cost almost $1 million to repair. We cannot continue to punt on these decisions,” she said.

The rate increase comes on the heels of several weeks of customer concerns about expensive utility bills. Last month, City Councilwoman Sandra Reid devoted most of a public works committee meeting to water and sewer charges after she received a bill in the mail totaling several hundred dollars.

That total did not reflect a rate increase, however, but was the result of nearly 18 months of inaccurate bills, which Reid had been receiving because of problems with the city’s meter system. Batteries in the devices that transmit meter readings to the city’s electronic database have been expiring at unexpected rates, requiring the city to estimate water usage for properties across the city. Those estimates, which tended to be lower than customers’ actual usage, led to months of undercharging for Reid and several other residents.

In her announcement of the proposed 2014 budget, Williams tied the meter-battery problem to the infrastructure problem, saying both reflected the consequences of city officials deferring necessary investments onto future generations.

“If an investment had been made years ago to keep up with technology and replace those defective batteries, customers would not have had to rely on water usage estimates month after month,” Williams said. “It’s time to make the necessary investments in our future.”

Capitol View Sells

The unfinished Capitol View Commerce Center was sold last month in a bankruptcy proceeding to an out-of-area warehouse, distribution and storage company.

Watsontown, Pa.-based Moran Industries bought the 215,000-square–foot structure at N. Cameron and Herr streets in Harrisburg, including almost nine acres of land, for about $250,000.

Moran plans to finish the building next year then use about half the space for its own offices and rent out the other half, according to the company.

The building has sat as an incomplete shell since 2008, when unpaid workers walked off the job. Two years ago, Capitol View developer David R. Dodd pled guilty to federal charges of money laundering and misuse of government funds in connection with the project.

Trash Privatization Debated

Harrisburg last month announced it has selected Republic Services to be its new trash hauler, sparking another squabble between the administration and City Council.

Chief Operating Officer Robert Philbin told council that a three-person team had chosen the country’s second-largest waste hauler to collect and dispose of trash. He said the city would save about $900,000 a year by privatizing waste collection, which currently is done by the city’s Department of Public Works.

The administration had announced in March that it intended to issue an RFP to privatize trash service. Several firms then submitted bids, and the administration eventually selected Republic.

Council members, however, seemed surprised that the decision to privatize had been made definitively and that a hauler had been chosen. They also charged that they had been left out of the process.

The council’s Public Works Committee then held several hearings on the issue, focused on such issues as trash fees, workers’ jobs and the fact that equipment would have to be picked up in York each day. The proposed contract with Republic remained unresolved at press time.

Funds for Greenbelt Restoration

The Capital Area Greenbelt is a step closer to a significant improvement after the Harrisburg City Council last month agreed to dedicate $10,000 for a major fix.

Members of the Capital Area Greenbelt Association appealed to the council to transfer funds dedicated for environmental projects to help remediate and protect the Paxtang Parkway section near Penbrook from further damage caused by storm water erosion.

Originally, the association requested $20,000. However, Jim Warner, CEO of the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, who attended the council meeting, said LCSWMA would split the cost, kicking in $10,000. This month, LCSWMA is expected to close on its purchase of the city incinerator.

The city’s portion of the funds will be derived from the “host fee” that Harrisburg receives as the site of an incinerator that accepts trash from outside municipalities.

In addition to the $20,000, the association has received $25,000 from the Kline Foundation, enabling it to qualify for a $300,000 state grant to cover the extensive work on that portion of the Greenbelt, said Scott Shepler, an association volunteer.

New Antiques/Collectibles Shop

The good news keeps coming for Cameron Street, as a new crafts and re-sale co-op has opened near Paxton Street.

Crafty Antiques and Collectibles debuted in late October, featuring everything from antique furniture to old toys to holiday items.

Owners Kathy Clark and Rosemary Hibala rent out space in the 2,400-square-foot shop to a variety of vendors who showcase and sell their items. Though the long-time friends just opened their store, they hope soon to double its size by expanding next door.

“We decided to go into business because we work so well together,” said Clark.

The shop at 712 S. Cameron St. is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Recently, several new businesses have announced plans to occupy space nearby on Cameron Street. Business partners Richard Hefelfinger and Phil Dobson plan to open a blues club and restaurant across the street at 819 S. Cameron St., while Dobson says he will remake 1119 S. Cameron St. into an entertainment and events space.

Crafty Antiques and Collectibles can be reached at 717-547-6032 or CraftyAntiquesPa@gmail.com.

Receivership Extension Expected

The state last month requested an extension of Harrisburg’s receivership for another two years.

C. Alan Walker, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, filed a petition in Commonwealth Court asking for the extension, which would run through December 2015. Most elements of the Harrisburg Strong financial recovery plan should be implemented by then.

Separately, Commonwealth Court last month gave receiver William Lynch the authority to sign documents related to the Harrisburg Strong plan on behalf of city Controller Dan Miller.

Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter made the ruling after Miller had not signed off on contracts for key parts of the plan, including for the sale of the city incinerator and the long-term lease of the parking system. Both deals are expected to close this month.

Betsy’s Bakery Arrives Downtown

Betsy’s Bakery last month opened its second shop, serving its gluten-free baked goods from a prime location downtown.

Owners Betsy and Shannon Peffley began offering breads, sweets and sandwiches from a storefront right across the street from the state Capitol last occupied by Downtown Café.

Betsy said they decided to open in Harrisburg because so many of their customers from the first location in Camp Hill live on the East Shore. She added that there’s a growing demand for gluten-free products.

“We are 100 percent gluten-free,” she said. “Our customers with celiac disease or who have gluten-free needs appreciate that so they won’t get sick.”

In addition to baked goods and sandwiches made with Boar’s Head meats, the bakery soon will offer soups and paninis, said Betsy.

“We never expected our business to take off like it has,” she said. “We knew there was a need, but didn’t know it’d be so great.”

Betsy’s Bakery is located at 240 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop can be reached at 717-236-9901 or at https://betsysbakery.com. The original shop is at 115 St. John’s Church Rd., Camp Hill.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2453: W. Breeze to S. McKune, $58,500

Berryhill St., 2259: PA Deals LLC to J. Vergis, $65,000

Boas St., 122: D. & J. Mowery to J. Sadlock, $115,900

Boas St., 1937: S. Lopez et al to EB & ZEE LLC, $66,500

Briggs St., 233: A. & P. Cowell to T. Harris, $117,000

Cumberland St., 1416: PNL Penn Properties LP to T. Lewis, $35,000

Green St., 3030: E. & K. Peck to J. Luck Jr. & K. Kyper, $220,000

Herr St., 260: D. Leaman to S. Bruder & M. Richards, $165,500

Maclay St., 425: D. & J. Boyle to D. Perez, $31,738

Market St., 1249, 1253, 1255 & 3 S. 13^th St.: Hill Café Partners to Hill Café 1249 LP, $500,278

Market St., 1859: M. & D. Nichols to Z. Reeves, $105,900

N. 4^th St., 1324: L. Jones & J. Lambright to P. Little, $96,000

N. 4^th St., 2030: B. Lerew to I. Alderton, $82,000

N. 6^th St., 1500: 1500 SPE LP to A. Gulotta, $558,158

N. Front St., 2601: Radnor Realty to J.A. Hartzler, $200,000

Pennwood Rd., 3135: PA Deals LLC to T. Smith, $118,000

S. 20^th St., 1208: T. Nguyen & T. Pham to M. Nguyen, $112,005

S. 26^th St., 638: N. Reohr to J. Zimmerman, $69,900

Rudy Rd., 2145: J. Holmes & BAC Tax Services Corp. to M. & K. DeRosa, $162,900

Rumson Dr., 2920: A. & M. Tscherneff to W. Quezada & M. Cedeno, $34,000

Rumson Dr., 2983: PI Capitol LLC to C. Shenk, $64,900

Rumson Dr., 2991: Trusted Source Capital LLC to PA Deals LLC, $40,000

Susquehanna St., 1526: P. Mohr to C. Butcher, $104,500

Susquehanna St., 1725: Fannie Mae to M. Gojmerac & C. Roma, $48,000

Vernon St., 1308 & 113 S. 13^th St.: Stevens Emmanuel United to True Worshippers Ministries, $55,000

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like

You May Also Like