Tag Archives: Hall Manor

He’s Gone: Harrisburg mayoral advisor out after adverse court ruling.

January 15, 2018 | by Lizzy Hardison

Harrisburg city hall

A senior mayoral aide who was found liable in civil court for threatening an Allison Hill resident is no longer employed with the city, according to a Harrisburg official.

Communications Director Joyce Davis confirmed on Monday morning that Karl Singleton, former senior advisor to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, has not been employed with the city since Tuesday, Jan. 9 — the same day that Papenfuse learned about his court ruling from a Burg reporter. Davis could not say whether Singleton had resigned or been fired.

TheBurg reported last Tuesday that Singleton appeared before Magisterial District Justice David O’Leary on Dec. 19 for a hearing on a civil suit filed last July by Allison Hill resident Timothy Rowbottom. Rowbottom said in court that Singleton threatened his life during a heated argument on May 9, a week before the primary municipal elections, following a debate between mayoral primary candidates at the Hilton Harrisburg.

“I’m from Hall Manor, you should be scared of me,” Singleton allegedly told Rowbottom, referring to Harrisburg’s largest public housing complex, according to the court ruling. “I know where you live; I can have you taken out.”

Rowbottom, who campaigned for Papenfuse challenger Jennie Jenkins during the mayoral primary, allegedly made racist remarks to Singleton prior to the argument. He admitted to calling Singleton “a sorry excuse for a black man” and that he (Rowbottom) “is blacker than [Singleton] ever will be,” stated the court ruling.

In the ruling entered on Dec. 27, O’Leary found Singleton liable for making malicious threats. The judge also said that Singleton’s political position compounded his liability.

Since Rowbottom admitted in court that he was unapologetic for his racially inflammatory remarks and claimed he was unafraid of Singleton, O’Leary only awarded the plaintiff nominal damages.

On Monday morning, however, Rowbottom said that he did take Singleton’s threats seriously. He also said he’s even more afraid now that Singleton no longer holds a position in city hall.

“I had to take him straight,” Rowbottom said. “I’m more afraid now than before. I’m terrified for my life every day.”

Davis said she was unaware of any plans to replace Singleton, whose position was incidentally reduced to part-time in January. Papenfuse said during budget hearings in December that the recent addition of a full-time business advisor to his cabinet reduced the need for a full-time aide.

Both Singleton and Papenfuse declined to comment this morning.

City considers new amenities, pricing for public pools.

November 22, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

A rendering for the first option for Jackson Lick pool. which would include a six-lane lap pool, shallow swimming area, splash pad, climbing wall, water slide, and crossing activity.

Even as temperatures drop and the holidays draw near, Harrisburg officials have their eyes on the upcoming summer pool season.

Architects last night unveiled proposals for replacing public pools at the Hall Manor and Jackson Lick housing complexes, a process that may begin as early as next fall. The presentation came after a months-long audit of the aging pools, which concluded that both have exceeded their useful lifespans and do not have any salvageable components.

Project managers from Counsilman-Hunsaker, the aquatics consultancy firm that conducted the study, recommend that the city replace both pools entirely and gut-renovate the bathhouses. They also laid out a bevy of new aquatics amenities to include at each facility, as well as tentative budgets for each project.

Modern aquatics facilities favor dynamic amenities and play structures, according to George Deines, a Counsilman-Hunsaker project manager. As a result, all of the options they presented for Hall Manor and Jackson Lick would reduce the overall square footage of the pools to accommodate new features.

“We want a facility that will make people say, ‘Wow, look at that,'” Deines said.

The first option proposed for the Jackson Lick pool laid out a six-lane, 25-foot long competition pool with diving boards, a shallow area for fitness and swim lessons and a spray pad. The facility would also have a water slide, a climbing wall and a “crossing activity” – a monkey-bar-like structure above the water.

The cost for that project would be close to $5 million. A second, $6.25-million option would create a separate children’s area with a wading pool, play structure, and spray pad, along with an eight-lane competition pool. The pool would feature the same water slide, climbing wall and crossing activity as the first option.

The consultants offered the same options for the Hall Manor pool, but project costs at that facility were slightly higher—$5.6 million for the first option and $7.1 million for the second. The Hall Manor facility would also include a concession stand and outdoor picnic area.

No matter which plans come to fruition, the new city pools will both be compliant with the American Disabilities Act—a federal standard that they currently do not meet.

Before they can break ground or even put the projects out for public bid, the city must secure millions of dollars in funding and decide which pool to tackle first. As Councilman Westburn Majors said, “renovating two pools at once would be a heavy lift for any city.”

To offset construction and maintenance costs, consultants recommended a modest increase to admission prices at each pool. Under the new pricing, daily passes would be $6 for adults and $4 for children and seniors. Season passes would cost $145 for a family, $50 for adults, $45 for children and $30 for seniors. Other possible revenue sources include swim lessons, a summer swim team, and facility rentals for private parties.

Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Sanders said his department will consider the options before them over the next few months. Once they develop firm proposals, they will pursue grant money, private gifts and capital improvement funding to finance the projects.

City officials and Counsilman-Hunsaker both hope the projects can be completed in the off-season. If crews break ground at the end of the swim season in 2018 and work through as much of the winter as they can, it is possible that a new pool would be open for business in the 2019 swimming season, said Deines.

Read on for full project descriptions and renderings from Counsilman-Hunsaker:

: Jackson Lick, Option 1

: Jackson Lick, Option 2

: Hall Manor, Option 1

: Hall Manor, Option 2

Everything New Again: Seniors start the move into the renovated Jackson Towers.

September 29, 2017 | by Diane McNaughton

A newly transfigured, 13-story high-rise, vacant for 13 years, now bears two signature “JT” monograms on its beige and brown façade.

Inside, the building has the aroma of newness, the look of a chic hotel, and the grateful smiles of dozens of senior citizens.

After years of waiting and work, the 159 like-new units of Jackson Towers are filling with residents aged 62 and older, who were eagerly waiting to call 1315 N. 6th St. “home.”

First built in 1960, just blocks from the Capitol Complex, Jackson Towers has stood lifeless and languishing since being vacated in 2004. After a 2011-12 gutting and a long bidding process, renovations began in earnest in September 2013.

Fast-forward four years. After the Labor Day weekend faded into the rear-view mirror, the moving vans started pulling up to the covered portico. Seniors began sitting on the outdoor benches, and a lonely, tranquil building sprang to life.

After the total makeover, many residents are moving from its next-door neighbor, Lick Apartments. Both towers are located across from the Broad Street Market, adjacent to Ben Franklin School, near the Bethesda Mission and the proposed site of the new federal courthouse.

Among those moving in is 80-year-old Arthur Jefferson, who sat outside Lick Apartments in a wheelchair on a sun-soaked August afternoon. Fred Banuelos, vice president of the Harrisburg Housing Authority, called “Jeff” the unofficial “mayor” of Lick Apartments, a man who knows everybody by name and is a friend to all.

Jefferson reached into his back pants pocket to produce his folded white paper bearing his room assignment in Jackson Tower. It was his ticket to a brighter future.

He confessed that a stroke often interferes with his ability to express his thoughts easily, but his eyes and face told the tale. While health complications will prevent him from using the library and gym, he is looking forward to the conversation rooms and group areas.

“I like it,” he said enthusiastically about his new home.

Live in Dignity
When visitors walk beneath the covered entranceway of Jackson Towers, past the benches and precise landscaping, they enter an open, airy two-story lobby. The color palette is a sea of taupe, terra cotta, russet and chocolate brown. The lobby has a security station, open steps and three elevators, one of which is handicapped accessible.

Plush new carpets, tile floors and faux stone walls give the structure a look of sophistication. The first floor, which still had slipcovers protecting the carpet in late August, is non-living space, loaded with amenities. Rounding out the first floor are a library, game room for board and card games, community room with rich, faux cherry cabinets, group dining room, fitness room and resident relations office, where people can get help with medical issues, transportation and employment. Hamilton Health Center has a presence, as well, complete with examining rooms and a spacious waiting room.

“It has the appearance of high-end, but it was done at an economical rate,” Banuelos said.

Room keys work on a high-tech fob system to avoid lost keys and lockouts.

The renovation, which cost $25 million, reduced the building’s units from 240 to 159, so they’re fewer but bigger.

“This is how housing could and should be,” Banuelos said. “If you are low-income, you don’t have to live in an institutionalized setting. They deserve to live in dignity and in something nice as well.”

Great Support
Jackson Towers is part of a vast public housing spectrum.

Banuelos said that there are 1,641 public housing units in Harrisburg, and, of those, 420 are for seniors. In addition to Jackson Tower, Morrison Tower has 120 and Lick has 144. The balance is for families, including Hall Manor, Hoverter Homes and William Howard Day Homes.

At JT, every resident is age- and income-qualified, Banuelos said.

Resident income must fall at 50 percent or below the median income in metropolitan Harrisburg to qualify. A waiting list for housing continues, but the authority is working to shorten it, both in terms of names and waiting times, he said.

He added that residents are charged 30 percent of their income for rent, so it is always affordable.

Banuelos said that he gets the same reaction from virtually everyone who tours JT: “It looks like a hotel!”

Family members of residents are especially thrilled. “I’m so happy my mom can live in such a nice place,” is a common refrain, he said.

“We knocked down walls and made new configurations,” Banuelos said. “We got great support throughout the community. That makes us want to come to work every day.”

The building has four styles of apartments. There are nine efficiencies, which have no private bedroom for “very simple living.” The second style is a one-bedroom apartment, with a galley-style kitchen and long countertops. Pocket doors allow for added space, and walk-in showers and closets offer ample storage and easy movement.

The third style is an L-shaped kitchen, with almond-colored walls. The fourth is handicapped-accessible. Floor-to-ceiling heights are tight. New Energy Star windows help with the energy retrofit of the building.

Banuelos said the intent was to move seniors from Lick to JT, but “the funding environment is making it prohibitive.”

Many residents had their hopes up and were disappointed, he said. The housing authority decided to make the move voluntary, leading about 80 to 85 of Lick residents to move.

Admittedly, coordinating the logistics of the move for many frail residents was tough. It was also like fitting together a jigsaw puzzle—some wanted the top floor, others the first. Some wanted the front and some the back, Banuelos said.

He said almost every preference was accommodated.

Moves began Sept. 5 in the morning, then two waves in the afternoon. Twenty moves each week are expected, until all are resettled.

“It’s a Herculean effort,” he said, even though the residents are only moving about 100 feet.

Much Potential
Jackson Towers and Lick Apartments have a long, proud history in Harrisburg.

Lick was named for Alton Lick, a former commissioner on the Housing Authority. Jackson Tower was named for C. Sylvester Jackson, a community activist and member of the Harrisburg Authority. The old plaques from the original, nondescript brick buildings and timeworn renderings are framed behind glass in the second floor administrative offices.

Lick Tower is being redeveloped also, but at a much slower rate, Banuelos said. Renovations will be done while residents continue to live there.

Denny Shelley served as the project manager with Dillsburg-based eciConstruction for the Jackson Tower overhaul. Involved in all three phases of the project, he said it took longer than expected, which is typical for projects of this magnitude, but it was done within the original construction budget.

He thinks the best part of the building is the architectural design, the lobby area and the Exterior Insulation Finishing System. This water-resistant surface is designed to be more durable and better at thermal and moisture control than traditional brick, stucco or siding.

He said the old building looked like “the public housing of old,” but, with this “new aesthetic,” JT “looks like market-rate apartments.”

Shelley saluted KD3 Design Studio of Lemoyne, led by Dale Hair and Kurt Oravecz, for the architecture and interior design services.

Beyond the project are the residents. Banuelos knows his people well.

“I have 144 grandmothers who are always asking me how my day is going,” he jokes.

But then he turns more serious.

“The city of Harrisburg has so much potential,” Banuelos said. “This is proof.”

When Shelley drinks in an aerial view of the downtown region, his eyes naturally gravitate to Jackson Towers.

“I believe this building stands out in the view of the cityscape,” he said.

Jackson Towers is located at 1315 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. For more information on the Harrisburg Housing Authority, visit www.harrisburghousing.org.

July News Digest

June 30, 2015 | by Lawrance Binda

HUD Disbursements Proposed

Harrisburg last month began the annual process of distributing funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Papenfuse administration proposed funding numerous social service agencies with part of the $2.6 million the city is receiving from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant funds.

Proposed recipients include the Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry, Mid Penn Legal Services, the Tri County HDC, the Fair Housing Council, the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, the Camp Curtin YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg.

Harrisburg also proposed expending about $663,000 from the grant to cover debt service from two Reed-era projects: improvements along Market Street in the 1990s and construction of the Capitol View Commerce Center.

The city guaranteed a $3.8 million federal loan for the Capitol View Commerce Center, a project that collapsed after developer David Dodd ran out of money and stopped paying contractors. He now is serving a prison sentence on charges of misusing government funds and money laundering.

Eventually, John Moran of Moran Industries bought and finished the building at Herr and Cameron streets. Nonetheless, Harrisburg must pay back the federal loan that it backed.

The Papenfuse administration also proposed dispersal of $394,357 from a second HUD program, the HOME Investment Partnership Program. Most of that money will fund the city’s Homeowner Improvement Program.

Planning Meetings Held

Harrisburg last month hosted a series of meetings to gather public input on the drafting of a new comprehensive plan for the city.

The six meetings were held throughout the city to get ideas on such matters as transportation, housing, recreation, land use, mass transit and other subjects. The ideas now will be taken into consideration as Harrisburg goes about drafting a new plan, which will serve as a vision for the city’s future growth and development.

Comment also can be submitted at a website launched last month devoted to the comprehensive plan: www.behbg.com.

Harrisburg has hired the city-based Office for Planning and Architecture to guide the creation of the new comprehensive plan.

2 Positions Created

Harrisburg City Council last month approved two new positions requested by the Papenfuse administration.

The new deputy business administrator for parking is responsible for the remaining administrative functions of the former Harrisburg Parking Authority, which shut operations on June 30.

Last year, Park Harrisburg took over most of the city’s parking assets under a long-term lease, but the city still oversees two parking garages and a surface lot. Mayor Eric Papenfuse plans to hire Richard Kotz, the long-serving HPA director, for the $60,000-per-year job, a reduction from his former $100,000 salary.

Council also OK’d the creation of a temporary assistant city solicitor position. This attorney, who will earn $27,500 through December, will pursue action against 22 commercial trash accounts dating to 2008 that total about $1 million, Papenfuse said.

Both positions were funded by transferring money already in the city’s 2015 general budget.

No School Tax Hike

For a second straight year, Harrisburg homeowners will see no increase in the school portion of their property taxes.

Last month, the Harrisburg school board passed a $137.8 million budget that will keep taxes steady for the 2015-16 school year. The tax rate will be unchanged at 27.92 mills, meaning that the owner of a property assessed at $100,000 will pay $2,792 in school taxes before adjustments. Tax bills typically are mailed in July.

The district also bade farewell to Gene Veno, the district’s state-appointed chief recovery officer. Veno left the position after serving more than two years in the post. At press time, state Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera had not announced a replacement for him.

Pool Openings Delayed

Harrisburg youth again started the summer without access to a public swimming pool, as both city-run pools experienced problems that needed to be fixed.

The Jackson Lick pool had electrical and plumbing issues that needed to be addressed, while the pool at Hall Manor required some electrical repairs.

At press time, neither pool had reopened.

The 1960s-era pools both have suffered from repeated problems and shutdowns, though the Jackson Lick pool was open last summer. The Hall Manor pool has been closed since 2012, and the city repaired serious foundational issues last year.

Gonzalez Is Final Nominee

Lionel Gonzalez took the final Democratic nomination last month for Harrisburg school board following a tie-breaker.

After the May 19 primary, Gonzalez was tied with Daunessy Penn with 1,159 votes for the nomination for the final four-year seat. Two weeks later, Gonzalez won the nomination by a drawing of lots.

In addition to Gonzalez, the Democratic nominees for five, four-year seats on the school board are Jennifer Smallwood, Monica Blackston-Bailey, Matthew Krupp and Melvin Wilson Jr. Krupp also will be on the ballot as the only Republican nominee.

Judd Pittman is the Democratic nominee for the sole two-year seat.

Townhouses Debut

Brethren Housing Association and PinnacleHealth System last month completed construction of the Hummel Street Townhouses, three new houses in South Allison Hill.

The project will provide housing to single homeless mothers and their children, furthering BHA’s mission to help families transition out of poverty.

The townhouses replaced several severely blighted, abandoned properties at the corner of Hummel and Haehnlen streets.

Home Sales Up

The Harrisburg-area housing market continued to show improvement, as both units sold and the average sales price increased, according to data released last month.

The number of houses sold in May increased from 763 to 796, and the average sales price went from $183,221 to 187,436 compared to May 2014, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The average number of days on the market fell from 93 to 86.

The GHAR area includes all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Dauphin County experienced the greatest rise in average selling price, from $152,649 in May 2014 to $174,798 in May 2015.

Changing Hands

Bartine St., 1124: K. Adams to A. Jackson, $102,500

Benton St., 512: M. Silvius to J. Eldred, $104,000

Berryhill St., 2477: S. Nguyen to V. Dieu, $42,000

Briggs St., 1946: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Shokes Enterprises LLC, $30,000

Chestnut St., 2214: J. & L. Coffman & V. Trimmer to D. Kauffman Jr. & J. Kantner, $145,000

Duke St., 2511: H. & A. Arahovas to P. Konstantine, $60,000

Fox Ridge Ct., 309: T. Knorr to J. Buss, $109,900

Fulton St., 1420: U.S. Bank NA Trustee & PA Housing Finance Agency to PA Deals LLC, $65,000

Green St., 1020: A. Kohr to J. & H. Piper, $91,500

Green St., 1226: W. Weidig to K. Lesher & P. Boyed, $102,500

Green St., 1504: M. Tanzini to J. Webb, $102,000

Green St., 1705: J. Weber to J. Tinnick, $109,900

Hamilton St., 201: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Hooks Van Holm Inc. to Braxley Renovations LLC, $75,000

Harris St., 230: Klimke Holdings LLC to C. Jackson, $175,000

Hillside Rd., 217: C. & K. White to J. Markel, $196,000

Lucknow Rd., 635, TR1 & TR3: Stabler Companies Inc. to Patlin Properties III LP, $415,000

Market St., 1845: Centric Bank to Nish Properties LLC, $45,000

Mercer St., 2456: J. & G. McCarchey to L. Bloodworth, $55,000

Nagle St., 123: E. Shover to K. Snyder & C. Kaufman, $135,000

N. 2^nd St., 1217: R. Homisak to A. Campbell, $98,000

N. 2^nd St., 1925 & 1927: D. & C. Herr to Reddinger Estates LLC, $30,000

N. 2^nd St., 2701: P. Usner to K. Sheets & K. Hancock, $300,000

N. 6^th St., 2433 & 2435: Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority to N. Wright, $35,000

N. 6^th St., 3212: RT Home Solutions Inc. to PA Deals LLC, $85,000

N. 13^th St., 505: A. Deimler to J. Kapp, $45,000

N. 19^th St., 43: LMK Properties LLC to Equity Trust Co. Custodian, Julie Burns IRA, $55,000

Penn St., 1918: M. Gustantino to Z. Shamberg, $133,000

Regina St., 1710: Propmax LLC to Matt Walter LLC, $38,500

Reily St., 263: Fannie Mae to Nish Properties LLC, $107,000

Rolleston St., 1116: B. Quinones to M. Phan, $83,000

Rumson Dr., 385: R. & M. Spence to D. & D. Blount, $70,000

S. 29^th St., 506, 510 & 514: Weis Markets Inc. to The Salvation Army, $1,250,000

S. Front St., 553: Ashbury Foundation to B. Trust, $70,000

State St., 231, Unit 204: LUX 1 LP to J. Montenegro, $119,900

State St., 231, Unit 405: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $124,900

State St., 231, Unit 406: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $109,900

Taylor Blvd., 52: HSBC Bank USA to PA Deals LLC, $44,300

Yale St., 222: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to M. Cole, $59,900

Tag Archives: Hall Manor

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