Tag Archives: Harrisburg City Council

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 17, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Owners Bryanna and Anthony Graham of Midtown Juice Lab, which is set to open in Harrisburg next week

After Thursday night’s downpour, it’s looking like warm, sunny days ahead for the weekend. Make sure to celebrate Juneteenth, share some love with your dad on Father’s Day, and catch up on all of the week’s local news, below.

Bob’s Art Blog has lots to share about local art events coming up, including a Broad Street Market sign re-lighting and Metropolis Collective gallery’s anniversary party.

The Broad Street Market will ceremonially re-light its iconic sign on Friday, during 3^rd in the Burg, our online story reported. The sign was refurbished and reinstalled in April, after suffering severe wind damage.

The Capital Area Greenbelt Association held its 2022 Tour de Belt on June 5 and raised $59,425 to support its beautification efforts, our online story reported. Nearly 1,200 people made the 20-mile loop around the Greenbelt.

Cordier Auctions & Appraisals will hold another in a series of auctions of artifacts acquired by long-time Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed, our reporting found. The auction, featuring many items with ties to the historical American West and the U.S. military, will open next week.

Eniola African Food Store recently opened in Allison Hill in Harrisburg, our online story reported. The shop offers a wide range of African products, something that the city was previously missing, according to owner Eniola Iruaregbon.

Friends of Midtown announced the schedule for its free summer Outdoor Film Series, our online story reported. Throughout the season, animated, action and cult-favorite movies will hit the big screen outside Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg City Council voted to approve the use of about $15.6 million in federal COVID relief dollars, our online story reported. The city will use those funds to finance an HVAC upgrade for its Public Safety Building and for benefits for fire and police bureau employees.

The Harrisburg School District seems likely to remain in receivership, as the Pennsylvania Department of Education has filed a petition for an extension for another three years, our reporting found. If the extension is approved by the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski would remain in the post through mid-2025.

The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra announced that it will offer free concerts during the July 4^th weekend, our online story reported. The tour will travel to five local venues from June 30 to July 4 and conclude at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg.

Immigrant Heritage Month was celebrated in Harrisburg this week as the Dauphin County commissioners recognized several immigrant-owned businesses, our online story reported. Business owners also participated in a roundtable discussion.

The Jewish Federation of Harrisburg is moving into the former Dixon Center with big plans for the space. In our magazine story, read about the organization’s goals for its future and how it hopes to impact central PA.

Jubilee Day returned to Mechanicsburg this week with vendors, music, food and carnival rides. Read more about the significance and history of the day, in our magazine story.

Juneteenth will be celebrated by Harrisburg and Dauphin County on June 18 with food trucks, vendors and music, our online story reported. According to Mayor Wanda Williams, this is the first time the city will hold a festival for the holiday.

Loe Badgett, a Harrisburg rapper, released a new song in partnership with the city to promote anti-gun violence, our online story reported. Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter hopes the song, “Break the Cycle,” will inspire local youth.

The Lofts officially broke ground in the former Salvation Army building at Green and Cumberland streets in Midtown Harrisburg, our online story reported. The project, which is being developed by Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners, will feature 16 apartment units.

Midtown Juice Lab will open in Harrisburg on June 25, offering juices, smoothies and acai bowls, our reporting found. Owners Bryanna and Anthony Graham hope to inspire people to eat healthy.

Sara Bozich has a long list of this weekend’s events, including ways to spend Juneteenth and Father’s Day. Find out what’s happening in the Harrisburg area, here.

Stewed rhubarb with red berries is on the menu for June in Rosemary’s cooking column. Find out how to make the simple dessert, here.

Theatre Harrisburg’s season wraps up with “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” which portrays the family dynamics of three middle-aged, discontented siblings. The show runs through June 19. Read more, in our online story.

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Harrisburg to use portion of federal COVID-relief funds for public safety building, personnel

June 14, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council’s legislative session on Tuesday

Harrisburg has decided to allocate a portion of its federal COVID relief funds to its public safety departments.

At a legislative session on Tuesday, City Council approved the allotment of about $15.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for public safety initiatives and reimbursement for lost revenue during the pandemic.

In total, the city was allotted $47 million in ARPA funding.

Under the bill, $5.5 million will fund the replacement of the HVAC system in the city’s Public Safety Building in downtown Harrisburg. According to Mayor Wanda Williams, the system is antiquated and in need of an upgrade.

“It’s a pricey, but necessary expenditure, as well as a health risk,” she explained at a previous council work session.

Harrisburg will also give $1.2 million in one-time bonuses to uniformed personnel in the Harrisburg Fire Bureau and Bureau of Police. Each staff member will receive a $5,000 bonus.

“The bonuses, I feel, are instrumental because we were considering those at-risk workers during the hardest times of COVID,” said council member Ralph Rodriguez. “If we don’t take care of them, we will continue to lose them.”

Another $8.8 million will be used to reimburse the city for expenses and lost revenue due to the pandemic, which was initially approved as part of the 2022 budget.

Williams announced her proposed plan for the use of the ARPA funds in mid-May, including the items that council approved on Tuesday. Her proposal also includes uses for the remaining funds, such as for an affordable housing initiative and the replacement of the city’s Hall Manor pool with a waterpark. Those projects, among others, will require future approval by council.

“I would really like to hear the full presentation with presence from each of the directors that would be impacted by the mayor’s proposal,” said council President Danielle Bowers. “I would also like to hear from the residents.”

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Harrisburg to reinstate Youth Commission, accept teen applicants for board

June 6, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg’s MLK City Government Center

Starting this summer, Harrisburg’s youth will begin to have a greater influence on city affairs.

Harrisburg City Council announced on Monday that they will restart the Youth Commission, a board of teen residents to advise the city on issues concerning the youth.

“We had to put the program on hold due to the pandemic, but we are excited to have the commission return this year,” said council member Jocelyn Rawls, chair of the committee of parks, recreation & enrichment. “Having a background as an educator, I know the importance of keeping our youth engaged. I look forward to the opportunity to re-initiate the commission and to serve as their representative on City Council.”

Council is currently accepting applications for the commission. They plan to fill the board with 11 residents, between the ages of 14 and 18 years old. Rawls will head the commission.

Applications for the Youth Commission are due by July 15 at 5 p.m. Council will then review and select members by Aug. 1, hold a meet and greet event on Aug. 10 and host a press conference announcing the new members on Aug. 17. The first Youth Commission meeting will be held on Aug. 24 where the board will elect a president, vice president and secretary.

To apply for the Harrisburg Youth Commission, click here.

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Major Impact: A unique organization finds itself at a crossroads.

May 31, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck

Back in 2013, Harrisburg had a first hint that its future might be better than its recent past.

Late that summer, the state-appointed receiver released a financial recovery plan designed to return some measure of fiscal sanity to the insolvent city.

Sanity came at a high price.

To pay back creditors, Harrisburg had to monetize two of its most valuable assets, the city incinerator and its parking system, to raise almost $400 million. That was the headline news.

Several other important elements were buried deeper in the “Harrisburg Strong” plan. One called for the creation of a new nonprofit, Impact Harrisburg, which would try to right another wrong created by decades of derelict leadership.

In Harrisburg, it wasn’t just borrowed money that financed such extravagances as museum artifacts, a sports stadium and a waste-to-energy experiment. For years, Harrisburg’s core infrastructure was ignored so that funds could be spent on one man’s fantasy of turning the city into a tourist mecca.

As the mayor dreamed and schemed, Harrisburg’s roads and sewers fell apart.

I remember the first time I drove into Harrisburg, off of I-83. The trip up 2nd Street was like the world’s least fun bumper car ride—vehicles meandering all over the wide road, nearly crashing into each other as the lane lines had long disappeared. I thought to myself, “Can’t this city afford some paint?” Turns out, the answer was “no.”

Impact Harrisburg was meant to be a start in repairing the broken capital city, in the most literal sense.

I bring this up now because Impact Harrisburg is at a crossroads. In 2014, the financial recovery plan seeded the nonprofit with $12.3 million, half marked for infrastructure and the other half for economic development—pots of money designed to help the city play catch-up after years of neglect.

Eight years later, those funds have been nearly exhausted.

Recently, I sat down with several Impact Harrisburg officials to reflect back on what’s been done and where the organization goes from here.

Board chair Gloria Martin-Roberts and vice-chair Doug Hill, as well as Executive Director Sheila Dow-Ford, were pleased with the work done so far. They rattled off a long list of achievements—from street repaving to sewer upgrades to grants that helped keep businesses afloat during the pandemic.

I knew about those projects. We’ve reported extensively on them, and I can see some of the roadwork just by looking out my office window.

But others were more under the radar. For instance, about $4.1 million went to fund projects for community groups like the Salvation Army, the Camp Curtin and East Shore YMCAs and Tri-County HDC for housing development. Other monies paid for playground rehabs, software for city workers and, most recently, a disparity study to determine how the city can offer more opportunity for diverse businesses.

For Harrisburg, these funds were critical, as the city has been cut off from the credit markets for over a decade, unable to borrow money. This would stagnate or sink most cities, but Harrisburg has experienced tremendous redevelopment over the past half-dozen years, including major work to main thoroughfares like 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 17th streets.

Much of this was seeded by Impact Harrisburg, which provided direct grants and, perhaps as importantly, attracted matching funds from other sources.

“We are absolutely on fire over meeting our mission and improving the health status of the city,” Martin-Roberts told me. “And, what I mean by health status, I’m talking about infrastructure and economic development because it all impacts on the health status of our city.”

So, where does Impact Harrisburg head from here? That’s the question at hand, as its initial funding has nearly run dry.

In a nutshell, they’d like to stay in business, focused on economic development. Indeed, the city may need assistance in this area, as its economic development director currently serves just one day a week.

“We want to stay active,” Martin-Roberts said. “We want to stay involved.”

To make this happen, Impact Harrisburg will need to find new funds. Hill mentioned several possible sources, including both private donors and city-controlled monies, such as Community Development Block Grant funds and a slice of Harrisburg’s $48 million American Rescue Plan Act funding.

“We are going back to the city and going out to the philanthropic community and saying, ‘Here’s a remarkably unique need and a remarkably unique position that we can fill,’” Hill said.

If its coffers were replenished, Impact Harrisburg could continue its economic development mission. This might include continuing its small-business grant program, its help for minority and disadvantaged businesses and its focus on training, education and identifying additional financial support for young and emerging entrepreneurs.

“The city is not equipped to do that,” Martin-Roberts said. “I’m not casting aspersions against them. They don’t have the people to do it. We can get it done, and we know we can get it done. It just makes for a healthier community.”

Impact Harrisburg was a novel idea born from a profound crisis.

Over the years, this unique nonprofit has proven its value in identifying critical needs and making a visible difference, whether in normal times or in COVID times. I also like that it employs the talents of some remarkable and dedicated people outside of government who want to continue their service to our community.

As I write this, the city is announcing its plan for American Rescue Plan monies. Ultimately, that’s up to the administration and City Council, with public meetings slated for this month. But a strong case can be made for re-equipping Impact Harrisburg, which has a track record of strategically injecting funds where they’re greatly needed.

Lawrance Binda is co-publisher/editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

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June News Digest

May 31, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg Proposes Use of Federal Funds

After months of consideration, Harrisburg announced how it hopes to use millions of dollars in new federal funds.

Last month, Mayor Wanda Williams proposed using the city’s $47 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to support low-income residents, upgrade pools and parks and cover public safety needs.

“It’s not every day we get $47 million to spend to make the city better,” Williams said. “The pandemic has taken so much from us in so many ways over the last two years. This is why it is important we get this right, right now.”

In total, Williams proposed using $42 million of the pandemic relief funds, saving the additional $4.6 million for future uses. Her proposal includes four spending buckets: $14.5 million to help low-income residents, $10 million for beautification, parks and recreation, $9.16 million for public safety and $8.8 million to reimburse the city for lost revenue during the pandemic.

Besides the money that would be used to pay back the city for revenue it lost during COVID, the largest allotments would go to creating an affordable housing program and constructing a water park in south Harrisburg. Williams has delegated $8 million for each.

“We feel that every dollar we requested is certainly necessary,” Williams said.

The affordable housing program would primarily seek to direct financial assistance to nonprofits and developers planning to construct and sell homes to low-income residents. According to city officials, organizations or companies would apply to the program and be evaluated based on standards developed by the Department of Building and Housing Development. The city hopes the money will help build a few hundred new affordable homes, according to city Business Administrator Dan Hartman.

Also for low-income residents, the city proposed allotting $5 million to assist homeowners with necessary home repairs and another $1 million to pay for delinquent trash utility bills. Another $500,000 would fund grants for small businesses affected by the pandemic.

“It’s always been my stance that the people of Harrisburg deserve safe, affordable housing, and this proposal would help that,” said Dennise Hill, director of the Department of Building and Housing Development.

The proposal to create a water park to replace the current Hall Manor pool would constitute another large chunk of funding. Williams said that the park would include a spray area, lazy river, slides, ADA-zero entry points, concessions and community spaces for families. Additional funding would go towards installing ADA-accessible playground equipment in city parks and for tree removal services.

With the funding for public safety, Williams wants to use $5.5 million to upgrade the public safety building’s HVAC system. She also proposed giving $5,000 bonuses, totaling $1.26 million, to police officers and firefighters, using $900,000 to upgrade radio systems for the fire bureau and spending $1.5 million to demolish dilapidated buildings.

The city plans to use the $4.6 million left out of the proposal to possibly cover administrative costs and to act as a buffer in case costs for other projects increase. It may also be used for additional projects, such as repaving city streets, Williams said.

The proposal will now go to Harrisburg City Council for consideration. Hartman said that the administration will formally present the plan to council on June 7.

According to council President Danielle Bowers, council plans to hold additional public hearings on the proposed use of the ARPA funding before voting on a final plan.

State Street Meetings Set

Harrisburg residents this month will get a chance to offer their input on a State Street construction project.

The city has announced three public meetings for residents to review and comment on draft redesigns of the roadway.

“What is clear is we need to give our residents more of an opportunity to voice their concerns on this project,” said Matt Maisel, the city’s communications director.

The State Street Rapid Response project, which began planning in 2018, broke ground in Allison Hill in April. However, only two weeks later, the project came to halt when residents expressed concerns. At a City Council meeting last month, city officials announced that they would go back to the drawing board for a redesign.

The city will bring new drafted designs to the public to gather feedback. Engineers will attend to answer questions and speak to residents.

The meeting dates and locations are as follows:

Wednesday, June 2, 6 to 8 p.m., Harrisburg School District Administration Building, Lincoln School, 1601 State St.
Monday, June 6, 6 to 8 p.m., Kappa Omega Fraternity House, 2020 State St.
Wednesday, June 22, 6 to 8 p.m., Harrisburg School District Administration Building, Lincoln School, 1601 State St.

The meetings on June 2 and 6 will offer residents the chance to comment on draft designs. After those meetings, Dawood Engineering Inc., which provides engineering services to the city, will use public feedback to create a single design. This will be presented to the public at the June 22 meeting, where residents will again have the chance to comment.

Additionally, the city announced a website that will allow residents to send in public comments.

According to Maisel, the process of taking public comment, redesigning the project and resuming construction may take only a matter of months. PennDOT must approve the new plan, as the commonwealth owns State Street.

To comment on the State Street Rapid Response project, visit www.harrisburgpa.gov/state-street.

Harrisburg Council OKs Apartment Building

A developer can move forward with renovating a long-abandoned building in Allison Hill.

Last month, Harrisburg City Council approved the transformation of a blighted building at 100 N. 13th St. into apartment units. Council voted in favor of the resolution 5-2, with council member Jocelyn Rawls and council President Danielle Bowers voting in opposition.

Radon Construction plans to renovate the 11,500-square-foot building, formerly the Church of God/Central Publishing House. The renovation includes creating 12 apartment units, which the developer said should rent for about $1,000 to $1,100 a month.

“I believe that would leave our residents cost-burdened,” Bowers said, explaining her opposition to the project.

At a previous council meeting, developers explained how they had to adjust the planned rental rate to cover the rising cost of construction.

Also at last month’s meeting, council approved a resolution to contract with an organization that will assist the city with gun violence prevention efforts. The Research Foundation of the City University of New York, on behalf of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College, will provide the service. The $210,000 contract is funded through a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The organization will study violence in Harrisburg, determine a strategy to address it and assist with implementation. The contract term is two years.

“I think it’s something that’s needed in the city,” council member Ausha Green said.

Street Name Honors T. Morris Chester

A street in downtown Harrisburg has a new, second name to honor local Black history.

Last month, officials unveiled the designation of part of Walnut Street as T. Morris Chester Way, named after a prominent figure in Harrisburg history.

“We are very excited to be celebrating this momentous occasion,” said Harrisburg City Council President Danielle Bowers.

In October, council approved the street name designation to honor the historic figure. The IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade, which installed the Commonwealth Monument on 4th and Walnut streets, is responsible for the initiative.

City officials recognized Thomas Morris Chester on what would have been his 188th birthday. Chester was a Harrisburg native and the nation’s first Black war correspondent during the 1860s. He helped recruit Black men into the Union Army and gave a voice to Black soldiers fighting for rights and equality.

“He never backed down from a fight, and the city will never back down from memorializing him,” Mayor Wanda Williams said.

Chester is also recognized as one of the bronze figures in the Commonwealth Monument.

Walnut Street will keep its name, but, from Commonwealth Avenue to Front Street, it has gained T. Morris Chester Way as a second name.

Home Prices Strong, Sales Slip

Harrisburg-area home prices jumped in April, even as sales dipped.

In the three-county region, the median price of an existing home rose to $250,500, a sharp increase from $225,000 in April 2021, as sales fell to 628 houses versus 704 the prior April, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, the median price rose to $230,000 compared to $197,950 in the year-ago period, with total sales falling to 314 from 380 housing units a year ago, GHAR said.

Cumberland County had a median sales price of $290,950 versus $260,000 a year ago, as sales decreased by 20 units to 268 houses, GHAR stated.

In Perry County, the median price also increased, to $208,900 from $156,000 in April 2021, as sales held steady at 36 homes, according to GHAR.

In April, houses were selling briskly, with the “average days on market” at just 16 days, compared to 23 the prior April, GHAR said.

Mural Passport Debuts

Visit Hershey & Harrisburg (VHH) last month announced “Murals & More—A Walk of Art,” audio-guided tours of two suggested routes that highlight murals, monuments and art.

For the tours, VHH has developed a mobile passport that users can add to their phone’s home screen.

“When you walk through Harrisburg, examples of artistic creativity and collaboration are everywhere,” said VHH President and CEO Mary Smith. “We loved the idea of creating suggested routes that allow visitors to not only see a variety of artwork within a few hours, but also learn about the artists and inspiration for the work through audio clips on the passport.”

The free passport features location information about each stop, along with audio overviews of the artwork, monuments and museums. At each stop, passport users are encouraged to use the check-in feature. After 14 check-ins, they’ll earn an art-themed prize.

Smith praised the work of Sprocket Mural Works, a nonprofit working to enhance communities through art and the organization behind many of the murals featured.

“Murals & More” is the latest addition to a collection of VHH Trails and Experiences designed to package certain themes within the region’s many tourism assets in a way that makes it easy for visitors and local residents to enjoy. Other trails and experiences include:

Brew Barons Beer Trail
Chocolate & More Sweet Treat Trail
Adventure Trail
The Black Travel Experience

“Murals & More” may be primarily centered on free public art, but it’s designed to have a positive overall effect and economic impact for Harrisburg.

“Every project VHH develops is a piece of the overall tourism puzzle in the Hershey Harrisburg region,” Smith said. “By encouraging people to take part in a walking tour, they’ll be passing restaurants, attractions and other small businesses that can also benefit from extra foot traffic in the city.”

For more information, visit www.visithersheyharrisburg.org.

Summer Events Scheduled

Just in time for the warm weather, Dauphin County last month announced its 2022 summer events season.

“We are excited to be back in action this year and here to kick off the 2022 events series,” said Michelle McKeown, the county’s parks and recreation program manager.

The county has a full lineup of seasonal events, including their annual Jazz and Wine Festival, which will take place at Fort Hunter on Sept. 10 and 11. The event will feature eight bands, as well as wine tastings and food vendors. To kick off the weekend, the popular Jazz Walk will return to Midtown Harrisburg.

Dauphin County also has family-friendly events running all summer, from June 3 to Aug. 26. The Sunset Music and Movies series will feature performing arts organizations and movies.

All of these events are free and will take place at Fort Hunter Park Centennial Barn. Families are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic basket. Food trucks will also be on site. Movie showings and live performances will alternate every other Friday.

Proudly PA! is another big event for the county, set for June 11 at Fort Hunter. The event will offer tastings from PA wineries, breweries and distilleries, as well as live music and food.

Other events include BrewFest on July 16 at Fort Hunter, Cultural Fest on City Island in Harrisburg on Aug. 20, Fort Hunter Day on Sept. 18 and Celebrate Wildwood on Sept. 24 at Wildwood Park.

“We wanted to make sure it’s a welcoming experience,” said county Commissioner George Hartwick. “We were intentional about pulling together diverse programming.”

For a full list of events and additional information, visit Dauphin County’s website.

So Noted

Harrisburg University last month announced a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace to support its scholarship program. Under the initiative, people will be able to purchase unique, HU-themed NFTs to help support student scholarships.

MASA Authentic Mexican Cuisine is slated to open this month in downtown Harrisburg at 316 N. 2nd St. Enrique Armas is the third-generation owner of the business, formerly known as Mexico Lindo, which ran as a popular food truck on Market Street in Allison Hill for about two decades.

OurBus is launching a new intercity bus route that will make stops in downtown Harrisburg, the company announced last month. The route begins in Slippery Rock and ends in New York, with additional stops in Pittsburgh, Breezewood and Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.ourbus.com.

Susquehanna Soniqs, a Harrisburg-based professional e-sports team, will open a state-of-the-art e-sports facility on S. 3rd Street downtown, said Soniqs CEO Darren Moore. The LAN Center should open to the public later this summer as a hub for gaming in the area, Moore said.

West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland debuted last month after an extensive renovation, with the grand-opening weekend featuring a variety of film and live performances. The 82-year-old art deco-style theater had been closed since early 2018.

Whitaker Center last month unveiled the new PNC Innovation Zone, a 7,000-square-foot gaming studio that offers children 8 years and older the ability to learn about coding, gaming and related technologies The Innovation Zone also is one of the region’s largest Comcast Lift Zones with free public internet.

Changing Hands

Balm St., 21: Straw Family Trust to D. Boyle, $40,000

Bellevue Rd., 1945: R. Sheffield & L. Adams to 946 S 18th LLC, $64,900

Bellevue Rd., 2024: D&J Properties of Harrisburg to SPG Capital LLC, $58,000

Berryhill St., 1425: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Boyle, $49,275

Berryhill St., 1443: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to C. Wheeler, $144,995

Berryhill St., 1616: Rivera Realty LLC to J. de Grullon, $65,000

Boas St., 107: J. Kundrat to C. Michalopoulos, $182,000

Boas St., 1812: MidAtlantic IRA LLC & C. Raup IRA to Cooperwink LLC, $74,900

Briggs St., 253: 253 Briggs St. LLC to SJL Rentals, $140,000

Briggs St., 1708 & 1712: PI Capitol LLC to J. Stoltzfoos, $107,708

Brookwood St., 2450: V. Nauman to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $66,000

Conoy St., 104: D. Wolf to S. Miller, $175,000

Derry St., 1634: E. Bertot & N. Gaskin to M25 Capital Investments LLC, $144,900

Derry St., 2121: W. Zhang to Y. Rodriguez & J. Savendra, $146,000

Edward St., 260 & 3115 Susquehanna St.: C. & K. Gehman to S. Dunklau & R. Anzel, $430,000

Ellersie St., 2417: R. & D. Edwards to K. Tillman, $185,000

Forster St., 1917: T&E Property01 LLC to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $56,000

Forster St., 1934: M. Gillespie to S. Harrison, $90,000

Fulton St., 1420: V. & D. Poplaski to M. Dean & J. Kost, $130,000

Girard St., 735 & 737: Silver Maple LLC to DIMA Properties LLC, $110,000

Green St., 1616: Vandaleh Real Estate Associates LLC & P. Costa to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $140,000

Green St., 3007: R. & T. Speece to V. Agnone & M. McKee, $280,000

Green St., 3011: M. Palermo to K. Bajracharya, $265,000

Harris Terr., 2481: S. Hill to R. Bachrach, $95,000

Herr St., 1615: D&J Properties of Harrisburg to SPG Capital LLC, $58,000

Hummel St., 343: A. Semanick to D. Montes, $66,000

Jefferson St., 2247: R. Rammouni to Louis Group LLC, $64,000

Kensington St., 2110 & 2116: M. & A. Robinson to NA Capital Group LLC, $60,500

Kensington St., 2261: E. & D. Ward to J. Scott, $50,000

Kensington St., 2314: J. Regalado to E. Brown, $89,000

Lenox St., 2001: We Buy PA Inc. to Global Reach LLC, $105,000

Lewis St., 323: M. Swilkey to E. Cotelo & C. Shell, $150,000

Lexington St., 2710: T. Lewis to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $80,000

Liberty St., 1428: Silver Maple LLC to DIMA Propeties LLC, $59,900

Luce St., 2361: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Tobe, $125,000

Maclay St., 241: B. & J. Myers to E. & C. Onyewu, $85,000

Market St., 1404: San Pef Inc. to 101 S. 17th Street LLC, $125,000

Market St., 1406: San Pef Inc. to 101 S. 17th Street LLC, $125,000

Market St., 1600: Lucas Properties to SDFC PA1 LLC, $475,000

Market St., 1850: C. Texidor to R. Torres, $70,000

Market St., 1935: TLC Construction & Renovations LLC to TRYB Investments LLC, $40,000

Market St., 2046: R. Hood to Twelfth Root LLC, $82,193

Mercer St., 2426: A. & G. Kocevar to B&E Development LLC, $70,000

Nagle St., 123: F. Rubinic to S. Kramer, $186,000

North St., 1611: R. Taylor Jr. to D. Scott, $119,000

North St., 1819A: PA Deals LLC to N. Salgado, $120,000

N. 2nd St., 2986: Pennsylvania Commonwealth c/o Dixon University to Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, $4,560,000

N. 3rd St., 3017: J. Crossett & M. Hochstetler to B. & S. Sisco, $166,000

N. 3rd St., 3021: Innovative Assets LLC to I. & J. Vitale, $214,900

N. 4th St., 1727: R. Moss & J. Stark to E. Timothy & C. Moore, $200,000

N. 4th St., 2106: W. Martin to I. Folkner, $100,000

N. 4th St., 2114: M. Goldberg to W. & M. Hyatt, $90,000

N. 4th St., 2404: F. & R. Scott to D. Boyle, $46,400

N. 4th St., 3211: D. Cameron to Q. Loper, $140,000

N. 4th St., 3225: J. Wright to A. Ramirez & C. Barrios, $90,000

N. 5th St., 1706: J. Hawkins to A. & J. Norris, $200,000

N. 6th St., 3161: P. Freeman to D&A Homes LLC, $66,500

N. 12th St., 56: B. & L. Young to F. Velez, $90,000

N. 15th St., 1202: Y. Griffiths to 946 South 18th LLC, $55,000

N. 15th St., 1314: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to Chand Living Trust, $149,900

N. 15th St., 1340: M. Alvarez to M. Tornay, $87,000

N. 15th St., 1415: E. Mantilla to M. Gomez, $94,500

N. 16th St., 523: R&K Realty Group LP to 523 N 16th Street LLC, $50,000

N. 17th St., 66: Great Row LLC to Bond Wolf & Fox LLC, $44,900

N. 17th St., 80: Wofford Enterprises Ltd. to E. Mendoza, $62,000

N. Front St., 2701: Jonas Rupp House LLC to Dilks Properties of Harrisburg LLC, $875,000

N. Front St., 2909 & 2917: M. & S. Wilson to Benmarsh LLC, $1,400,000

Penn St., 1420: P. & K. Lopushansky to Hobbeze Inc., $40,000

Penn St., 1716: D. Rhodes to K. Bentz, $170,000

Penn St., 1828: K. & Y. Cunningham to Panda Real Estate LLC, $110,000

Penn St., 1925: G. & K. Capoferri to A. & J. Norris, $181,000

Penn St., 2119: Obear Properties to JJC Properties, $55,000

Penn St., 2427: M. & Y. Speece to M. Powell, $67,500

Pennwood Rd., 3209: M. Ramirez to P. Grove, $170,000

Pennwood Rd., 3212: M. Udit to I. Foye, $148,000

Radnor St., 642: D. Webber to Horizon Investments RE LLC, $75,000

Royal Terr., 125: El Pejano Trucking LLC to L. Almonte, $91,000

S. 13th St., 1432: R. Mosley to AP Properties Services LLC, $52,000

S. 13th St., 1443: J. & V. Pettis to K. Quinn, $125,000

S. 13th St., 1541: Y. Al Refae & H. Esmaeil to B. Muzirwa, $72,500

S. 16th St., 11: Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC to HTTRINH LLC, $87,000

S. 17th St., 18: M. Nichols to C. Peguero, $68,000

S. 19th St., 19: M. Goldberg to J. Antoine, $99,000

S. 19th St., 226: Great Row LLC to F. Galan, $68,000

S. 20th St., 624: DMA Rentals LLC to M. Ortiz, $90,000

S. 24th St., 704: C. Allen to A. Jacques, $68,000

State St., 1847: Bridger Investments LLC to Adom Investment Group LLC, $190,000

Susquehanna St., 1637: S. Henry to S. & N. Kelly, $115,000

Susquehanna St., 1703: L. Mayton & A. Quick to N. Hoy, $170,000

Susquehanna St., 2130: Zion Management LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $65,000

Swatara St., 2014: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to Chand Living Trust, $129,900

Sycamore St., 1622: T. Nguyen to C. Coronado, $150,000

Taylor Blvd., 30: JEG Properties LLC to Brethren Housing Association, $130,000

Verbeke St., 120: B. & L. Clemente to LanPro Properties LLC, $130,000

Walnut St., 1220: L. & E. Keefer to J. White, $119,900

Walnut St., 1318: C. Tatum to D. Boyle, $42,000

Wayne St., 1713: D&J Properties of Harrisburg to SPG Capital LLC, $64,000

Whitehall St., 2050: Wheatland Restore LLC to T. & D. Smith, $209,900

Wiconisco St., 618: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Mentzer Gap Holdings LLC, $129,995

Zarker St., 1927: M. Baltozer to E. Ayala & N. Vogt, $50,500

Harrisburg property sales, April 2022, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Harrisburg City Council approves Allison Hill apartment development and violence prevention contract

May 10, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council legislative session on Tuesday

A development project can now move forward with renovating a long-abandoned building in Allison Hill.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg City Council approved the transformation of a blighted building at 100 N. 13^th St. into apartment units. Council voted in favor of the resolution, 5-2, with council member Jocelyn Rawls and council President Danielle Bowers voting in opposition.

“I believe that would leave our residents cost burdened,” Bowers said, explaining her opposition to the project.

However, at a previous council meeting, developers explained how they had to adjust the planned rental rate to cover the rising cost of construction.

Also at the meeting, council approved a resolution to contract with an organization that will assist the city with gun violence prevention efforts. The Research Foundation of the City University of New York, on behalf of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College will provide services. The $210,000 contract is funded through a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The organization would study violence in Harrisburg, determine a strategy to address it and assist with implementation. The contract term is two years.

“I think it’s something that’s needed in the city,” council member Ausha Green said.

Additionally, on Tuesday, council confirmed the appointment of Stephen Ekema-Agbaw as the senior deputy city solicitor for Harrisburg.

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Harrisburg outlines plan for State Street project redesign after residents voice opposition

May 3, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Residents speak about the State Street Rapid Response project during public comment period at Harrisburg City Council meeting.

Two weeks ago, a construction project on State Street halted due to concerns from residents, something that, according to city officials, rarely happens.

Presenting to a packed house at a Harrisburg City Council meeting on Tuesday night, officials proposed a plan to redesign the Allison Hill street project to address those concerns.

“We want to look at what is going on, what was designed, and what we need,” said Wes Heisley, project manager for Dawood Engineering, which provides engineering services for the city.

The State Street Rapid Response project began in 2018 with the goal of reducing pedestrian fatalities on the road. Construction began in early April, but, only a few weeks later, the city issued a cease and desist order based on negative feedback from local residents.

Originally, the plan included reducing the number of traffic lanes, restricting parking on sections of the street during certain high-traffic hours of the day and creating bike lanes.

However, residents took issue with the planned changes, voicing concerns mainly around parking issues and the bike lanes.

“If you’re going to make decisions that impact people’s lives […] then do the homework,” resident Les Ford said. “You need to go back to the drawing board.”

Harrisburg seems to be doing just that, as it seeks to redesign the plan in the coming months.

While the details of the new design have yet to be determined, city engineers outlined their priorities. According to Percy Bullock, project manager for the city, the goal of eliminating pedestrian fatalities remains. Additionally, the city plans to maintain the current on-street parking with access for physically disabled residents, provide vehicle drop-off spots for schools, and accommodate bicycle traffic.

The city will now move forward with an expedited redesign process. Officials plan to first create several new layout options, which they then will bring to the community for input. With that feedback, they will choose one new plan to present to PennDOT for approval. State Street is owned by the commonwealth, so plans must be approved by PennDOT. All of that will happen in a matter of weeks, according to Matt Maisel, communications director for Harrisburg.

Currently, the only construction happening along the corridor is completing the construction of unfinished sidewalk ramps.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, dozens of State Street residents shared their thoughts about the project.

Resident Tim White, who lives and works on State Street, said that residents didn’t receive enough notice about the project. He only found out what was taking place when he received a flyer from a neighbor urging State Street residents to come to the council meeting.

Matthew Duvall, who has lived on the street for over 50 years, expressed opposition to the addition of bike lanes.

“I’m an avid bike rider, and I don’t ride on State Street,” he said. “We don’t need bike lanes.”

The resistance to bike lane additions was a common theme among residents who spoke. However, according to city officials, getting rid of them altogether may not be possible.

“If we use state funding, we have to adhere to what the state wants,” Maisel said.

According to Maisel, since the road is owned by PennDOT and the state is contributing over half of the $1 million total project cost, they must approve the plan. And part of that plan must include a multimodal aspect, meaning it must address bike traffic in some way.

“We are probably not going to make everybody happy,” said council member Dave Madsen. “But safety has to be our priority moving forward.”

At the council meeting, State Street resident Lisa Jenkins agreed on the need for safety. Her son was hit by a car along the corridor, she said.

“State Street is a dangerous street, and the most important thing is people’s lives,” she said.

However, Jenkins, along with several other residents, voiced their opposition to major changes to the road. Instead, they suggested alternative ways of addressing safety, such as with increased police enforcement, better lighting, more traffic lights, and additional traffic cameras and speed limit signage.

According to city officials, the redesign timeline will be much faster than typical road design processes. Designs often take years to create, but the city plans to redesign and move toward construction in a matter of months in order to continue working with contractor Kinsley Construction and to avoid any further accidents on State Street, Maisel said.

However, the city recognized the need for residents’ input on the project and said that community outreach will take place over the next few weeks.

“People need to be heard, and they deserve to be heard,” Maisel said. “We can’t change what happened in the past, but we can fix what happens in the future.”

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Some construction to resume on State Street, as Harrisburg begins to draft project redesign

April 29, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda

State Street on Allison Hill in Harrisburg

Construction along State Street in Harrisburg is slated to resume on Monday, focused mostly on completing unfinished sidewalk ramps.

Late on Thursday, Matt Maisel, the city’s communications director, issued a statement saying that the halted project would re-start next week in a limited scope.

This work includes finishing construction of the ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps at intersections. Work also will begin on drainage enhancements and traffic signal pole installations, according to Maisel.

All work on the State Street Rapid Response project stopped last week after the city issued a cease-and-desist order. In its original configuration, the project would have reduced lanes on the state-owned road from five to three, would have created a median refuge area for pedestrians, and would have added protected bike lanes.

This work is designed to improve safety on State Street, which has been the site of numerous pedestrian fatalities in recent years.

However, the “road diet” would have forced residents parked along the street to move their cars during peak traffic hours, as there would be no parking in the westbound lane heading into the city in the morning and none in the eastbound lane heading out of the city in the afternoon.

This prompted objections from some Allison Hill residents, which led the city to issue the cease-and-desist order. Meanwhile, some city bicycling advocates were displeased that the work had stopped.

According to Harrisburg’s business administrator, Dan Hartman, the city’s engineering department is working to create a new road design that will address the State Street community’s parking needs, while still providing for pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle safety and mobility.

“The prior plan didn’t really incorporate all of those components in a fair way,” he told members of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, the city’s state-appointed financial oversight body, at a meeting on Wednesday. “But with the amount of space we have in the area, it’s completely doable.”

The outreach process will kick off this Tuesday at a City Council meeting, when the administration will make a brief presentation on the project to council members and the public, Hartman said.

“They’ll listen to comments and concerns from city residents at that meeting,” he said.

The city then hopes to have a new design drawn up “in the next two months,” Hartman added.

In the meantime, work will continue on the sidewalk ramps, which have to be widened to comply with federal Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements. That work will impact parking between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. until that part of the project is finished, which is expected to take about one month, according to Hartman.

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Portrait of a Mayor: For 2 decades, Wanda Williams has made her priorities, her policies known in Harrisburg. Now, she occupies the city’s highest office

April 29, 2022 | by Maddie Gittens

Wanda Williams. Photo courtesy of the City of Harrisburg.

“I think everyone knows about Wanda already,” Harrisburg’s new mayor said when I told her I wanted to write a story not so much on her position, but on her, as a person.

“Just going to the grocery store, I only had to get six things, but it took me two hours to get out of there because I was stopped about 10 times,” Wanda Williams said.

Even people from surrounding cities have approached her. She’s traveled to Philadelphia and Maryland and has been recognized, she said.

“That makes you feel good.”

It’s true, as a lifelong resident of the city and long-time public figure, Williams is widely known. She’s known in this town, not only for her time on Harrisburg’s school board or as City Council president, but as a neighbor, relative, friend, cheerleading coach and after-school tutor for neighborhood children.

Williams is right—a lot of people do already know who Wanda is and have way more stories about her than I could ever fit into this piece. And as Harrisburg’s 39th mayor for the past four months, Williams has taken on even more recognition and responsibility in the community she calls home.

This recognition, this position, it’s a place that, as a young girl, she never envisioned herself having. In fact, it stands in contrast to her personality for much of her younger years.

“I was a quiet individual,” Williams said. “I kept to myself.”

She mostly spent time with her sisters and family, she noted. Coincidentally, her closest childhood friend was also named Wanda. “Wanda 1” and “Wanda 2,” as they were called, remained friends for years.

Her high school years started the introverted young Williams on a new course, as she joined the debate team with the encouragement of her high school teacher.

Before his passing, Williams’ father would tell her, “You’re always my little debater.”

She went on to attend HACC, where she studied criminal law and met her husband Jerome. Since then, she worked in the office of the attorney general, for the local AFSCME branch as a union president and for the Teamsters Union.

“I’ve always wanted to be an advocate for those who couldn’t speak for themselves,” Williams said.

Becoming a Fighter

In 1998, Williams joined the Harrisburg school board as a concerned parent of children in the district. But, after becoming unhappy with how former Mayor Steve Reed was handling the school district as the receiver at the time, she decided to run for City Council. From 2006 to 2021, she served on council, sitting as president for her last two terms.

“I was quiet all of my life, but then my husband told me, ‘You’ve gotten to be such a fighter,’” Williams said. “I said, ‘I have to, there’s a reason and a cause now. I’m going to be the voice for the people.’”

After her 15 years on council, Williams, 68, was ready to retire. She and her husband had all of their vacation plans laid out. But then, Williams grew distrusting and unsatisfied with incumbent Mayor Eric Papenfuse as he prepared to run for a third term. So, as she had done with school board and city council before, she decided to do something about her concerns. In March 2021, she announced a run for mayor. She won the race and was inaugurated in January.

But the process getting there wasn’t an easy one emotionally for Williams, who faced harsh criticism and personal jabs from Papenfuse, who, after losing the primary, launched a write-in bid for the general election.

“My father got a little upset when he heard of all the negative criticism and he said, ‘If I was younger, you know I would do something about that,’” Williams said with a chuckle. “He encouraged me to keep my head up.”

At the same time, both of her parents’ health was declining. Before Williams’ mother was diagnosed with dementia, she knew her daughter was running for mayor, and she was so proud, Williams said.

Within a few weeks of each other, during Williams’ campaign season, both parents passed away.

“My dad, one last thing he said was, ‘You’re going to win, I love you,’” she said, tears running down her face.

Facing the criticism during that time, Williams said that she reached a peak of anger, wanting to clap back at the negative messages being shared about her. But, she remembered her parents.

“I wanted to come out negatively, but I remembered, it’s not good, just keep your faith,” she said. “But I won. I was victorious. I’m here for four years, and they can’t do anything about it.”

Trust Building

During her campaign, Williams leaned heavily on her position as a lifelong city resident, counting on recognition to win votes. She repeatedly assured constituents that she would be an approachable, relational mayor.

For her first few months in office, she believes that she has followed through on that. She pointed out her open door initiative on Fridays, where residents can meet with her to voice concerns. Williams also has taken to visiting the scenes of residential fires and other emergency situations.

She shared a story about visiting the home of a young woman whose roof was severely damaged during a windstorm. Walking through the house on a Saturday, Williams discovered a dysfunctional furnace, busted pipes, doors without locks, and a disabled family member suffering in the cold. Since then, the city has made repairs to the home, and, through federal housing funds, is installing a new furnace and working pipes.

“These are the kind of things that make me feel like I needed to be in this position,” Williams said. “The most important thing I have with people in this city is that they trust me. They know that, if they ask for assistance, I’m going to try hard.”

A Legacy for Harrisburg

Williams recalled, in high school, the first time a Black student was chosen as homecoming queen. It served as a beacon of hope for her that things were changing in the wake of the Civil Rights era. Yet, as a girl, she was still a long way from seeing a woman or person of color as mayor of her city. It was even more unimaginable that she would be in that seat one day, she said.

Now, Williams is Harrisburg’s second female and second Black mayor. She’s already seen what that’s meant to many city residents.

“It is such a legacy for the young people that I’ve engaged with,” she said. “One girl said, ‘Well if you’re the mayor, then I can be the president.’”

Caring for the city’s youth has been one of Williams’ priorities. After all, she is a mother of five, a grandmother of 18 and a great-grandmother of 16, with another on the way.

Beyond that, she’s passionate about creating more affordable housing, paving streets, providing consistent city services, cleaning up trash, demolishing blighted buildings and promoting homeownership. Gun violence is another priority, as it has spiked recently in the city. Williams’ administration is taking steps to address that, she said, through a possible contract with an organization that would study group violence in Harrisburg and work to prevent it, among other goals.

She also soon plans to propose uses for the city’s $48 million portion of federal American Rescue Plan funds, a historic inflow of cash for the city.

But overall, Williams summed up her vision for the city, her home, as “a revitalized Harrisburg.”

“I want to see people walking around and just enjoying the city,” she said.

Williams’ work has really only just begun. She inevitably will face long hours over the next four years with many obstacles and frustrations, as well as victories.

So, when she gets home for the night, and her husband has dinner ready, which he’s been doing since he’s retired, it’s “just wonderful.”

“I kick off my shoes, sit down and watch NCIS.”

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

April 15, 2022 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Owner Rosa Ortiz of Café De Olla, a Mexican eatery that opened this week in Harrisburg

Happy Easter to all of our readers who celebrate! In between the egg hunting and chocolate bunny eating, take a minute to catch up on the Harrisburg area’s latest news, linked below.

Café De Olla opened on Thursday in downtown Harrisburg, our reporting found. The restaurant offers authentic Mexican breakfast and lunch fare.

Callery pear trees have been placed on the state’s noxious weed list and banned from being sold or cultivated. In our magazine story, find out why this stinky plant is now considered illegal.

Developers have proposed many large-scale projects for Harrisburg, but few have even begun, writes our editor in his column. Will they ever cut the ribbon on these apartment buildings and commercial spaces?

Easter dinner is a big deal for our food writer Rosemary. The meal signifies tradition, cultural heritage, family and faith. This holiday, she shares her recipe for roasted lamb.

Entrepreneurs in the Harrisburg area now have a chance to acquire skills, knowledge and cash to help them realize their small business dreams, our online story reported. M&T Bank and Harrisburg University’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship are partnering on a program called the “Capital Region Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab: Bridges to Success.”

Harrisburg-area places of worship and nonprofits will receive state funding to support safety and security efforts, our online story reported. The funding comes from the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and is intended to help prevent hate crimes and acts of terrorism.

Harrisburg City Council approved a list of recipients for annual federal funding to support housing and social service efforts, our online story reported. Council also voted in favor of requiring city boards to record public meetings.

Harrisburg University Presents announced its plans to bring pop-rock band LANY to Riverfront Park this summer, our online story reported. The band will be joined by guest band Surfaces.

Home prices rose this month in the Harrisburg area, although home sales fell, our reporting found. For March, 576 houses sold in the three-county region compared to 627 houses in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $238,900 from $209,900.

Metropolis aerial arts studio recently opened in downtown Harrisburg, our magazine story reported. Owner Mikee Bentz hopes to provide a space for fun and fitness through pole dancing.

Plant Family opened on N. 3^rd Street in Harrisburg, offering natural medicines and botanicals, our online story reported. Owner Sara Rose Bryant hopes her shop fills a gap in the city by offering natural wellness products.

Sara Bozich has lots of ways for you to spend the Easter holiday weekend. No need to hunt; find them, here.

Second Street in Harrisburg is set to go from one-way to two-way by the summer, with the full project slated for completion by year-end, our reporting found. In a press conference on Wednesday, the city’s project manager, Percy Bullock, offered an update on the long-anticipated project.

Someone To Tell It To, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit focused on vulnerability and connection, is rounding out its first decade, our magazine story reported. The organization provides a listening service for businesses, teams, families and individuals.

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