Tag Archives: Harrisburg City Council

Residents urge Harrisburg Council to empower proposed citizen’s police board

July 8, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A Harrisburg police cruiser

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday held its final regular session of the summer, but council plans to interrupt its seven-week hiatus to hold public hearings on two police-related issues.

Council member Ausha Green, who is chair of the public safety committee, said that she planned to hold at least two hearings over the summer on the issues—a revision of the city police use-of-force policy and, perhaps more significantly, a proposed Citizen’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.

“We will continue the discussion for both Bill 8 and Resolution 51 throughout our summer hiatus in a series of public meetings,” she said. “The dates will be confirmed and advertised in the near future.”

Her comments followed a lengthy reading of messages received by City Council regarding these issues during Tuesday’s virtual legislative session. Green said that council has received more than 40 public comments in all regarding the legislation.

Many comments, Green said, asked for subpoena power for the committee, proposed currently as a seven-member advisory board that would lack that power.

For example, a group of 31 city residents jointly submitted a letter to council asking that the advisory committee become a community review board with subpoena power to access internal police bureau documents and information.

“The right-to-know request serves as a good tool for seeking information as community members,” the statement said. “However, it doesn’t provide the full scope of documentation necessary to assess any wrongdoing within the police bureau. Administrative subpoena power is needed within the community review board, similar to the administrative subpoena power allowed through the tax board and zoning hearing board both of whom, as stated by [city solicitor] Mr. [Neil] Grover, hold administrative subpoena power to ensure that ethical procedures are followed.”

The city’s Environmental Advisory Council also contributed a group statement saying that Harrisburg should demonstrate leadership on creating more equality and fairness not only on police issues, but also for food, transportation and education, especially in communities of color.

“This is time to reflect on not only the silence and inaction that has plagued this country for decades and the devastating loss of life from this inaction, but also time to reimagine our communities and call for systemic change,” said the statement.

Other statements said that the police should routinely release more information, and one asked for paths for additional police accountability if subpoena powers—if granted—ultimately were judged not to be enforceable.

“I would also like to thank community organizations that have been holding public discussion to really continue the conversation in our community, such as the Young Professionals of Color,” Green said. “And I look forward to gaining more insight from residents as we continue this discussion.”

To view the full City Council meeting and hear all resident comments, visit the city’s recorded feed on YouTube.

Harrisburg Council OKs agreement with Swatara Township as city continues quest for permanent composting site

July 7, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen shot of Tuesday’s virtual City Council meeting

Harrisburg’s leaves, grass and branches are headed to Swatara Township, as the city continues a longstanding quest to find a permanent place for its compostable waste.

City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to enter into a two-year intergovernmental cooperation agreement to use the Swatara Township Yard Waste Composting Facility.

“The city is no longer taking any of its woody waste to the incinerator, so we’re looking to make sure we’re disposing of this properly,” said council member Westburn Majors.

Since 2017, the city has tried to get approval to build its own composting facility on land owned by the Harrisburg school district, just over the city line in the Edgemont section of Susquehanna Township. However, township officials have rejected that proposal, a decision the city has appealed to the courts.

“As we are in continued litigation regarding the potential set up of our own composting facility, this hopefully will be a short-term solution as we continue to work through those issues so that the city can finally have a place to dispose of its leafy and woody waste,” Majors said.

City Solicitor Neil Grover on Tuesday said that the appeal could easily take more than two years to wind its way through the courts and come to a conclusion.

In the meantime, the city already has been sending its compostable waste—vegetative material like leaf waste, grass clippings and garden residue—to the facility in the Oberlin section of Swatara Township. The resolution approved on Tuesday formalizes that arrangement, Grover said.

Harrisburg will pay the township $2,945.10 per year, starting on Jan. 1. Christopher Nafe, the city’s sustainability officer, said that amount was proposed by Swatara Township, a figure, he added, that the city deemed reasonable.

Also on Tuesday, council unanimously passed a resolution entering into a reimbursement agreement with Capital Region Water to fund the installation and construction of ADA-compliant curb ramps, curb extensions and other streetscape improvements as part of CRW’s South Allison Hill Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project. Under the arrangement, the city will provide $150,000 to reimburse CRW for certain improvements it is making as part of its extensive stormwater project in South Allison Hill.

City Council on Tuesday also:

Approved use of $250,000 from federal Community Development Grant Fund program to help fund a new “Chutes & Ladders” playground in Reservoir Park. At its last meeting, council approved a grant application for another $250,000 to the state Department of Community and Economic Development to fund the $1 million project. The CDBG funds will serve as a city match for the DCED application.
Approved the submission of a grant application for up to $150,000 to the National Endowment for the Arts’ “Our Town” program for the installation of murals on Derry Street in Allison Hill. If the grant is received, Sprocket Mural Works and Tri County Community Action would oversee the mural project.
Approved the submission of a grant application to the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for up to $9 million to fund substantial renovations to Harrisburg’s MLK Jr. City Government Center.
Approved the appointment of residents Leland Nelson and Richard Martinez to serve on Harrisburg’s Environmental Advisory Council.

Harrisburg City Council now will go on its annual summer hiatus, with the next session slated for Aug. 25. Harrisburg Council member Ausha Green, though, said she plans to hold public hearings in the interim on two ongoing measures–a proposed police use-of-force resolution and a proposed citizen’s police advisory committee.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

July 3, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Harrisburg’s Saturday Nights in the City outdoor dining event has been extended through August.

The coronavirus pandemic continued to have a major impact on local news this past week. Some stories showed progress in our gradual reopening, while others demonstrated the continuing destructive effect of the disease. In case you missed any of our coverage, we have it all summarized and linked below. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Blake Lynch related his personal story of growing up as a Black man in America, part of TheBurg’s “Voices of our Community” feature. Read Blake’s compelling account in our July magazine or click here to read it online.

COVID-19 cases ticked up in the past week, though daily cases continued to be far below the early April highs in PA. Get the latest data from our weekly summary.

Harrisburg City Council began debate on a proposed citizen’s police advisory board. The discussion centered around how powerful the new board should be, as our online story reports.

Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival began this past week in a virtual format. The viewing experience may be different than usual, but the quality remains high, as our magazine story relates.

Harrisburg Senators threw in the towel on a 2020 baseball season, as Major League Baseball cancelled the minor league schedule. The Senators promised to be back next year, better than ever, as our online story details.

Harrisburg’s MLK City Government Center will re-open next week after being closed to the public since March. Per our online story, the city still encourages residents to avoid visiting unless unnecessary and to employ safety measures if they do.

Independence Day is this weekend, and the city has numerous events planned. Therefore, we’re relinking to our story from last month so that readers are reminded what’s happening in Harrisburg for the Fourth.

Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority lost another of its original members this past week. The resignation underscored the friction between Harrisburg and its state-appointed financial oversight board, which, according to our story, has been escalating over time.

Jeff Woodruff has stepped down after many years as executive director of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Our feature story explains what’s next for him and for the organization he led.

Middletown’s Press & Journal printed its final issue this past week, ending a publishing tradition stretching back more than 160 years. In a blog post, our editor paid tribute to the venerable weekly, which fell victim to several forces of destruction.

“Out in Central Pennsylvania” tells the history of the Harrisburg area’s LGBTQ+ community and its struggle for equality. To get the gist of the new book, we covered Midtown Scholar’s virtual author talk, which was held recently.

Resilience is a key trait for muddling through these difficult pandemic times. Our magazine feature interviews therapists and families who offer advice on how to cope with this huge disruption to our lives.

Sara Bozich has the skinny on the July 4 weekend, with many special events planned in her weekly to-do list. So go out, but mask up and be safe, she says.

Saturday Nights in the City has been extended throughout the summer. Our online story states that Harrisburg cited the success of the outdoor dining event in announcing the extension.

TheBurg distributed our July issue this past week, revving up the printing press once again as most our of delivery locations reopened. You can find a copy at hundreds of locations around the Harrisburg area or read it online here.

TheBurg’s editor welcomes our readers to the July issue with his editor’s note, with the welcome news that life seems to be creeping back to some sense of normalcy, even if it is a strange new kind of normal.

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Voices of Our Community: Danielle L. Bowers

June 30, 2020 | by Danielle L. Bowers

Danielle L. Bowers

Following the death of George Floyd and the nationwide and local Black Lives Matter protests, we asked several members of our Harrisburg community if they would like to share their personal stories.

At any given moment, while sleeping in the privacy of my own home, like Breonna Taylor, while failing to signal a lane change while driving, like Sandra Bland, or while walking down a Chicago street, like Frankie Ann Perkins, I could become the next hashtag #SayHerName.

Black lives matter ALL WAYS and ALWAYS. Everyone has a critical role to play. We must put our energy behind efforts that will make an immediate impact within the City of Harrisburg. Here are a few ways that will yield immediate results.

Vote. Elect candidates whose values align with your own. Politics are the heart of the local community. Every day, you are impacted by political decisions, decisions related to access to quality healthcare, education, childcare, housing and jobs. Be a part of the solutions to ensure your basic needs are fulfilled. Vote like your life depends on it, because it does.

Complete the Census. Census participation will provide federal funding for public transit, early childhood education, school lunches, senior housing and public safety programs. By completing the census, the City of Harrisburg can receive federal funding for programs supporting our must vulnerable residents—our senior citizens and children over the next decade.

Actively engage in City Council meetings. City Council meetings are held every Tuesday. You have an opportunity to participate in the meeting by offering public comment on a bill or resolution on the meeting agenda. You may also offer public comment on any other matter of interest within the city. Public comments become a part of the formal meeting record. Hold us, your local elected officials accountable.

Progress requires effort. The Black Lives Matter protests are a step toward achieving progress. The protests successfully engaged the youth, the old, Black, Brown and white people to march for a cause greater than themselves. While some are marching in the streets, others are raising their voices to achieve progress by engaging their elected officials through phone calls and e-mails. Know that all efforts are seen and heard.

Many of our non-Black colleagues are interested in continuing to make a difference beyond the protests. Our colleagues have been strong allies, showing up and supporting Black and Brown people. We need accomplices. Accomplices will assist in dismantling the oppressive structures impeding the progress of the Black and Brown marginalized communities without fear of consequences. No progress will be made until those with perceived power will recognize our value in all spaces we occupy. We bring a perspective that must be at every table to truly effectuate change. Be brave, become an accomplice. Break down barriers. Change the board rooms, workplaces; include us wherever decisions are made. Equality should be everyone’s fight.

Black lives matter ALL WAYS and ALWAYS. Every day, Black men and women have an influence on our lives. The traffic light, mailbox, dustpan, clock, almanac and ironing board are just a few inventions that were developed by brilliant Black men and women. Let’s not forget the Black urban planner who surveyed the land off of the Potomac River that would become our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Viola Davis recently shared a post that resonated with me. Viola stated, “A revolution has many lanes—be kind to yourself and to others who are traveling in the same direction.” Our tactics may have us in different lanes, but know we are traveling in the same direction. Let’s improve our city together for future generations to thrive and prosper. Say Her Name, Say Their Names, Black Lives Matter ALL WAYS and ALWAYS.

Danielle Bowers is a member of Harrisburg City Council.

Harrisburg council proposes citizen’s advisory board to guide policing policy, improve relations

June 23, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg police vehicle

Harrisburg is reviving a proposal to create a citizen’s advisory board to help improve relations and communications between city residents and the Police Bureau.

City Council on Tuesday night introduced an ordinance that would create a “Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory Committee,” a seven-person body that would act as a liaison between residents and the bureau, as well as help promote effective communication, make policy recommendations and gather information, among other responsibilities.

Two weeks ago, council members held a silent vigil and a press conference in front of city hall, vowing then to make changes in police policy. At that event, council member Ausha Green, chair of the public safety committee, said that council may consider forming a citizen’s police advisory board.

Council briefly considered creating such a body several years ago, but never acted on the proposal.

In its currently proposed form, the citizen’s committee would consist of seven volunteer members, each residing in different policing districts. City Council would appoint four members and the mayor would appoint three, all subject to approval by the full council.

According to the proposal, the board’s core functions would be:

Fostering a better understanding of the role of law enforcement and reviewing policies, practices and data.
Providing residents with a forum to voice concerns about police interactions and responses and to facilitate change in law enforcement practices.
Promoting policies and practices for the protection of the community to ensure “fair, just and dignified treatment.”
Providing recommendations to the police bureau, the mayor and city council.
Foster positive relationships and understanding between residents and the police.

The ordinance was not discussed in detail at the meeting, but was placed into council’s public safety committee for deliberation at the June 30 work session.

Click here to read the full text of the proposed ordinance.

Power Up: Harrisburg Council approves 1-day blitz to disassemble donated solar array

June 9, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen shot from City Council’s virtual legislative session on Tuesday night

A small army of workers is expected to descend upon Uptown Harrisburg on Saturday in a rush to disassemble the vast solar array at the former headquarters of D&H Distributing.

City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday to enter into an agreement with Wildheart Ministries so that the Allison Hill-based nonprofit can provide labor in a one-day blitz to take apart thousands of solar panels on the sprawling property.

Eight years ago, D&H installed some 3,500 solar panels at its long-time headquarters on the 2500-block of N. 7^th Street. Those panels conveyed with the sale of the property to the Hudson Companies, a Hermitage, Pa.-based developer that is constructing a three-story, brick-and-glass building for commonwealth employees. Hudson has no use for them, so is donating them to the city.

According to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, the city originally expected its Department of Public Works to do the job, which would have taken months with their limited manpower. However, D&H recently informed the city that it wants to break ground on the project next week, which means that the solar panels need to be moved immediately.

“We were quite frankly surprised a couple of weeks ago when we moved very quickly from the red to yellow (reopening phase),” Papenfuse said. “This began to accelerate construction projects like the Hudson project for the state office building on N. 7^th Street at a faster rate than was anticipated.”

The public works department, he said, determined that disassembling the panels was not difficult, requiring brief training and simple tools. So, department Director Aaron Johnson and Deputy Director Dave West reached out to Wildheart Ministries, which, over the years, has deployed volunteers repeatedly for cleanup and improvement projects around Allison Hill.

“Working with Wildheart throughout the years, we know that they can assemble that type of group so that we can get it done in one day,” West said. “This is what we have to do in order to accomplish our goal.”

West told council that Wildheart is expected to deploy about 100 people to the effort. In return, the city will donate about $10,000 to Wildheart.

Once the panels are taken apart, the city will move them onto municipal land for storage until they can be redeployed starting next year.

Council members were told that the panels have 15 to 17 years of life in them and eventually should provide about 10 percent of the city’s power, saving it some $50,000 a year in electricity costs. The city also may make some money by selling power back on to the grid.

In other action, council approved a resolution confirming the resumption of street cleaning schedules and parking-related ordinances. In March, the city, Capital Region Water and parking manager SP+ suspended these operations as the COVID-19 pandemic took root. They will all now resume on June 15.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 5, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Members of Harrisburg City Council kneel and pause for silence in front of city hall.

After nearly three months, the COVID-19 pandemic moved out of the top local news spot, replaced by the Black Lives Matters protests. We admittedly were late making the switch, but we still had many stories to tell over the past week. Our coverage is all listed and linked below.

African American Music Appreciation Month goes all June long, giving us an opportunity to showcase several great local artists. This week, our writer features a Lancaster-based band, Wayward Giants, fronted by area native Jalen Cliatt.

COVID-19 pandemic updates continued all week from the state health department. The good news: new cases kept going lower, and we have the latest update here.

Cumberland, York and Adams counties will be the first in our area to turn from yellow to green in the state’s three-color reopening plan. Our online story offers the latest reopening news as the COVID-19 pandemic eases.

Dauphin County libraries began to reopen this past week, with the four first facilities opening their doors to patrons. Read our online story for a summary of procedures and limitations.

Gov. Wolf last week pledged reforms in the ways that state police are trained and held accountable. Our online news story summarizes what he’s proposing to reduce potential threats from use of force.

Harrisburg plans a town hall-style meeting to address issues of racial inequality. That was the big takeaway from the mayor’s weekly Facebook Live event, as he chatted with several African American community activists. Find out more from our online story.

Harrisburg City Council took a knee and paused for silence in light of the killing of George Floyd and in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement. Afterwards, council members pledged to introduce legislation to make reforms to prevent possible police misconduct. Our online news story has the details.

Harrisburg-area manufacturers face both challenges and opportunities as the global supply chain breaks down in light of numerous major worldwide events. Our writer attended a webinar to try to understand what this means, which we summarize in our online news feature.

Harrisburg Mayor Papenfuse introduced “8 Can’t Wait,” eight use-of-force policy recommendations that departments can adopt. Learn more about the plan from our online story.

Open Stage debuted its newest virtual production, “An Iliad.” Our reviewer was impressed, to say the least. Read our online story her summation and learn how you can tune in.

Restaurants will open again throughout downtown Harrisburg on Saturday night, as the city shuts down streets to allow for distance dining. In our online story, you’ll find out the plans to close streets and discover which places will be participating.

Sara Bozich took a step forward to her usual routine, again listing events, and not all virtual this time. It certainly will be a long road back to normalcy, but it’s a great start.

Schools in PA will be allowed to reopen on July 1, though districts must take steps beforehand to ensure student and faculty health and safety. Our online story shares the details of what schools must do before reopening.

TheBurg made a statement in support of racial equality and the Black Lives Matters movement. In the editorial, we addressed some of our own shortcomings and efforts to do better.

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Harrisburg council vows reform to help prevent police misconduct, abuse

June 4, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Members of Harrisburg City Council knelt in silence for nine minutes today outside of city hall. From left: Danielle Bowers, Shamaine Daniels, Ausha Green, President Wanda Williams, Ben Allatt and Dave Madsen.

City Council plans to take substantive action to prevent potential police misconduct in Harrisburg, officials said today.

Council member Ausha Green, chair of the council’s public safety committee, vowed to introduce legislation that would help prevent potential abuse and that would enhance civilian oversight.

“Our communities have suffered,” she said. “They’ve suffered long enough.”

Green spoke following nine minutes of silence by six members of city council, most spent kneeling, out of respect for George Floyd, the Minneapolis man killed last week in the custody of that city’s police, and in support of recent protests for equal rights and black lives.

Green said that she was considering various types of legislation to reform police use-of-force policy. This might include a ban on chokeholds and mandate the explicit approval of the police commissioner before the use of tear gas during demonstrations.

“You’ll see legislation to fight against police brutality,” she said. “We need to have accountability on the part of our police and our community leaders.”

In the recent past, council also has discussed forming a citizen’s advisory board and more community policing efforts. Green said that she would consider both of these measures, as well.

In part, the city’s past community policing efforts have been hobbled by budget constraints and by its inability to retain trained officers. Green said she would like to see more Harrisburg residents, especially people of color, recruited into the city’s police force.

Council would need to ensure that any legislation does not violate existing police labor contracts, Green said. This issue has hobbled reform attempts in many cities in recent years.

Green emphasized two other points.

First, she said that the city needs the cooperation of the Capitol police and the state police, since they’re often used for crowd control and for backup in Harrisburg. In fact, she said, it was the state, not city police, that used pepper spray during a clash between police and protesters last Saturday.

Secondly, she noted that she regarded the proposed reforms as mostly precautionary since the Harrisburg police and the community, she said, tend to have a good relationship.

“At the end of the day, we all want the same thing,” she said. “We want a safe community.”

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

May 29, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

I wish I could say that a new topic dominated our local news coverage this past week, but, nope, it was the coronavirus again. If you missed any of our stories over the past week, we have them all listed and linked below.

COVID-19 pandemic continued to grind on, though at a slowly decreasing case level in PA. Each day, we had a recap of the commonwealth’s daily update, including the latest one here.

Great Depression seemed like forever ago—until it wasn’t. Our May magazine feature captured what that time was like as we now peer into our own profound economic crisis.

Harrisburg City Council dedicated another $500,000 towards small business relief, this time through federal CARES Act funding. Our online story had details of the latest effort to help the city’s struggling small businesses.

Harrisburg’s Restaurant Row has been all but empty since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now, the city and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District plan to close down 2nd Street to allow for outdoor dining on Saturday nights. We have the first details in our online story.

Parking enforcement and street sweeping will resume in mid-June in Harrisburg, the city announced. Our online story offers details for what may be the clearest indication yet of life slowly returning to normal.

Pets, like people, may be suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our recent magazine feature explains the unique problems of pets and what we humans can do to help out.

“Poured in PA” is now a multi-part series, as the documentary film has morphed into an episodic program focused on the people and personalities that make up the commonwealth’s craft beer scene. Read our online feature to find out what film and video producer GK Visual has in its glass this time.

Sara Bozich is spending another weekend at home, but she’s making the best of it with virtual entertainment and takeout. In her weekly list of things to do, she has recommendations for our pandemic times.

Southwestern PA is slated to enter the “green” phase of reopening next week, Gov. Wolf announced. Our online news story offers details on which counties are going green and why.

TheBurg released our June issue into the wilds of the Harrisburg area on Friday, with a cover featuring local sensation Sharkman. As more locations reopen, we hope to get back to regular distribution soon. But, if a hard copy isn’t readily accessible, you can always read the issue online in our digital format.

TheBurg’s editor welcomes readers each month through his “Editor’s Note.” This month, he asks readers to share his fantasy of life returning to normal post-pandemic.

Virtual worship may never replace the live experience, but many believers have embraced it after large gatherings were banned. Our graphical guide offers a starting point for many churches, synagogues, mosques and temples in the Harrisburg area.

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Please consider joining Friends of TheBurg, our new membership program, to support great local journalism. Click here to get all the details, including some great benefits.

May News Digest

May 29, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Businesses Receive Stabilization Grants

More than 300 Harrisburg-licensed businesses last month received $5,000 grants to help them survive the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The city and Impact Harrisburg announced the awards from a pool of money funded by both entities.

“We wanted to fund as many businesses as we possibly could across the broad spectrum,” said Sheila Dow-Ford, executive director of Impact Harrisburg, a nonprofit set up following the city’s financial crisis to help spur economic development. “So we are hoping we hit the mark in that regard.”

The program allowed businesses to request up to $10,000, but, given the large number of applicants, Impact Harrisburg decided to give $5,000 grants to all qualified applicants.

Initially, both the city and Impact Harrisburg were to contribute $500,000 to a $1 million fund, with the city’s portion originating from its dormant “revolving loan fund.”

However, qualified applications exceeded the initial funding, so Impact Harrisburg kicked in another $750,000. The city now is considering adding money for a second round of funding.

“Our goal is to keep these businesses afloat so, when it is time to reopen, they have a fighting chance of surviving and bouncing back, hopefully stronger than ever,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

Recipient Angel Fox of Fox’s Wash and Go said that the grant will allow her to repair washing machines in her Allison Hill laundromat, as customers have been “over-stuffing” the machines to try to stretch their own limited financial resources.

Elementary Coffee Co.’s Andrea Grove said that, beyond the money, she appreciated that care was taken to distribute the grants to all deserving, qualified applicants.

“We desperately need this money, but so many other people need it as well,” she said. “That is a beautiful testament to the care that this community has for each individual business and the position that they are in.”

For recipient Lori Reese, the money will help her sustain her personal organizing business, Consider It Done LLC, and it will help offset additional costs brought on by the crisis. Like many companies, she’s been forced to do more business online, which has meant extra, unanticipated costs to expand her virtual presence, capabilities and security.

Reese also mentioned a non-financial benefit of the program. Much like Grove, she said that she appreciates the effort, caring and the creativity that her city and Impact Harrisburg showed for the small business community here.

“I feel valued as a city business and a city resident,” she said. “Because it’s local, it means more to me.”

Harrisburg Area Enters Yellow Phase

Most of the Harrisburg area last month entered the less-restrictive “yellow” phase of the state’s phased reopening plan.

In south-central PA, Cumberland, York, Perry and Adams counties were the first to transition from the red phase to the yellow phase in late May. A week later, Dauphin and Lebanon counties joined them.

On June 5, Lancaster County, along with the remainder of “red” counties in the commonwealth, will transition to yellow, Gov. Tom Wolf announced.

Wolf credited the policies of the state government for helping to cut the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. Cases peaked in early April at almost 2,000 new cases a day and gradually fell to fewer than 1,000 new cases a day.

“We know not only that we succeeded in slowing case growth, but that our actions, our collective decisions to stay at home and avoid social contact—we know that saved lives,” Wolf said. “My stay-at-home order did exactly what it was intended to do. It saved lives, and it bought us valuable time.”

The state government uses a tri-color red/yellow/green system to guide re-openings in the commonwealth.

Under the red phase, people are supposed to observe strict “stay-at-home” orders, and “non life-sustaining” businesses cannot operate from their physical locations. Under yellow, these restrictions are eased, but limits remain in place. For instance, schools must remain closed, bars and restaurants are stilled banned from offering sit-down dining, and gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited.

Under the green phase, most restrictions are lifted, though large crowds remain prohibited. Late last month, 17 mostly rural counties in the northwest and north-central parts of the state entered the green phase.

Allison Hill Project Gets Go-Ahead

One of the largest housing developments on Allison Hill in recent years is slated to move forward, as Harrisburg City Council last month approved a plan for a multi-building project just off of Market Street.

Council unanimously approved the land use plan by TLC Cornerstone Renewal to construct 26 townhouses, a 24-unit apartment building and a community center in a five-block area bounded by N. 15th Street, Walnut Street and Crabapple Street.

“This is such a blighted area,” council President Wanda Williams said during a council work session. “It certainly will enhance this area.”

At that work session, developer Tarik Casteel, president of TLC, told council members that he hopes to break ground in the early fall on the $14.7 million affordable housing project on the 2.1-acre site.

“This project will be big in this community,” he said. “It’s definitely needed, not just in this community but in several areas of the city of Harrisburg.”

Nearly two years ago, TLC cut the ribbon on its first big project, the 20-unit Harrisburg Uptown Building (HUB) and the HUB Veteran Housing Campus.

Casteel told council that the new Allison Hill project would be just the first phase of a three-phase project for the area. He expects a 16-month construction period for the first phase.

“In Allison Hill, there is definitely a need,” he said. “This was one of the worst areas of the city. That’s why we wanted to come into this area, because it is the worst.”

Council Approves CDBG Disbursement

Harrisburg City Council last month approved the disbursement of annual federal housing funds.

The city set aside money from its share of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for use by nonprofit “sub-recipients.” These included:

A Miracle for Sure: $13,810
Center for Employment Opportunities: $13,810
Communities in Schools: $13,810
Heinz Menaker Senior Center: $14,000
Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC): $13,810
Neighborhood Dispute Settlement: $13,810
Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Network: $13,810
The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region: $25,000

The city also distributed federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding to the following organizations:

Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness: $24,000
Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area: $63,000
Shalom House: $43,100
YWCA Greater Harrisburg: $50,000

These funds originate from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, and, every year, the city sets aside some of the money for use by community nonprofits.

Harrisburg Plans Cyber School

Come fall, Harrisburg school district students will have another way to learn, as district officials have announced a new, full-time cyber school.

Last month, officials unveiled the Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy, which is meant to broaden educational options and offer an alternative to cyber charter schools.

“Early on, we asked our teachers to make calls to get feedback from our families. This was way back in March,” said Susan Sneath, chief academic officer for the district. “They were already telling us there was no way they were going to send their children back to [the brick-and-mortar] school.”

Sneath knew the district needed to have another option for students. Thus, the Harrisburg Virtual Learning Academy (HVLA) was established.

According to the district, the HVLA will be full-time and free to Harrisburg students. The program offers K-to-12th grade enrollment, in which each student is provided a Chromebook.

This differs from the district’s existing Cougar Academy, which is a “blended” cyber program that requires that students also spend time inside the classroom. In contrast, HVLA is fully remote.

Students will receive recorded instruction from teachers with additional meetings as needed. While the school is primarily online, there are face-to-face tutoring options, including English language arts and math. Special education teachers, English as a second language teachers and reading specialists will be available to provide support.

Sneath explained that students will continue to receive academic advising through an assigned counselor and can expect outreach from a social worker to aid with social and emotional needs. Technology support will be readily available, as well, during school hours.

The school district plans to use trained educators from the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, an entity that supports local school districts. Additional faculty, such as counselors and academic advisors, will come from Harrisburg staff.

Students in HVLA can participate in academic advancement such as Advanced Placement courses and “gifted” programs. They will also be tied to their neighborhood’s school, which will allow access to all special events and extracurricular activities such as picture day, athletics and prom.

All HVLA students are considered Harrisburg Cougars, and they will receive a diploma from the Harrisburg school district.

In the past, students in the district seeking online education have often looked to cyber charter schools, but Sneath hopes that this option curbs that.

“We want to keep our kids, and we want to provide the very best for our kids,” she said. “We developed HVLA with that in mind.”

HVLA will not take the place of the district’s remote learning plan for students in the case that students can’t return to school buildings in the fall. The cyber-school is only for those who enroll.

“The intent for the people who enroll in HVLA is that they are going to stay in HVLA,” Sneath said.

Development Projects Approved

Two significant development projects in Harrisburg should soon break ground after receiving final approval by the city.

City Council last month unanimously approved a land development plan by the Hudson Companies to build a 130,000-square-foot office building on the 2500-block of N. 7th Street, the site of the former headquarters of D&H Distributing.

The Hermitage, Pa.-based company plans to demolish D&H’s low-slung building and construct a new, three-story, brick-and-glass building on the site. Hudson then will enter into a long-term lease with the commonwealth, which plans to locate about 850 Department of Human Services and Office of Administration workers there. Most will move from the former Harrisburg State Hospital grounds, which the state is trying to sell.

Hudson hopes to break ground on the project in several months, with completion in late 2021.

City Council also approved a land development plan for the construction of four new townhouses on the 600-block of Woodbine Street. The nearby Camp Curtin YMCA plans to undertake the $1 million affordable housing project on vacant land currently owned by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority.

Jamien Harvey, the Camp Curtin YMCA executive director, said he hoped that this project would just be the first phase of building more affordable housing in the area.

Harvey said that the houses, which will cost about $175,000 apiece to build, will sell for $70,000 to $80,000.

“We are looking to change the look of our neighborhood,” he said. “We’re looking to eliminate blight. We’re looking to cut down on the drugs and the violence in our neighborhood, and we’re looking to building a community with pride. This is one of many projects to come.”

Preliminary School Budget Approved

The Harrisburg school district last month approved a preliminary budget for next school year, using federal aid to close a substantial budget gap.

District Receiver Janet Samuels accepted the $157.6 million spending plan, which does not raise school taxes for the 2020-21 year.

The district took a $4.2 million hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis. Unexpectedly, the district had to lower anticipated revenue from earned income taxes, PILOT tax payments, real estate taxes and increases in the state’s basic and special education subsidies.

To help close the deficit, the district was awarded a $4.7 million grant from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. However, those funds expire Sept. 30, according to Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer.

“It’s going to take time to work through logistics of how we are able to spend that,” he said.

Celmer said that, if additional state funding doesn’t eliminate the deficit, a staff realignment may help, along with the CARES Act funding.

The 2020-21 budget is $8.6 million higher than the current, 2019-20 school year’s projected final budget. Employee salaries and benefits, along with other higher expenses, are causing the increased spending, according to the district.

Another virtual budget workshop is scheduled for June 15. A final decision on a 2020-21 spending plan is expected on June 22.

The proposed completed budget will be available to the public on the district’s website for 30 days before the last meeting in June.

School Board Appointment

The Harrisburg school district has named Nora Carreras to its board of directors, filling an open seat following the death of Gerald Welch.

District Receiver Janet Samuels last month appointed Carreras, who works for the PA Department of Human Services, due to her “long history as a public servant along with her wealth of knowledge of resources that support children, families and the broader Harrisburg community.”

Under state code, Samuels had 30 days to fill the seat, which was left open after Welch died of COVID-19 complications on April 15. Welch was elected last year to the nine-member board and was in the first year of a four-year term. Carreras’ appointment runs through next year.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Ms. Nora Carreras to the Harrisburg school board of directors,” said Acting Superintendent Chris Celmer. “Ms. Carreras has a proven track record of providing advocacy and support for at-risk families through the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Carreras expressed excitement for the opportunity.

“I am honored to join and support the district’s effort to bring increased educational quality and fiscal accountability,” she said. “Every student in the city of Harrisburg deserves the opportunity to thrive, to learn in a supportive environment and reach their full potential.”

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

Sales dropped but prices rose in the Harrisburg area, as the realtor’s association released its first report during a full month of COVID-19 restrictions.

In April, 455 homes sold in the three-county area, compared to 619 in April 2019, but the median price increased to $200,000 compared to $180,000 a year ago, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 212 houses sold at a median price of $173,000, versus 294 houses at a median price of $167,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR said.

Cumberland County saw 222 houses change hands compared to 296 a year ago, while the median price rose to $235,000 from $202,500. Perry County bucked the trend, with 21 houses selling for a median price of $173,000 compared to 29 houses for $200,000 a year ago.

For the three-county region, days on the market dropped to an average of 50 days versus 53 days the previous April, according to GHAR.

So Noted

TheBurg received 16 individual and group 2020 Keystone Media Awards in the annual peer-reviewed contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation. These awards cover a wide range of categories, including for reporting, editorial writing, column writing, illustration, photography and design. TheBurg also won the coveted “Sweepstakes” award for best performance in its category statewide.

Changing Hands

Benton St., 607: D. Thomas to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $60,000

Brookwood St., 2462: K. Boyer to CR Property Group LLC, $47,000

Calder St., 321: R. & F. Armetta to 1037 Maclay St. LLC, $70,000

Chestnut St., 1810: CR Property Group LLC to C. Blodgett, $91,500

Derry St., 2531: J. Hocker to J. Einzig, $72,500

Edgewood Rd., 2315: I. & A. MacFarlane to E. Shaner, $214,000

Edward St., 260: J. Dudick to Realm Properties LLC, $97,000

Fulton St., 1707: K. Herbe to A. Murray, $124,900

Fulton St., 1714: N. Smith to N. Pachella & M. Pickup, $127,500

Grand St., 920: M. & A. Bukowski to E. Fisher, $115,000

Green St., 1710: M. Della Porta to B. & B. Hinnenkamp, $210,000

Green St., 1931: N. Condon to S. Agbaw, $204,900

Green St., 2003: S. Biray to B. Maurer & M. Zia, $194,500

Green St., 2043: R. Shokes Jr. to D. & T. Schutt, $214,900

Green St., 2328: J. & L. Leahy to Moxie Properties LLC, $41,000

Holly St., 1815: CR Property Group LLC to B. Nevid, $105,000

Kelker St., 317: Wilmington Trust NA to BDS Property Group LLC, $62,000

Lexington St., 2619: CR Property Group LLC to A. Bertschmann, $105,000

Logan St., 2247: CR Property Group LLC to J. & A. Oates, $101,000

Logan St., 2305: B. & K. Saltzgiver to C. & R. Herr, $42,000

North St., 242: J. & S. Wesley to J. Lucia, $105,000

N. 2nd St., 2525: P. & A. Ramos to A. Arturet, $205,000

N. 3rd St., 1604: C. Overbaugh to A., P. & T. Bair, $124,000

N. 3rd St., 2435: D. & G. Laninga to D. & M. Lambert, $149,900

N. 4th St., 1336: R. & F. Armetta to 1037 Maclay St. LLC, $80,900

N. 4th St., 2442: M. & N. Godfrey to Graevel Holdings LLC, $50,000

N. 4th St., 3111: B. Redman to D. Miller & M. Strouse, $138,000

N. 6th St., 2446: J. Urena to R. Contreras & Y. Vargas, $230,000

N. 14th St., 226: W. Cruz to J. Bowen, $66,000

N. 15th St., 1336: M. Smith to J. Valverde, $50,000

N. 16th St., 814: D. Boyle to E. Reyes, $30,000

N. 16th St., 1105: K. Drayton to N. Gutierrez, $50,000

N. 16th St., 1219: L. Wolf to J. Cruz, $42,000

N. Front St., 2509: Pennsylvania Builders Association to Morning Star Pregnancy Services, $475,000

Parkway Blvd., 2509: A. & L. Smith to J. & M. Torres, $135,000

Penn St., 1208: R. Christ & D. Cole to Wheatland Restore LLC, $88,501

Pennwood St., 3202: CR Property Group LLC to A. Bertschmann, $110,000

Revere St., 1720: Atlantic NorthStar Properties LLC to N. de los Santos, $49,000

Race St., 542: N. Fenstermacher to A. Dullebawn & A. Ditzler, $140,000

Reily St., 206: D. Burnham to Fratelli Property Investments, $135,439

Rudy Rd., 2339: W. MacMichael to L. Kurutz, $169,900

Seneca St., 623: Atlantic NorthStar Properties LLC to J. Thieu, $44,000

S. 18th St., 1033: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to F. Ramos, $30,100

S. 25th St., 448: K. & M. Stone to G. Bedasa, $115,000

S. 25th St., 616: P. & L. Brown to R. Reyes & F. Nunez, $65,000

S. Front St., 601: R. & L. Firestone to J. Shen, $184,900

Swatara St., 1913: G. Amador & C. Vargas to J. Tejada, $62,000

Sycamore St., 1726: Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $30,000

Harrisburg property sales for April 2020, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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