Tag Archives: Harrisburg City Council

The Week That Was: A summary of news and events around Harrisburg

April 12, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

This past week, HACC announced the receipt of the single largest gift in its history.

What happened around Harrisburg last week? Here’s a summary of news and events that you may have missed.

Capital Region Water last week said that it has started five water infrastructure projects that will extend through the early summer. The projects—four in Susquehanna Township and one in Harrisburg—may lead to road closures and detours until they’re completed. Click here for the complete story.

Downtown parking may remain free after 5 p.m., as Harrisburg City Council last week introduced a resolution to renew the popular program. If passed, the city would enter into a one-year agreement with Dauphin County and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District to offer complimentary street parking daily starting at 5 p.m. Click here for the complete story.

HACC last week announced the single largest donation in the history of the community college. The $1.3 million donation will establish the John E. Paxton and Gloria W. Paxton Fund for Excellence in STEAM. Click here for the complete story.

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday approved a contract with Maverick Strategies for a second, one-year consulting contract. After a two-month hold, council passed the $60,000 outlay by a 5-2 vote. In February, council tabled the proposed 2019 agreement with the Harrisburg-based lobbying shop, asking for detailed billing statements for the prior contract, which ended Dec. 31.

Harrisburg University last week announced that city-based HHM has signed on as its hotel partner for the 17-story, mixed-use building it plans to construct in downtown Harrisburg. HHM will finance and own the 10-story hotel portion separately from the rest of the building, which mostly will house HU classroom space for its medical sciences programs. Click here for the complete story.

TheBurg captured 16 Keystone Press Awards in the annual contest honoring the best in journalism in Pennsylvania, which was announced last week by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. TheBurg won for work completed in 2018 in a wide range of categories, including for reporting, writing, design and illustration. Click here for the complete story.

UPMC Pinnacle is taking its first step into Midtown Harrisburg, relocating about 40 administrative workers to the Campus Square building at Reily and N. 3rd streets. The relocation will free up more space at the main campus for patient services, according to President and CEO Phil Guarneschelli. Click here for the complete story.

Park Here: Harrisburg weighs renewing free downtown parking deal

April 9, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

It was hard to find a place to park on N. 2nd Street early on Tuesday night, as motorists took advantage of free parking after 5 p.m. in downtown Harrisburg.

Free parking may stay on the menu in downtown Harrisburg, as City Council tonight introduced a measure that would extend complimentary street parking for another year.

If approved, the resolution would offer free street parking in most of downtown after 5 p.m., an arrangement that has been in effect since April 2018.

“I certainly hope it will be renewed for another year,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said, following Tuesday’s council session. “I think it’s been extremely successful.”

The current, one-year agreement actually expired on April 1, but the parties involved agreed to extend it through the month, until it could be renewed for another year, Papenfuse said.

Technically, the resolution would allow the city to enter into an agreement with Dauphin County and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID) to split the $270,000 price tag. The city’s share would be $110,000, with Dauphin County, which has already approved the agreement, also kicking in $110,000. HDID would cover the remaining $50,000.

That money would be paid to Trimont Real Estate Advisors, the asset manager for the parking system. Trimont, along with operator SP+ (locally, Park Harrisburg), took control of the city’s municipal parking system as part of a debt-restructuring plan in 2014. The $270,000 sum represents the total revenue that SP+ had collected from meters and enforcement fines between 5 and 7 p.m. in the HDID zone, which ranges roughly from State Street to just past Chestnut Street (see graphic below).

Papenfuse said that the city has already accounted for the expected expense as part of its 2019 budget, with the money originating from its share of parking revenues.

HDID’s Executive Director Todd Vander Woude tonight said that he enthusiastically backed another year of free evening street parking. HDID members, many of which are restaurant owners, have reported increased happy hour and dinner business over the last year since the free parking went into effect, he said.

“I’ve heard very positive things from businesses and customers alike,” he said. “There’s been an increase in downtown business. It’s all been very positive.”

The resolution also requests a city contribution to continue another parking program—the four hours of free street parking on Saturdays enabled by using the code “LUV HBG” for users of the ParkMobile app.

That code went into effect more than four years ago to try to help businesses that said they were being harmed by the $3-per-hour charge for Saturday street parking, which had been free when the city ran the parking system.

Trimont had never requested payment before for revenue allegedly lost through use of the app. However, according to the resolution, it now is requesting $90,000 for the next year. The administration is asking council to approve $40,000 to cover the city’s portion of the payment.

Papenfuse said that the city and HDID would make a presentation to council on the resolution during an upcoming work session. A vote, he hoped, would follow at the following legislative session in two weeks.

“To me, this is an example of something that’s worked extremely well,” he said. “It’s been successful.”

March News Digest

March 29, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Primary Field Set

This year’s municipal primary looks to be a hot one in Harrisburg, as Democratic voters face a crowded field for both City Council and school board.

Last month was the deadline for handing in nomination petitions, and numerous candidates filed, according to the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections & Voter Registration.

For council, three, four-year seats are up for grabs.

Three sitting council members have turned in nomination petitions: Danielle Bowers, Dave Madsen and Westburn Majors. This is the first contested race for Bowers, who was appointed last year to fill an open seat following the departure of former Councilman Cornelius Johnson.

The Democratic incumbents will face three challengers in the primary: Christina Kostelecky of Midtown, Brianna Smith of Midtown and Dionna Reeves of North Allison Hill.

No Republican candidates filed to run for council.

In the very crowded primary race for Harrisburg school board, 12 Democratic candidates will vie for five, four-year seats. These include current school board directors Lionel Gonzalez, Lola Lawson, Ellis R. Roy and Patricia Whitehead-Myers, and eight challengers: Jayne Buchwach, Lewis Butts Jr., Ralph Rodriguez, James Thompson, Doug Thompson Leader, Gerald Welch, Cory X. Williams and Steven Williams.

No one filed to run in the Republican primary.

In the only other city race, incumbent Treasurer Dan Miller is seeking re-election for a four-year term. He is unchallenged in the Democratic primary, and no candidate filed to run in the Republican primary.

On the county level, incumbent commissioners Jeff Haste and Mike Pries are running for re-election unopposed in the Republican primary. On the Democratic side, incumbent George Hartwick and challengers Diane Bowman and Tom Connolly are vying for the two Democratic slots.

For other county offices, none of the Republican incumbents have competition in the primary: District Attorney Fran Chardo, Sheriff Nick Chimienti, Clerk of Courts Dale Klein, Recorder of Deeds Jim Zugay, Treasurer Janis Creason, Controller Timothy DeFoor and Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court Jean Marfizo King.

On the Democratic side, Cole Goodman has filed for Recorder of Deeds, Tim Butler is running for Treasurer, Brad Koplinski is running for Clerk of Courts and Bridget Whitley has filed for Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court. All are unopposed in the primary.

This list is regarded as preliminary pending possible challenges to nomination petitions, which sometimes knocks candidates off of the ballot.

The primary election is on May 21. The winners will continue on to the general election, which is Nov. 5.

HU Tower Gets Planning Approval

The Harrisburg Planning Commission last month gave its blessing to a new downtown high-rise for Harrisburg University, a building design that knocks another two floors off of the project.

The land development plan, approved unanimously by the commission, envisions a 17-story building totaling 386,200 square feet of space at the corner of Chestnut and S. 3rd streets.

“I think this is a very good project,” said commission Chairman Joe Alsberry, before casting his vote in favor.

Last year, HU floated a concept for a building exceeding 30 floors, which would have made it the tallest building in the city. Last fall, the height was cut back to 19 floors and now has been approved at 17.

With Planning Commission approval, the land development plan now must be approved by City Council before HU can break ground.

The building consists of three parts: an academic portion that would house mainly health sciences programs, a separately owned hotel and a restaurant. The university envisions a two-year construction period.

In its vote, the city Planning Commission approved the consolidation of the four parcels that make up the building site: 222 Chestnut St. and 24, 26 and 28 S. 3rd St. Currently, 222 Chestnut St., the largest parcel, is a surface parking lot, while the 3rd Street parcels all house 19th-century commercial buildings, which would be demolished during the site-clearing process.

HU’s attorney and architects, who attended the meeting, were satisfied with the approval, with one exception.

As a condition for approval, the city’s Planning Bureau suggested that HU make changes to the building façade so that it would have a more “consistent” design, with less visible concrete.

HU attorney Diane Tokarsky of McNees Wallace & Nurick pushed back hard on the suggestion that design changes were needed.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” she said. “There would be a significant cost to the university to begin redesigning the façade of the building.”

City Solicitor Neil Grover clarified that the city can’t force the university to change its design.

In the end, HU representatives said they’d willingly continue the conversation with the city, but within limits.

“We would be happy to have further dialogue,” Tokarsky said. “But we need finality. We’re not redesigning this building.”

Lead Paint Abatement Continues

Harrisburg is known for its historic homes, which often have such touches as wide moldings, pocket doors and ceiling medallions.

Sometimes, those houses have something else much less desirable—lead-based paint.

Therefore, the city government wants residents to know that it is seeking applicants for its 2019 lead paint remediation program, an effort aimed at lower- and moderate-income owners and renters.

“It’s not just homeowners,” said Franchon Beeks, program manager and interim director of the city’s Department of Building and Housing Development. “We need more tenants and landlords to be aware of the program.”

The program is open to city residents who meet certain conditions, including income requirements (50 to 80 percent of median family income) and having children in the household younger than 6 years old, since eating chipped, lead-based paint can result in learning disabilities and behavioral problems. In addition, the housing unit must have been built before 1978.

Beeks spoke last month during a Harrisburg City Council work session, offering council members a recent history of the program and a look at plans for 2019.

She told council that a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) “Lead Hazardous Reduction Demonstration” grant for $3.7 million had expired on Dec. 31. However, the city has received notice that the Pennsylvania Department of Health had approved a one-year, $986,245 grant, allowing the lead paint control and remediation program to continue through 2019.

Petition Drive for Charter School

A group denied permission to open a new public charter school has begun a petition drive to overturn the decision of the Harrisburg school board.

The board of the proposed PA STEAM Academy needs to gather valid signatures from 1,000 city residents, 18 years and older, to force the matter to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.

“The bottom line is—what’s in the best interest of the kids?” said Susan Kegerise, a former Susquehanna Township school district superintendent and now a member of the proposed charter school’s board. “We’re going to keep going because it’s in the best interest of the kids.”

PA STEAM Academy has until mid-April—60 days following the city school board’s unanimous denial of its charter application on Feb. 19—to gather the signatures for its appeal. If the court validates the petitions and issues a decree, the matter goes to the state Department of Education’s seven-member Charter School Appeal Board, which will make a final decision to affirm or overturn the school board’s decision.

To coordinate the petition drive, PA STEAM supporters have been gathering signatures during city festivals, on 3rd in the Burg nights, in Strawberry Square and at the Broad Street Market, among other places.

In the meantime, PA STEAM is still moving forward with a planned opening for the fall semester, said Carolyn Dumaresq, president of the charter school board and a former state secretary of education.

To do so, board members will need to hire a principal, six teachers and support staff, in addition to accepting the first round of students.

PA STEAM plans to open with 120 students, grades K-2, in Midtown 2 at N. 3rd and Reily streets in Harrisburg. The 115,000-square-foot building is currently occupied by HACC, but the college’s lease expires in 2022, and it is slated to begin moving programs out of the building later this year.

PA STEAM plans to expand on an annual basis, adding a grade level each year until it becomes a K-8 school. It also expects to grow horizontally, so that each grade level eventually would have 80 students.

Gaming Grants Announced

The Dauphin County commissioners last month allotted $6.4 million to some 60 projects in its annual disbursal of gaming funds.

Locally, Harrisburg city will receive $203,000 to upgrade its phone system and create an off-site backup storage facility for data such as crime, property, tax and codes information.

Elsewhere in Harrisburg, Hamilton Health Center will receive $115,000 to remove contaminated soil in an adjacent lot to prepare for a planned facility expansion.

“We’ve run out of exam room space, and we want to expand our medical and behavioral health services,” said Jeannine Peterson, Hamilton’s CEO.

Funding for the projects comes from the county’s share of gaming revenue generated from Hollywood Casino at Penn National in East Hanover Township.

The Dauphin County Gaming Advisory Board reviews project requests before sending its recommendations to the commissioners for approval. While 62 projects were funded, another 37 were denied funding.

Other notable projects in the immediate Harrisburg area that were funded include:

D&H Distributing for a new and expanded training center: $160,000
Tri-County HDC to help fund a $1.4 million project to build 12 townhomes on Adams Street in Steelton: $125,000
Steelton Borough for Phase 2 of the Skate Park and for fire department gear and equipment: $94,394
Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg for generator purchase: $70,000
The Salvation Army for security system installation: $53,000
Camp Curtin YMCA for an affordable housing construction project: $50,000
Dauphin County Library System for computer equipment: $50,000
Penbrook Borough for sewer interceptor replacement: $50,000
Harrisburg Scottish Rite Masonic Theatre for auditorium upgrades: $47,780
Cameron Street Boxing Club for facility renovation and equipment: $35,000
Breaking the Chainz Inc. for a van: $29,411
Harrisburg University for HUE Festival security services: $25,000
Theatre Harrisburg for seating and platforms purchase: $25,000
Stephens Episcopal School for safety and security improvements: $8,230

Under state law, the county must use the grant funds for projects that help human services, improve local infrastructure, enhance transportation, address health and safety needs, assist with emergency services and further public interest initiatives.

So Noted

Charlotte Katzenmoyer was selected last month as the new chief executive officer of Capital Region Water, the Harrisburg area’s water and sewer authority. Katzenmoyer previously served as the long-time director of public works for Lancaster city.

Darla Hoover last month was named artistic director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, following the death of CPYB founder and Artistic Director Marcia Dale Weary. Hoover previously served as associate artistic director.

Laura Hughes has been named executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross. Before joining the Red Cross, Hughes held roles with Spooky Nook Sports and The American Heart Association.

Ron Hetrick last month was appointed WITF’s new president and CEO, replacing Kathleen Pavelko, who has retired. A Harrisburg native, Hetrick joined WITF in 2000 and has served as senior vice president of finance and administration since 2015.

Michael Boyd Menswear will open this month at 2205 Market St., Camp Hill. The men’s clothing retailer operated for many years on N. 3rd Street in downtown Harrisburg before relocating.

Stephen M. Massini will take over as chief executive officer for Penn State Health, it was announced last month. Massini, the current executive vice president, will assume the position upon the retirement of current CEO A. Craig Hillemeier, who plans to step down in the summer.

Tiki T’s Mini Donuts and More is expected to open this month in the ground floor space at the Bogg on Cranberry, a newly renovated apartment building at N. 2nd and Cranberry streets in Harrisburg. Owner Will Horn said that he will offer branded coffee, bagels and waffles, in addition to his signature bags and buckets of miniature doughnuts.

In Memoriam

Marcia Dale Weary, the founder and long-time leader of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, died last month at age 82. Born in Carlisle, she founded the Marcia Dale School of Dance in 1955, which later became the nonprofit Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, now an internationally recognized school of classical ballet. To honor her legacy, donations may be made to the school. Visit www.cpyb.org.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2474: M. Jones to H. Montoya & S. Flores, $60,000

Boas St., 1954: Family First Financial LLC to M. Brown, $51,500

Briggs St., 1927: Mosca Greene Associates to J. Fider, $55,000

Briggs St., 1931: Front Door Properties LLC to Equity Trust Co. Custodian Gary D. Brown IRA, $33,500

Crescent St., 249 & 306: C. Frater to PD Estate Properties LLC, $56,000

Cumberland St., 120: B. Kephart to Berlin Group LLC, $87,000

Green St., 916: Bricker Boys Partnership to J. Ehring, $95,000

Green St., 1701A: J. & V. Wills to M. Ton, $196,500

Green St., 1947: S. Roeder to J. Howett, $208,000

Greenwood St., 2111: CW Property Management LLC to J. Elias Holdings LLC, $30,000

Hudson St., 1219: B. Messick to R. & P. Michael, $106,000

Manada St., 1915 & 1917: W. & K. Nolt to PA Property Brothers LLC, $83,500

Market St., 2305: DND Enterprises to D. Jordan & A. Knee, $129,000

Muench St., 215: A. Barone to T. & S. Wisyanski, $130,000

Muench St., 216: WCI Partners LP to K. Boyce, $118,000

N. 2^nd St., 805: W. Grace to B. Mummau, $165,000

N. 2^nd St., 1715: G. Hitz to PA Deals LLC, $72,000

N. 2^nd St., 1815: Pharma Enterprises LLC to M. Tenba, $97,000

N. 2^nd St., 2143: R. Steele to A. Arnold Jr., $169,000

N. 2^nd St., 2534: M. Tuck to A. Massaro, $165,000

N. 2^nd St., 2827: J. Prosseda to J. Charles Realty LLC, $349,000

N. 3^rd St., 1820: B. & R. Gordon to MMLM Realty & Ian Smith Contracting, Inc., $69.000

N. 3^rd St., 1935 & 1932 Logan St.: D. Goodwin to K. & E. Hummel, $245,000

N. 3^rd St., 2214 & 2214A: C. Frater to PD Estate Properties LLC, $104,000

N. 4^th St., 3022: R. Birch to CNC Realty Group LLC, $123,750

N. 5^th St., 3132: Willowscott Investments LLC to R. & D. Corrigan, $137,900

N. 6^th St., 1000: A. Antoun to N&R Group LLC, $31,000

N. 12^th St., 56: LMK Properties LLC to B. & L. Young, $30,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 611: K. Uhlmann to G. & J. Hellmann, $190,000

Paxton St., 1125, 1150, 1200, 1201, 728 S. 13^th St., & 701 S. Cameron St.: Sutliff Enterprises Inc. to Last Enterprises LLC, $7,175,000

Penn St., 915: Penn St. LLC to J. Craig & F. Combs, $60,500

Penn St., 1626: D. Cinelli to H. & D. Brubaker, $139,900

Pennwood Rd., 3243: Consolidated Holdings International LLC to I Deal Cars Holdings LLC, $230,000

Race St., 560: G. & N. Glen to E. Stoltzfus, $108,000

Rolleston St., 1016: C. & R. Wilson to N. Barger, $51,500

Rumson Dr., 2987: G. Marshall to L. Payne, $70,000

Seneca St., 235: D. Ulloa to H. & B. Cook, $145,000

Showers St., 616: S. Clearfield to S. Rinato & M. Siegel, $125,000

S. 14^th St., 1443: Harrisburg Housing Authority to City of Harrisburg, $50,000

S. 17^th St., 315: N. Bhatti to 2566 Investment Group Inc., $42,000

S. Front St., 621: N. Rados to C. O’Donnell, $122,000

State St., 231, Unit 601: LUX 1 LP to R. Brooks, $184,900

Susquehanna St., 1408: W. Baker to Campus Square Partners, $290,000

Susquehanna St., 1418: W. & C. Baker to Campus Square Partners LP, $30,000

Susquehanna St., 1816: C. Harner to R9 Holdings LLC, $34,000

Susquehanna St., 2118: K. Scott to J. Elias Holdings LLC, $34,000

Swatara St., 2008: C. Woods to Y. Velazquez, $58,000

Harrisburg property sales for February 2019, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

HU sets July ground-breaking for new academic tower, hotel

March 18, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg University expects to break ground on its new academic tower and hotel in midsummer, the university confirmed today.

Spokesman Steven Infanti projected a late July start date for the 17-story, $135 million project at the corner of Chestnut and S. 3^rd streets.

Infanti said that university expects a two-year construction period, with a grand opening slated for summer 2021, in time for the 2021-22 academic year.

Two weeks ago, the Harrisburg Planning Commission unanimously approved the project (rendering above), which had been scaled down from 19 to 17 floors, about half the height of the original plan. The land use plan still must be approved by City Council.

Infanti expects the building to house at least 1,000 new students and a health science education center for nursing, pharmaceutical sciences and other health-related programs. It also will have classrooms and training space for advanced manufacturing and interactive media programs, he said.

The 386,200-square-foot building consists of two other portions: a hotel and a restaurant. Owners and operators for these have not yet been announced.

Four parcels make up the building site: 222 Chestnut St. and 24, 26 and 28 S. 3^rd St. Currently, 222 Chestnut St., the largest parcel, is a surface parking lot, while the 3^rd Street parcels all house 19^th-century commercial buildings, which would be demolished during the site-clearing process.

Alex Wing of Stantec is the lead architect for the project, supported by Harrisburg-based Reynolds Enterprises Inc. and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., based in Baltimore.

For more information about Harrisburg University, visit www.harrisburgu.edu.

Burg Blog: 2 Lives, 2 Streets

March 15, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg City Council in session this week

Not every Harrisburg City Council meeting has fireworks.

This past week, for instance, the legislative session lasted less than a half-hour, as the agenda was small, and the few items on it were non-controversial or sent into committee for later discussion.

However, there were two resolutions, passed unanimously, that I feel should be noted. Both memorialized a community member, recently deceased, whose lives now will be recognized on the streets where they lived.

They led very different lives, and, as well, had very different fates.

The first resolution honored Dennis Green, who, as a child, lived with his family on the 1100-block of Walnut Street. He would go on to star as a halfback at the University of Iowa.

Green never played in the NFL, but later worked his way up the football coaching ranks, first on the college then the professional level. In 1992, he became the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings, becoming just the second African American head coach in the league. He coached the Vikings for an impressive 10 years, then spent several more with the Arizona Cardinals and as an ESPN analyst.

He died last July, more than a decade after retiring from football.

“Mr. Green was a phenomenal resident of the city of Harrisburg,” said Councilman Westburn Majors. “Mr. Green would come back to Harrisburg and helped to guide our athletes.”

The second resolution honored a woman whose impact remained more local to Harrisburg but was profound nonetheless.

Jacqueline Black was a lifelong city resident, spending some four decades in her house on the 300-block of Emerald Street, where she raised a family. Then, last June, tragedy struck.

Her house caught fire, and she died in the blaze, but not before helping three of her grandchildren escape out of a second-floor window. Without her action, those children may have perished, as well.

“Ms. Black was my friend, and she made an impact as a strong matriarch,” said Council President Wanda Williams. “She was a special angel.”

To honor Green, council passed a resolution recognizing the 1100 to 1300 blocks of Walnut Street as “Dennis Green Way.”

To honor Black, council passed a resolution recognizing the 300-block of Emerald Street as “Jacqueline Black Way.”

The streets will retain their official, existing names, but also will be designated by their new names.

Green and Black were two Harrisburg natives who impacted many over the course of their lives, whether on the national stage or the local one. They now will be honored on the streets where they lived.

Harrisburg Democrats to weigh crowded primary field for city council, school board

March 12, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

This year’s municipal primary looks to be a hot one in Harrisburg, as Democratic voters face a crowded field for both City Council and school board.

Tuesday was the deadline for handing in nomination petitions, and numerous candidates filed, according to the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections & Voter Registration.

For council, three, four-year seats are up for grabs.

The Democratic incumbents will face three challengers in the primary: Christina Kostelecky of Midtown, Brianna Smith of Midtown and Dionna Reeves of North Allison Hill.

No Republican candidates filed to run for council.

No one filed to run in the Republican primary.

On the county level, incumbents Jeff Haste and Mike Pries are running for re-election unopposed in the Republican primary for commissioner. On the Democratic side, incumbent George Hartwick and challengers Diane Bowman and Tom Connolly are running for the two Democratic slots.

For other county offices, all of the Republican incumbents have no competition in the primary: District Attorney Fran Chardo, Sheriff Nick Chimienti, Clerk of Courts Dale Klein, Recorder of Deeds Jim Zugay, Treasurer Janis Creason, Controller Timothy DeFoor and Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court Jean Marfizo King.

This list is regarded as preliminary pending possible challenges to nomination petitions, which sometimes knocks candidates off of the ballot.

The primary election is on May 21. The winners will continue on to the general election, which is Nov. 5.

Harrisburg, Dauphin County municipal primary field begins to take shape

March 8, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

There are still a few days to go before final nomination petitions are due, but the Harrisburg and Dauphin County municipal primary races are already beginning to take shape.

The county Bureau of Elections & Voter Registration has posted the names of candidates who have handed in petitions as of end-of-day on Thursday for the primary.

In Harrisburg, three, four-year seats for City Council are up for grabs.

So far, all three sitting council members have turned in nomination petitions: Danielle Bowers, Dave Madsen and Westburn Majors. This is the first contested race for Bowers, who was appointed last year to fill an open seat following the departure of former Councilman Cornelius Johnson.

Midtown resident Christina Kostelecky is the only challenger thus far to turn in a nomination petition for a City Council seat.

In the closely watched race for five, four-year seats on the Harrisburg school board, incumbents Lionel Gonzalez and Ellis R. Roy have turned in petitions, as have challengers Jayne Buchwach and Steven Williams.

In the only other city race, incumbent Treasurer Dan Miller is seeking re-election for a four-year term. So far, he is unchallenged.

On the county level, Republican incumbents Jeff Haste and Mike Pries have turned in nomination petitions, as have incumbent Democrat George Hartwick and Democratic challenger Diane Bowman.

So far, only Republican incumbents have turned in petitions for county row offices. These include District Attorney Fran Chardo, Sheriff Nick Chimienti, Clerk of Courts Dale Klein, Recorder of Deeds Jim Zugay, Treasurer Janis Creason and Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court Jean Marfizo King. As of last night, no candidate had submitted petitions for county controller.

Candidates have until this Tuesday, March 12, to turn in nomination petitions with sufficient valid signatures to the county Bureau of Elections. The primary election is on May 21. The general election is on Nov. 5.

HBG Planning Commission approves Harrisburg University tower, now cut down to 17 floors

March 8, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Architects from the firm Stantec show Harrisburg Planning Commission members street views of their latest design for Harrisburg University’s proposed downtown high-rise.

The Harrisburg Planning Commission this week gave its blessing to a new downtown high-rise for Harrisburg University, a building design that knocks another two floors off of the project.

The land development plan, approved unanimously by the commission on Wednesday night, envisions a 17-story building totaling 386,200 square feet of space at the corner of Chestnut and S. 3^rd streets.

“I think this is a very good project,” said commission Chairman Joe Alsberry, before casting his vote in favor.

With Planning Commission approval, the land development plan now must be approved by City Council before HU can break ground.

The building (rendering left) consists of three parts: an academic portion that would house mainly health sciences programs, a separately owned hotel and a restaurant. The university envisions a two-year construction period.

In its vote on Wednesday, the city Planning Commission approved the consolidation of the four parcels that make up the building site: 222 Chestnut St. and 24, 26 and 28 S. 3^rd St. Currently, 222 Chestnut St., the largest parcel, is a surface parking lot, while the 3^rd Street parcels all house 19^th-century commercial buildings, which would be demolished during the site-clearing process.

HU’s attorney and architects, who attended the meeting, were satisfied with the approval, with one exception.

As a condition for approval, the city’s Planning Bureau suggested that HU make changes to the building façade so that it would have a more “consistent” design, with less visible concrete.

City Planning Director Geoffrey Knight also noted how much the building looks like HU’s existing, 15-year-old tower on Market Street.

“We’d like architecture that is a bit more aspirational than the design indicates,” he said.

Knight emphasized that the city supports the project, but would prefer certain façade improvements for the sake of the city streetscape and skyline.

“We want to make sure it’s something that will age well,” he said.

HU attorney Diane Tokarsky of McNees Wallace & Nurick pushed back hard on the suggestion that design changes were needed.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” she said. “There would be a significant cost to the university to begin redesigning the façade of the building.”

City Solicitor Neil Grover clarified that the city can’t force the university to change its design.

Nonetheless, Tokarsky strongly objected to the condition placed on the approval. She said that she wanted an all-clear from the city, stating that any conditions not explicitly met could negatively affect the university’s next steps, including finalizing financing and putting construction work out for bid.

“We need to be able to say, ‘This is our building. This is the cost of our building,’” she said.

Planning Commission members discussed stripping out the condition that suggested the façade changes, but, in the end, opted to leave it in as part of its approval.

“I’m excited about this project overall,” said commissioner Anne Marek. “The only sticking point goes back to this façade conversation.”

In the end, HU representatives said they’d willingly continue the conversation with the city, but within limits.

“We would be happy to have further dialogue,” Tokarsky said. “But we need finality. We’re not redesigning this building.”

A Harrisburg University spokesman yesterday declined further comment for this story.

Harrisburg renews effort to fight lead paint hazards in city homes

March 6, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg City Council during Tuesday’s work session

Harrisburg is known for its historic homes, which often have such touches as wide moldings, pocket doors and ceiling medallions.

Sometimes, those houses have something else much less desirable—lead-based paint.

Therefore, the city government wants residents to know that it is seeking applicants for its 2019 lead paint remediation program, an effort aimed at lower- and moderate-income owners and renters.

Beeks spoke on Tuesday night during a Harrisburg City Council work session, offering council members a recent history of the program and a look at plans for 2019.

She told council that a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) “Lead Hazardous Reduction Demonstration” grant for $3.7 million had expired on Dec. 31. However, last week, the city received notice that the Pennsylvania Department of Health had approved a one-year, $986,245 grant, allowing the lead paint control and remediation program to continue through 2019.

Beeks’ presentation wasn’t all good news.

She started by saying that the three-year HUD program got off to a slow start. By June 2017—halfway through the grant period—the city had fallen 20 units short of its benchmark of 70 remediated units. By Sept. 30, 2017, the city had fallen even further behind its goal, completing just 63 of an expected 100 units.

HUD then cited Harrisburg as “noncompliant,” the program manager resigned and Beeks was hired to replace him.

“We had a real problem with this grant,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We brought on Franchon, and, since then, things have really come around.”

By the end of the grant period in December, the city had completed 181 units, one more than its benchmark of 180. Still, the city left about $1 million of the grant money unspent, but that was largely because the average cost-per-unit, at $9,600, was far below the benchmark cost, Beeks said.

Susan Brown-Wilson, a former city councilwoman who is now client outreach and relocation coordinator for the program, said that they generated interest in the program by speaking before many organizations, attending numerous events and passing out information.

“We blanketed this entire city with flyers,” she said. “We did a lot of footwork to get the applications we received.”

Beeks and Brown-Wilson said that they expect to make the same outreach effort this time around, with a goal of remediating 70 units by year-end. They even plan to include program information in the city’s monthly sanitation bills.

“Having mailers in the trash bill will help with the visibility of this program,” said Councilman Westburn Majors.

To date, most of the participants have been homeowners, but Beeks said that she would like to reach more landlords and renters, as renters make up a large percentage of the city’s lower-income residents. Reaching this population has proven to be difficult, she said, even though the cost of relocation and temporary accommodations–necessary while the work is performed–is also paid through the program.

Looking forward, Beeks said that the city plans this year to apply for the next federal HUD grant, which will run from 2020 to 2023.

“For the next grant, we hope to increase our units,” Beeks said.

Click here for more information on Harrisburg’s Lead Hazard Reduction Program or call 3-1-1 and request an application.

With questions about past bills, Harrisburg Council puts proposed lobbying contract on hold

February 19, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg City Council on Tuesday night

Maverick Strategies will need to wait a few more weeks to find out if its lobbying contract with Harrisburg will be renewed.

City Council was expected to vote tonight on a one-year, $60,000 contract with the city-based lobbying shop, but pulled the resolution at the start of the meeting.

At a previous meeting, Council had asked Maverick for detailed billing statements for their prior contract, which ended Dec. 31. That information was just received that afternoon, and council needed time to review the bills, said President Wanda Williams.

“We need clarification on these invoices,” Williams said. “City Council has additional questions they want to ask.”

Williams said that they’ll request that Maverick appear at the next council work session, which is slated for March 5. A final vote on the contract likely will be delayed until the following legislative session on March 12.

Council has already adjusted the proposed contract, limiting it to just one year, retroactive to Jan. 1. It originally was crafted as a multi-year agreement, with automatic renewals unless cancelled with 60 days written notice.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that, despite the delay, he didn’t anticipate any problem passing the new contract.

“I believe that council just wants to go over the billing information that was sent,” he said.

He added that he believes that retaining Maverick is vital because Harrisburg needs professional representation before the state legislature.

“We have long-term relationships with the commonwealth that we need to maintain,” he said.

Papenfuse has said that he believes that Maverick played a critical role last year as the legislature passed a bill that allows the city to maintain elevated taxation levels even after it leaves Act 47, which it plans to do this year. The legislation also created a five-member financial oversight board, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, which is due to meet for the first time next Tuesday.

In other action tonight, council approved several appointments:

Zachary Monnier to the Harrisburg Planning Commission
Gretchen Little to the Harrisburg Human Relations Commission
Kevin Burrell to the Harrisburg Human Relations Commission

City Council also agreed to seek funding from Impact Harrisburg, a nonprofit created as part of the city’s financial recovery plan, for a community and economic development position. The city’s former director of community and economic development, Jackie Parker, left last year for a job in the private sector.

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