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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