Tag Archives: Harrisburg School District

April News Digest

March 28, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground

Developers have begun work on a new affordable housing project in Harrisburg.

Former NFL player LeSean McCoy and his development company, Vice Capital, ceremonially broke ground last month on JMB Gardens, which will provide low-income housing on N. 6th Street.

“It’s a celebration for our community,” said McCoy, a Harrisburg native. “We are here to be the difference and make a change.”

JMB Gardens will consist of four rowhome-style buildings built on several currently vacant plots of land on the 2200- and 2300-blocks of N. 6th Street. In total, the project will provide 41 affordable units, consisting of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a community center.

The entire project cost is around $16.7 million, including funding from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).

Construction on JMB Gardens is expected to take 12 to 14 months, according to Ryan Sanders, vice president of development for Vice Capital.

McCoy and Vice Capital are also currently working on another housing development on N. 6th Street, on the 1500 block. The “Savoy 48” will include 48 apartment units, 10 of which will be affordable by federal standards.

While that project broke ground in June 2023, Sanders said that construction has been delayed, but will likely begin in the coming months.

Harrisburg District Approves School Reconfiguration

The Harrisburg School District’s building configuration will look different in the coming academic year.

At a recent board meeting, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the opening of some school buildings, the closing of others, and the moving of several grades to different buildings for the 2024-25 school year.

At a meeting in November 2023, Superintendent Eric Turman presented several options for reconfiguration, which he said would help balance student populations at each building, create neighborhood schools on the elementary level, and allow the district to prioritize facility improvements.

Suski approved the plan, which includes removing students from Scott Elementary School and repurposing the building. Additionally, the Lincoln Administration Building will be used as an elementary school. The plan also includes phasing out Rowland Intermediate School over three years and moving those students to Camp Curtin Middle School.

In addition, the plan includes enrolling only sixth- through eighth-grade students at Marshall Math Science Academy, which currently includes the fifth grade. Cougar Academy, now housed in the Lincoln building, will move to the Hamilton building on N. 6th Street, replacing the Specialized Services Education, Inc. program, which will move to Scott temporarily.

Also wrapped up in the reconfiguration is the re-opening of Steele Elementary School, a long-vacant building that the district has been renovating. Steele will contribute to creating more neighborhood-based schools on the elementary level, Turman explained.

Historic Status for Zembo Shrine

A notable Harrisburg building has received national recognition for its history.

Zembo Shrine, on N. 3rd and Division streets, recently announced that it is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Shriners hope that the new designation will offer opportunities for growth.

“It’s something we are very proud of,” said Mike Smith, former Zembo potentate. “It shows the community what we are about.”

Several years ago, the fraternal organization had put Zembo, which was built in 1929, on the sales market, stating that maintaining the building had become too costly. However, in February 2022, the Zembo Shriners pulled the building off the market, opting to retain and restore it as an event space.

“Just talking to people who aren’t even Shriners, I’ve seen what Zembo has meant to them,” Smith said. “People love Zembo and want it to stay in our hands.”

Once they decided to keep the building, the Shriners moved forward with the process of registering it as a National Historic Place, citing its unique Moorish Revival-style architecture. Zembo partnered with the Historic Harrisburg Association (HHA), which helped the organization raise donations for registration process costs.

“We are delighted that HHA was able to provide technical and administrative assistance to Zembo in the challenging process of seeking and successfully securing a National Register listing,” said HHA President Jeb Stuart.

With the designation, Smith said that Zembo can now apply for certain grants that are only made available to properties on the register. The organization has also been working to make upgrades in the building, recently replacing the HVAC system and completing roof work.

And while membership has been on the decline over the years, Zembo still has about 1,350 Shriners who meet in the building.

To celebrate Zembo and its addition to the National Register of Historic Places, HHA will host “A Toast to Zembo Shrine!” at the Shrine on Friday, May 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will also honor recipients of HHA’s 2024 Preservation Award.

East Shore Y Weighs Remodel, Expansion

Big changes may be coming to the East Shore YMCA as the organization is taking a step forward in the planning process. 

Last month, the Y issued a Request for Expressions of Interest in hopes of finding a developer partner to play a role in the proposed renovation of its N. Front Street facility. 

A year ago, Y officials told TheBurg that they were in the preliminary stages of a plan to upgrade and possibly expand on the aging, historic building. According to Harrisburg Area YMCA President and CEO David Ozmore, the East Shore Y has faced significant financial challenges due to the pandemic and the age of the building, which was built in the 1930s.

“It’s a costly infrastructure,” Ozmore said. “Our facility needs to be modern.” 

While most of the exterior of the building can’t be changed, due to guidelines for historic properties, the Y is interested in possibly remodeling inside its building, the wellness center and its adjacent administrative office building.  

In total, the Y owns 2.16 acres of land that could be utilized for the project.  

Through the request for interest, the Y hopes to find developers that are interested in partnering with them to help design, fund and execute the project, Ozmore said. A developer could also potentially help connect the Y with other organizations interested in operating in the renovated facility. 

“We’d love to collaborate and work with other nonprofits under one roof and share costs and share expenses,” he said. “That would be a much more efficient way to operate.”

That could include clinics, mental health providers, nonprofits, social service providers and retailers sharing space inside the new Y building. 

However, if the Y doesn’t receive interest from developers, the organization would move forward with taking on the project by itself, which Ozmore said would likely be more costly, up to an estimated $30 million, for the Y. 

The Y will solicit interest from developers for the next several months, with a goal to conduct interviews with developers and deliberate at the end of the summer. Ozmore said that he hopes to have a site plan ready by next year. 

The total project construction is expected to take around five years to complete. 

Home Sales, Prices Higher

Home sales inched up as prices recorded strong gains in the Harrisburg area in February, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county area, sales totaled 373 homes, compared to 368 in February 2023, as the median sales price rose to $264,000 from $234,950, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 171 homes sold, eight fewer than a year ago, but the median sales price increased to $220,000 from $205,000, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 185 home sales, versus 157 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $299,900 from $270,000, GHAR said.

In Perry County, 21 homes sold, a decrease of two sales, as the median sales price went up to $260,000 from $215,000 in February 2023, according to GHAR.

The pace of sales was nearly unchanged from a year ago, with 31 “average days on market” compared to 30 days in the year-ago period, GHAR said.

So Noted

Allison Kierce was promoted last month to president and chief operating officer of Junior Achievement of South Central PA. Tom Russell will continue in his role as CEO, according to the organization.

Ellen Min has been named senior vice president and chief equity officer of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, according to the organization. Min previously served as a manager for Reach Cyber Charter School, an adjunct professor at Elizabethtown College and head of school at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School.

John Clare last month was named artistic director for Gretna Music, known for its summer series at Mt. Gretna Playhouse. Clare has been programming classical music for radio audiences for 29 years, including at WITF, and most recently hosted Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall, where he will continue as the morning host.

Kedar Revankar has been named the chief operating officer for Mechanicsburg-based West Shore Home, according to the company. In this role, he will oversee operations, warehouse and inventory, bringing 20 years of supply chain management to the company.

Penn State Health last month cut the ribbon on a new outpatient practice, the Penn State Health Medical Group—Millersville. The medical clinic offers primary care, sports medicine and on-site lab services to patients in the community from the location at 15 Shenks Lane, Millersville.

Changing Hands

Bailey St., 1188: R2 Investors LLC to 371 Chelsea Street LLC, $100,000

Bigelow Dr., 14: R. Love to VAB Investments LLC, $98,000

Chestnut St., 1918: A. Smith to D., A., C. & S. Pittman, $65,000

Chestnut St., 1961: Normans Realty Service Inc. to F. Olivo, $98,500

Derry St., 1429: P. Sisemore & K. Hugo to D. Keech, $96,684

Derry St., 1952: Malesic Group Inc. to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $130,000

Emerald Ct., 2456: J. Seelbinder to D. Tamang & R. Bhandari, $159,000

Evergreen St., 23: A. Giambanco to Destiny Harrisburg LLC, $144,000

Forster St., 1831: Progressive Retirement Solutions to W. Quezada, $62,000

Forster St., 1839: GZL Corp. to D. Henderson, $63,500

Forster St., 2002: R. Speece to D. Illanes, $86,000

Geary St., 613: P. Briseno to 613 Geart St LLC, $70,000

Green St., 1011: J. Umble to JM Thrift & Vintage LLC, $115,000

Green St., 1303: D. Reinhart to J. Johnson, $175,000

Green St., 1310: K. & K. Daczka & A. Johnson to K. White, $205,000

Greenwood St., 2113: Parcview 135 Corp. to Wisechoice USA LLC, $52,000

Hoerner St., 113: L. Palmer to Balaci Properties LLC, $95,000

Hoerner St., 115: L. Palmer to Balaci Properties LLC, $95,000

Hoerner St., 125: L. Palmer to Balaci Properties LLC, $95,000

Hoffman St., 3214: D. & C. Harmon to Honest Home Solutions LLC, $117,700

Holly St., 2020: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to F. Berrun, $127,000

Kelker St., 235: D. Robinson & J. Vu to S. Swanson, $217,500

Kelker St., 315: C. Nicassio to Roar 315 Kelker LLC, $138,995

Kensington St., 2259: Lansanah Home Services Group to J. Fernandez, $131,000

Luce St., 2350: J. Yohn to E. Vega, $145,900

Maclay St., 331: J. & S. Compton to D. Joseph, $184,900

Manada St., 1928: B. Do to B. & V. Doan, $60,000

Market St., 1220: Upscale Properties LLC to E. & N. Footman, $240,000

Market St., 1808: W. Chavez & K. Flores to M. Perez, $135,000

Mulberry St., 1844: Custodian FBO Ray Dunkle IRA Trust to J. & B. Vergis, $107,000

N. 2nd St., 1337: I. & R. Bloser to Calcor Holdings LLC, $135,000

N. 3rd St., 2206: Grentals LLC to Golden Property Holdings LLC, $250,000

N. 4th St., 2312A: G. Smith to R. Elliott, $157,500

N. 4th St., 2430: Nationstar Mortgage LLC to M. Wassef, $68,900

N. 4th St., 3301: Invariant Real Estate II LLC to Z. Porter & N. Everston, $163,000

N. 6th St., 2533: D. & R. Wieand to 371 Chelsea Street LLC, $121,000

N. 6th St., 2724: J. & A. Fabre to 248 S Quince St LLC, $85,000

N. 7th St., 2642: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Lapp, $72,000

N. 13th St., 131: F. Contreras to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $120,000

N. 14th St., 231: Bedrock Capital Management Inc. to D. Boyle, $59,000

N. 15th St., 220: J. Medina & F. Morocho to L. Figueroa, $135,000

N. 15th St., 917: M. Sadi to JTA Consulting Group LLC, $60,000

N. 16th St., 900: T. Casteel to I. Ahmed, $252,000

N. Cameron St., 101 & 109 and 111 Hancock St.: R. & S. Otto to RS3 Ventures LLC, $227,000

N. Front St., 1117 & 1119: R. Laguna & L. Maloney to R. Laguna, $100,000

Paxton St., 1631: M. Doeur to EA Capital LLC, $80,000

Penn St., 1824: BCR-1 Properties LLC to R. Arambiges, $250,000

Penn St., 2126: J. & S. Compton to Lift Legacy Partners LLC, $110,000

Radnor St., 411: R. Gillis & K. Baran to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $75,000

Randolph St., 1511: Culcay Remodeling & Gaugua Remodeling LLC to R. Cespedes, $180,000

Reel St., 2417: JRHeller.com LLC to 2417 Reel Street LLC, $59,000

Reel St., 2423: D&L Development Group Inc. to EA Capital LLC, $84,900

Reily St., 109: K. Bardon & E. Cameron to S. & E. Harris, $230,000

S. 17th St., 415: A&K Investment Partnership LLC to A. Caceres, $145,000

S. 17th St., 542: G. & M. Garcia to Figueroa Enterprises LLC, $75,000

S. 18th St., 159: M. Ayyad & A. Abdel to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $64,000

S. 18th St., 1224: L. & C. Guzman to A. & E. Castillo, $195,000

S. 20th St., 19: W. & M. Kharalah to CJ Good LLC, $90,000

S. Front St., 611: F. Barton to Vaugh Real Estate & Investment and Colon Investments LLC, $200,000

S. Front St., 705½: S. Jackson & C. Colon to A. Harris, $206,000

State St., 211: State Capital Property Holdings LLC to Z. Herbert, $485,000

State St., 1522: L. Marquez to J. Pownall, $178,000

State St., 1907: DTJ Associates LLC to K. & S. Collins, $181,050

State St., 1918: Faraone Properties LLC to M. & A. Cottrell, $217,000

Susquehanna St., 1627: H. Dana to J. Case, $110,000

Thornwood Rd., 204: J. Schimmel to New Holland Enterprise Management LLC, $190,001

Whitehall St., 2031: C. & N. Bickel to Dem Estate Investment LLC, $63,500

Harrisburg property sales, February 2024, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Harrisburg School District to consider non-renewal of city charter school

March 27, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Premier Arts and Science Charter School

The future of a Harrisburg charter school may be at risk.

At a board meeting on Tuesday, Harrisburg School District Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved a resolution that will commence non-renewal proceedings against Premier Arts and Science Charter School.

The district recently completed its charter renewal review process for Premier, evaluating its academics, administration, operation and other aspects. Charter schools must face renewal every five years. Premier’s prior charter period expired in June 2023, but the school has been legally allowed to continue operating during the review.

District officials and an attorney presented findings from the review that included students underperforming academically, low staff retention and non-compliant programs, among other issues.

“For these reasons and others, Premier’s performance and operations warrants non-renewal of the charter under the grounds in the Charter School Law,” said Dr. Marisol Craig, assistant superintendent of the district.

Premier’s charter was initially granted in 2013. In 2018, the district initiated non-renewal proceedings, but the district eventually reached an agreement with Premier to renew its charter with certain conditions. Most significantly, Premier would go from being a K-5th grade school to K-3rd grade.

“Honestly, this is extremely disappointing. I sat on this board when Premier first presented this charter,” said board member Danielle Robinson. “Now it’s the same thing, possibly even worse than it was in 2018.”

Premier could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to attorney Allison Petersen with Levin Legal Group, who helped conduct the review, the review process was delayed due to certain data that wasn’t available until the 2023-24 school year and because Premier was often delayed in sending the district information.

Data collected by the district showed that Premier students’ Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores decreased, as the percentage of proficient students in math dropped from 7.1% in the 2021-22 year to 0% in 2022-23, and proficiency in English language arts between the years dropped from 14.3% to 5.6%. Academic performance in several other areas also decreased or remained nearly the same over the years.

Officials also pointed out that average staff retention was only 53% and that there were multiple principals over the past five years, including one who was not properly certified. Premier has also increasingly been utilizing teachers who lack certification or experience, many teaching on emergency permits, Craig said.

Other issues included truancy, non-compliant food facility inspections, noncompliant programs for English language learners, under-enrollment and a lack of enough school board members.

As required by the Charter School Law, the district will begin a hearing process with Premier to support their evidence in support of a non-renewal. Premier will also have a chance to present evidence in its defense.

After the hearings, Suski will ultimately make the final decision regarding renewal.

Also on Tuesday, Suski approved the hiring of Dr. Frances Echevarria as the principal of Steele School, which is slated to open for the 2024-25 school year, with a salary of $111,352, plus an additional doctoral stipend of $3,000 per year.

Additionally, Dr. Scott Lindsey was hired as the principal of Ben Franklin Elementary with a salary of $109,686, plus an additional doctoral stipend of $3,000 per year. Lindsey replaces James Snyder, who resigned.

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Harrisburg School District employees fight in front of students, officials address incident

March 13, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg School District Superintendent Eric Turman during a press conference on Wednesday.

Shortly after the school day started on Wednesday morning, two Harrisburg School District employees were involved in a fight.

The district issued a statement today, confirming that a Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus teacher and a safety monitor got into a verbal and physical altercation during a class period early this morning.

“I want to make it clear that this incident is entirely unacceptable,” Superintendent Eric Turman said at a press conference. “This is highly unusual and is not at all representative of our faculty and staff who take responsibility as role models for our students very seriously.”

According to the district, the safety monitor entered the classroom and confronted the teacher about a personal issue before the brief fight took place. Other safety monitors, staff and one student attempted to break up the fight, Turman said.

No one was injured in the altercation.

A video of the incident was posted on social media.

The district escorted the staff members from the building and placed them on paid leave while they investigate the incident.

According to Turman, the teacher worked for the district for two years and the safety monitor was employed by the district for the past seven years. Neither had prior issues recorded in their personnel files, Turman said.

The high school principal spoke to students on Wednesday, and district social workers are on site to speak with students as well.

“This is not what is expected for teachers or staff members of the Harrisburg School District,” Turman said.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

March 1, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg and local officials announced the annual Ice & Fire Festival at a press conference this week.

Our March issue of the magazine is hot off the press, so make sure you grab a copy and read all of this month’s featured stories. This weekend is also exciting as the city will host its annual Ice & Fire Festival. Stop by our Midtown office to see our ice sculpture and grab the new issue! But first, all of this week’s news is linked below.

The Broad Street Market’s temporary tent for vendors displaced by the fire is closer to opening, our online story reported. The city shared that the tent will open in the spring, thanks in part to a donation of plumbing services by McClure Company.

Dauphin County announced that it would now accept glass for recycling at the Dauphin County Recycling Center, our online story reported. The new location adds to Harrisburg’s list of 10 drop-off containers.

The Harrisburg School District’s building configuration will change for the upcoming school year, our reporting found. Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved moving students out of schools like Scott Elementary and Rowland Middle School and into others like Camp Curtin Middle School and the Lincoln Administration Building.

Harrisburg University is accepting applications for its Financial Literacy Scholarship Competition, our online story reported. The school is giving high school students a chance to earn a little cash and a scholarship, while promoting responsible money management.

The Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board turned down a Midtown development project’s requested relief from parking requirements at a meeting on Monday, our online story reported. The board stated that they wanted the apartment project proposed for 320 Reily St. to provide the total amount of spots required by the zoning code.

Ice & Fire Festival is returning to Harrisburg on Saturday, our online story reported. The event will take place throughout the city and feature ice sculptures, food and live music.

March has lots of events taking place in and around Harrisburg. Find a list of all of them, here. For our specially featured activities happening this month, check out our Community Corner.

Open Stage’s “Sweeney Todd” is “peppered with darkly comedic spots, infused with intense suspense, and splashed with just a little taste of gristly gore,” says our theater reviewer. The show will run through March 16.

Our publisher shared in his column that he’s happy to see the community supporting the Broad Street Market and its vendors. Again, he implores people to continue shopping and dining at the market.

Sara Bozich has a list of events happening in the Harrisburg area this weekend. Find them all, here.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) objected to the sale of Governor’s Square, a bankrupt and blighted low-income housing development in Harrisburg, our reporting found. Additionally, the court hearing to determine a buyer for the property has been continued.

Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg announced that it is now on the National Register of Historic Places, our online story reported. The Shriners hope that the new designation will allow them to apply for additional grants and show the community that they are here to stay.

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Harrisburg School District to reconfigure several buildings, grades

February 28, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg School District’s Lincoln Administration Building (file photo)

The Harrisburg School District’s building configuration will look different in the coming year.

At a board meeting on Tuesday, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the opening of some school buildings, the closing of others and the moving of several grades to different buildings for the 2024-25 academic year.

At a meeting in November 2023, Superintendent Eric Turman presented several options for reconfiguration, which he said would help balance student populations at each building, create neighborhood schools on the elementary level, and allow the district to prioritize facility improvements at certain buildings.

In addition, the plan includes enrolling only 6^th through 8^th grade students at Marshall Math Science Academy, which currently includes 5^th grade. Cougar Academy, which is currently housed in the Lincoln building, will move to the Hamilton building on N. 6^th Street, replacing the Specialized Services Education, Inc. program, which will move to Scott temporarily.

At the meeting, several board members and a few community members raised concerns around the reconfiguration, specifically combining both middle schools in one building.

“The rationale is to move all the students from the two schools with the most behavioral issues into one school and then say that the teachers have told you they don’t have any concerns about it; that doesn’t make any sense to me,” said board member Danielle Robinson.

Several other board members made comments about the increased number of students, an estimated 900, who would be attending the school and about the lack of community feedback on the plan.

According to John Reedy, chief of operations for the district, Camp Curtin would not reach capacity, but would be at about 79% of building capacity.

Suski also stated that she believed that there was sufficient room for students in the building and that several other local middle schools have comparable numbers of students.

Turman also justified the decision by sharing that the district wants to move students out of Scott and Rowland, two schools that were originally designed as office buildings, not constructed to house students.

“We are going to work as hard as possible to make sure there are no issues at Camp Curtin,” Turman said. “It’s very important to all of us to make sure we make this work because we know at the end of the day is what’s best for the students of Harrisburg.”

According to Turman, the Harrisburg Education Association, the teachers’ union, expressed support for the plan.

The alternative to the middle school reconfiguration would be to renovate Rowland, district officials explained. However, Reedy said that it would likely cost over $15 million to renovate Rowland, according to a recent feasibility study by the district that outlined upgrades needed to buildings to keep them operational.

In the end, Suski approved the reconfiguration. Next, she said, the plan must be submitted to the state Department of Education for approval.

Also wrapped up in the reconfiguration is the re-opening of Steele Elementary School, a long-vacant building that the district has been renovating. Steele will contribute to creating more neighborhood-based schools on the elementary level, Turman explained.

Also on Tuesday, Suski approved the sale of 42 acres of the district’s land at 1901 Wayne Ave. in Susquehanna Township to the Susquehanna Township School District, which plans to construct a middle school on the property, according to district officials. The Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas ultimately will need to approve the sale.

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March News Digest

February 28, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Task Force Recommends Uses for William Penn

The William Penn building should be preserved and returned to educational use, says a task force formed to suggest a path forward for the blighted structure.

In late January, Harrisburg School District officials heard recommendations from the 25-member task force, the culmination of several months of meetings that included presentations from groups interested in redeveloping the property.

The task force of residents, local officials and community members was formed in September as a way for the district to gather input on the fate of William Penn. Several months earlier, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the demolition of the building, but halted that plan after public opposition.

After wrapping up its meetings, the task force made its final suggestions to Suski, advocating for retaining and strategically utilizing the property.

The task force’s top recommendation was to use William Penn to house a career and technical education program for district students, shared Sheila Dow-Ford, a facilitator for the task force.

“They want to see a skilled workforce,” Dow-Ford said. “Everyone wants viable employment for each and every student in Harrisburg as a goal. There must be career pathways.”

This could include training students for healthcare careers, as well as for first responder careers, as the group weighed a proposal from the Harrisburg Fire Bureau to create an emergency services and public education facility.

Additionally, the task force favored ideas like creating affordable housing for seniors and using outdoor space for sports fields for students.

The task force crafted its recommendations after hearing a handful of proposals from local businesses and organizations. The group ultimately did not recommend such suggestions as constructing a sports arena, an outpatient medical facility and market-rate housing.

In the end, Suski will need to make a decision on what to do with the building and how the district will financially support any construction project.

Bike Share Plans for New Season

Harrisburg’s bike share program is readying for a new riding season with upgrades and additional bike locations.

SusqueCycle, which stations rental bikes around the Harrisburg area, will return in April with bikes in Midtown, downtown, Allison Hill and City Island, according to Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, which administers the program.

“We want to thank all our participants and sponsors for the program’s success in 2023, and we eagerly look forward to the bikes returning in April,” said Steve Deck, TCRPC executive director.

In the coming months, SusqueCycle plans to add two bike stations in Harrisburg at the TransitPark lot at 10th and Market streets and at Commonwealth and North streets.

According to Deck, they will also make “sleeker, more modern” upgrades to bikes. TCRPC also plans to gather better location information to observe rider routes and plan for future expansions.

Additional improvements are dependent on ridership revenue and on the program obtaining more sponsorships, Deck said.

SusqueCycle, which is operated by Michigan-based Tandem Mobility, allows users to rent bikes by paying as they go or by purchasing an annual membership through the Movatic app.

In 2023, its second year, the program grew in popularity, as people took over 2,300 SusqueCycle rides, attracting everyone from commuters to tourists, Deck said.

Approvals for Apartment Projects

A proposal to construct a large apartment building in Midtown Harrisburg has taken a step forward again, over two years since it was first proposed.

At a meeting last month, the Harrisburg Planning Commission voted in favor of zoning variance and special exception relief for a proposed 144-unit building at 320 Reily St., moving the project forward for further approvals.

The proposal received variance and special exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board in October 2021, but the developer, Harrisburg-based GreenWorks Development, never subsequently filed a land development plan so the relief was revoked, according to Geoffrey Knight, the city’s planning director. Therefore, GreenWorks was required to start the approval process again.

The plan also has changed slightly, knocking the number of units down to 144 from 155 and reducing first-floor commercial space from 3,000 square feet to 2,590 square feet.

Additionally, GreenWorks originally proposed only 86 off-street parking spaces, but now plans to include 160, using space at 1511 N. 3rd St. and 1530 N. 4th St. The developer nonetheless is requesting parking relief, as city code requires 191 spaces for a project of this scale.

The proposed project site is currently a surface parking lot. The project will need eventual approval from Harrisburg City Council in order to start.

Additionally, last month, the planning board heard a proposal for a four-story, 36-unit senior apartment building on land bounded by N. 4th, Clinton, Logan and Harris streets.

The board voted in favor of the land development plan, the consolidation of 19 lots on the project site, and the vacation of several grocer’s alleys on the property.

The project, proposed by developer Midtown Redevelopment LLC, would also include two first-floor commercial units, 30 first-floor interior parking spaces and 12 outdoor, on-site parking spots.

Developers will need approval from city council, as well, before they can break ground.

Free Services for Broad Street Market

The Broad Street Market has some extra help managing day-to-day operations.

At a meeting last month, the nonprofit Broad Street Market Alliance board approved a contract with Midtown Property Management, which offered free services to the market.

The Harrisburg-based management company is providing its services to the market at no cost for an initial term of five years, as the market recovers from a devastating fire last July.

According to Justin Heinly, owner of Midtown Property Management, the group will help with rent collection, financial consulting, day-to-day operations and 10 free hours of maintenance work each month.

“I want to be part of the team,” Heinly shared. “We are here to support day-to-day operations from day one.”

Heinly shared that his company may be willing to assume more of the roles of the market’s executive director at any point, if the market’s board wanted that. However, that is not part of the current contract.

Wildflower Coffee Opens

Wildflower Coffee opened last month inside the McCormick Riverfront Library in Harrisburg.

Owner Lucila Khan and her husband Jalal opened the shop on the library’s second floor, in the space that briefly housed Good Brotha’s Book Café.

Khan, who previously worked at the library, said that she became interested in opening her own business when she saw that the library was looking for a new vendor to fill the café space.

“It’s a dream job, running a coffee shop at a library,” said Khan, an Argentina native who lives in Harrisburg.

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

Harrisburg-area home sales dipped but prices were higher in January, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county area, sales totaled 358 houses versus 389 in January 2023, as the median sales price rose to $258,000 from $245,000, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 187 homes sold, an increase of one, as the median sales price climbed to $229,900 compared to $204,000 in the year-ago period, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 146 home sales, down from 174, but the median sales price increased to $297,450 versus $290,000 the prior January, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, 24 homes sold, a decrease of three, as the median price rose to $263,450 compared to $191,000 in January 2023, GHAR said.

Houses sold a bit faster than last year, as the “average days on market” stood at 31 days in January versus 34 days in the year-ago period.

So Noted

Ami Zumkhawala has been named the new chief operating officer for Harrisburg-based Hamilton Health Center. Previously, Zumkhawala served as managing director at the Northridge Consulting Group, a national management consulting firm.

Brittany Boyd-Chisolm last month was named chief executive officer for the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, according to the Harrisburg-based disability and support services organization. Prior, she served several years as an administrator in the homecare field.

Harrisburg Area Food Pantry last month cut the ribbon on its new location at the Camp Curtin YMCA on N. 6th St. The pantry, formerly called the Ecumenical Food Pantry, relocated from Messiah Lutheran Church in Harrisburg.

Heyy Healthy, an alternative health provider, debuted last month at 3950 Tecport Dr. in Susquehanna Township. The company offers “advanced red light therapy” as a tool to help treat and prevent various health conditions, according to the company.

Kenny Young, a veteran Harrisburg police officer, has been sworn in as deputy chief of the Harrisburg Police Bureau, replacing Dennis Sorensen, who retired after 32 years with the department. In addition, longtime officer Tom McGarrity was promoted from lieutenant to captain.

Kyle Snyder was appointed last month as president of Penn State Health’s Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers. Snyder joined Penn State Health in 2020 and has served as interim president of the two medical centers since last July.

Nauman Smith law firm last month merged into Cohen Seglias, expanding that firm’s Harrisburg office. Five Nauman Smith attorneys and their administrative staff joined Cohen Seglias effective Feb. 1. In addition, senior partner Spencer G. Nauman, Jr. retired after more than 62 years with the firm. Founded 153 years ago, Nauman Smith was Harrisburg’s oldest law firm.

Tanis Monroy last month resigned his position as executive director of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. Monroy cited health reasons for his departure, and the market board stated it would begin a search for a new day-to-day administrator.

Tymia Q. Green last month was named the new executive director of Shalom House, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit that provides shelter and support services to women. In this role, she will provide strategic leadership, program development and collaborative partnerships, according to the organization.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2427: L. Shultz to K. Weldeghebrial, $106,000

Berryhill St., 2424: Pcons Investments to JR Phoenix Investing LLC, $110,000

Boas St., 1812: Cooperwink LLC to MAT Holdings LLC, $85,000

Chestnut St., 1961: D. Trustey to Normans Realty Service Inc., $80,000

Crescent St., 310: C. Patel to M. Olano, $55,000

Crescent St., 404: HE Pressley Properties LLC to KTG Holdings LLC, $102,000

Derry St., 1603½: M. & W. Gomez to N. & D. Williams, $200,000

Derry St., 1954: Malesic Group Inc. to E. & K. Burri, $110,000

Derry St., 2105: Evans Property Rentals LLC to Planet Properties & Investments LLC, $70,000

Derry St., 2107: Evans Property Rentals LLC to Planet Properties & Investments LLC, $70,000

Emerald St., 520: R. Feiler to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $71,000

Forster St., 1847: Tender Loving Care Healthcare Services to D. Henderson, $58,000

Fulton St., 1422: M. Evans to D. Zeigler, $170,000

Green St., 807: H. Wehry to V. & A. Jones, $274,500

Green St., 2432: Mr. Wright Properties LLC to Stoute Housing LLC, $80,000

Hamilton St., 422: SRM Rentals LLC to T. Brandon, $105,000

Herr St., 1334, 1340: Sangrey Properties LLC to Kawity Capital LLC, $350,000

Herr St., 1406: Cooperwink LLC to Savvy Beyond Enterprise LLC, $65,000

Herr St., 1500: Herr Street Trust to M. Lewis, $225,000

Holly St., 1826: D. & W. Bruner to D. Warren, $120,000

Jefferson St., 2242: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $65,000

Jefferson St., 2244: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Jefferson St., 2246: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Jefferson St., 2514: N. & J. Hoover to Homewise LLC, $64,000

Kensington St., 2123: Cooperwink LLC to 248 S Quince St LLC, $90,000

Kensington St., 2230: Murphy Rentals Incorporated to TM Murphy Properties LLC, $70,000

Kensington St., 2254: Equity Trust Co. Custodian Ray Dunkle IRA to Harrisburg Rentals LLC, $80,000

Kensington St., 2256: M. Mardula to IUGNAP Investments LLC, $70,000

Kensington St., 2360: L. Dyson to G&W Rentals LLC, $91,200

Kensington St., 2435: A. & M. Padua to G. Chambers & R. Ervin, $79,000

Lenox St., 1912: C. Saterstad to A. Rosario & S. Castillo, $70,000

Maclay St., 335: Bill Culwell Enterprises Inc. to E. & D. Tomlinson, $121,000

Maclay St., 1037: P2N2 LLC to Eastern First LLC, $194,000

Manada St., 1913: M. Rodriguez to M. Woolfork & S. Beatty, $177,000

Market St., 1228: Upscale Properties LLC to J. Bonilla & L. Velasco, $235,000

Market St., 1738: G. Ajakaye to JACB LLC, $195,000

Muench St., 404: G. & L. Neff to 248 S. Quince St LLC, $75,000

Muench St., 411: P. & R. Dixon to Figueroa Enterprises LLC, $70,000

Naudain St., 1428: R. Rammouni to Steve Etienne Service LLC, $71,500

Naudain St., 1638: A&K Investments Partnership LLC to Y. Alrosan & A. Hariri, $135,000

North St., 215: C. & M. Schenck to J Beck Properties LLC, $50,000

North St., 1851: Tester Ridge PA LLC to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $149,000

N. 2nd St., 2023: WCI Partners LP to MBS Solutions Real Estate LLC, $575,000

N. 2nd St., 3021: C. & T. Hines to D. Doziar, $200,000

N. 3rd St., 1116: Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $450,000

N. 3rd St., 1600: Fratelli Property Investments LLC to M. Hunsberger & J. Hartman, $270,500

N. 3rd St., 2304: FD Harrisburg Holdings LLC to Almonte Harrisburg LLC, $2,400,000

N. 3rd St., 3100: M. Clark to R. Kilby, $196,000

N. 3rd St., 3317: C. Moore to F. & C. Burton, $290,000

N. 4th St., 2647: SPG Capital LLC to J. Alfaro, $157,000

N. 4th St., 3115: E. & K. Kauffman to C. Hocker, $80,000

N. 5th St., 2211: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to D. Broncano, $50,000

N. 12th St., 29: ILL Holdings LLC to Ali Al LLC, $75,000

N. 16th St., 918: R. Martin to Upscale Properties LLC, $50,000

N. 18th St., 34: D. Boyle to M. Perez & M. Lauriano, $62,500

N. Cameron St., 1603: 1603 Cameron Associates LP to Tunis Express LLC, $1,600,000

N. Front St., 2705: MBS Solutions Real Estate LLC to EI 2709 North Front Street LLC & G. Cipriano

Park St., 1847: LMG Enterprises LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investments LLC, $55,000

Paxton St., 140 & 406 River St.: Above Da Rim LLC to 140 Paxton LLC, $240,000

Penn St., 2349: Best By LLC to Vernon St Apartments LLC, $225,000

Pennwood Rd., 3120: C. Brubaker to J. Hill, $173,000

Pennwood Rd., 3160: T. Wylie to J. Stroup, $230,555

Radnor St., 514: Link Investment Properties LLC to A. Hariri & Y. Alrosan, $85,000

Reily St., 208: R. Bulgarelli to Millie 208 LLC, $285,000

S. 13th St., 1440: SPG Capital LLC to K. Kute, $124,900

S. 16th St., 520: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to B. Pasco, $115,000

S. 18th St., 23: Gilligan Realty LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $57,000

S. 19th St., 533 & 535: Best By LLC to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $200,000

S. Front St., 713: E. Kitzman to C. Rue, $230,000

State St., 1828: W. & D. Griffin to Visionary Investments RE LLC, $105,000

Susquehanna St., 1835: C. Blanco to K. Lourde, $137,000

Sycamore St., 1807: Z. Hailu to S. Redding, $122,500

Vernon St., 1315: M. Nichols to E. Marmolejo, $70,000

Walnut St., 1205: L. Palmer to F. & T. Heras, $134,000

Wiconisco St., 409: A. Kreider to Central PA Buyers LLC, $85,000

Zarker St., 1407: A. Reyes & R. Cruz to Zarker AW LLC, $95,000

Harrisburg property sales, January 2024, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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Harrisburg issues order to demolish portion of William Penn building damaged by fire

December 13, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

The front of William Penn school (file photo)

A fire-damaged portion of the long vacant and blighted William Penn school building is set to be demolished.

According to the Harrisburg School District, the city issued an emergency declaration on Wednesday to raze a portion of the building, which was heavily damaged by fire on Monday morning.

The Harrisburg Police Bureau has confirmed that the fire was arson, district officials said.

Demolition will focus on the portion of the building that formerly housed the automotive and welding instructional programs when the school was open. The state Department of Environment Protection (DEP) is involved in monitoring and regulating the demolition process.

In addition, the district will immediately move forward with cleaning out the entire school, including asbestos and lead abatement, and removing environmentally hazardous materials. According to fire Chief Brian Enterline, the sprawling building contains “thousands of tons” of debris, even though the school has not been in use for a dozen years.

For weeks, the William Penn task force has been meeting to help determine the future of the building. District Receiver Dr. Lori Suski originally approved the demolition of the building in June, but halted it soon after, stating that she wanted to give the community a chance to weigh in on the decision.

The task force was appointed in September and is slated to make a formal recommendation for the future use of the property to Suski on Jan. 18. At a Dec. 7, meeting, the group recommended against demolishing the entire structure and is examining ways to renovate and repurpose the building.

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William Penn building heavily damaged by arson fire; school district vows to continue work of task force

December 11, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline and school district Superintendent Eric Turman spoke to the press on Monday at city hall.

A serious early-morning arson fire at the former William Penn High School has not lessened the school district’s hope of formulating a long-term plan for the future of the building.

On Monday morning, district Superintendent Eric Turman said that the William Penn task force will continue to meet as scheduled, with the expectation that it will release a report next year on future plans for the long-shuttered building.

“We have another task force meeting in January,” he said. “During that time, the administration and the task force will come up with a possible way to move forward.”

The 26-member task force began meeting in October. District Receiver Dr. Lori Suski appointed the temporary body following community uproar to a previous plan to raze the 98-year-old building.

At about 6:15 a.m. on Monday, the Harrisburg Fire Bureau responded to a call of a fire on the north side of the sprawling building, near the former football field. According to Fire Chief Brian Enterline, the fire was purposely set. It took the bureau about 2½ hours to bring the blaze under control, and firefighters still were extinguishing hot spots throughout the day.

In addition, the district cancelled classes at the nearby Camp Curtin campus due to heavy smoke from the fire, which infiltrated those school buildings. Turman said that he hoped classes there would resume tomorrow.

The fire broke out in the former auto mechanics repair shop portion of William Penn. The school, originally built as a high school, was used a vocational school for years before its permanent closure in 2011.

Since then, the school has been the site of many break-ins, acts of vandalism and arson fires. Most of the fires have been minor, but Enterline said that this fire was serious due to all the debris that had never been removed from the building after it closed.

He said that he was considering issuing an emergency decree to have the building cleaned out. He added that, seven or eight years ago, he asked the district to remove everything from the building, but that was never done.

“There are literally tons, thousands of tons, of debris inside that building that need to be taken out,” he said. “If we get that done through an emergency order, we eliminate the potential for any death or injury from a fire at the William Penn campus.”

Enterline said that the district had taken measures to seal up the building, but that there are limitations to how effective any barriers could be.

“The school district has done everything that they can to keep people out,” he said. “The problem is that nefarious residents want to keep going into this building and wreaking havoc on the fire department and the neighbors.”

Enterline implored residents to contact the city police if they know who was responsible for the fire.

“If you know these kids who are going in there, please call down to the Harrisburg police department, so we can bring them in and talk to them,” he said. “We don’t want anyone to be killed. I don’t want to pull anybody out of that building in a body bag.”

Turman said that the fire did not dent his optimism that the administration and the task force can agree on a plan to bring William Penn back as a usable facility.

“We all really want to see something at William Penn, which will have a great impact on the students,” he said.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

November 17, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Little Amps Coffee Roasters and Elementary Coffee Co. this week released their “Phoenix” coffee blend, a collaboration to benefit the Broad Street Market.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and we’d like to say a big thanks to all of our readers and supporters. We are grateful for you! We hope you enjoy this week’s news and feature stories from the Harrisburg area, all linked below.

Bob’s Art Blog discusses the latest “lowbrow” exhibit at the Art Association of Harrisburg and introduces York-based artist Steph Holmes. Click here to read more.

Dauphin County, for the first time in a century, will have a Democratic-controlled board of commissioners next year, our reporting found. Voting totals released by the county Bureau of Elections affirmed a narrow victory for Justin Douglas, who will unseat Republican Chad Saylor.

The Delaware Water Gap is the perfect place to visit in the fall, with everything from dining to entertainment to shopping and beautiful scenery. Read our magazine story for recommendations on what to see and do.

Diverse businesses are setting up shop in downtown Harrisburg, bringing new restaurants, boutiques and spas to the city. In our magazine story, read about the growing trend and hear from some of the business owners.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore” is opening at Gamut Theatre this weekend. Find out about the show and what it takes to pull off a musical at Gamut, here.

Harrisburg-based roasters Little Amps Coffee Roasters and Elementary Coffee Co. are participating in a coffee collab with the goal of uniting to help the Broad Street Market, our online story reported. They just released their “Phoenix” coffee blend, which is available in their retail locations.

The Harrisburg School District is weighing several options for reconfiguring its building and grade-level structures, our online story reported. The district has proposed closing several schools and moving students to others.

Home sales in the Harrisburg area slipped in October, but prices increased, our online story reported. In the three-county region, 514 homes sold, a decrease from 589 in October 2022, as the median sales price increased to $267,000 from $245,000.

Lemoyne council member Jesse Monoski announced that he plans to run in next year’s Democratic primary for the 103^rd legislative district, our online story reported. Monoski has served on the council since 2020 and works in the state Capitol as an executive director for the Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Caucus.

Sara Bozich has some great holiday-themed events lined up for your weekend. Find out what is happening in the Harrisburg area, here.

Sprocket Mural Works and arts advocate Carole DeSoto will receive awards for Distinguished Service to the Arts in the Capital Region, our online story reported. The Arts Awards are presented annually by Theatre Harrisburg.

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Harrisburg School District weighs closing, reopening school buildings as part of reconfiguration

November 16, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Steele Elementary School is currently under renovation and is slated to open for the 2024-25 school year.

Which schools Harrisburg students attend next year may be changing.

The Harrisburg School District on Tuesday discussed several options to reconfigure its grade level and building structures, including closing schools and moving students to new buildings.

At a board meeting, Superintendent Eric Turman presented three options that the district is currently weighing, which could include closing schools, renovating buildings and moving students around.

The most significant of the three options would take students out of Scott Elementary School on Derry Street and begin to use the district’s Lincoln Administration Building, on State Street, as an elementary school. The proposal also includes phasing out Rowland Intermediate School over three years and moving those students to Camp Curtin Middle School.

Additionally, in this scenario, Marshall Math Science Academy would move from enrolling 5^th through 8^th grade to only 6^th through 8^th grade students. Cougar Academy, which is currently housed in the Lincoln building, would move to the Hamilton building on N. 6^th Street, replacing the Specialized Services Education, Inc. program, which would move to Scott temporarily.

According to Turman, this new configuration would help balance student body sizes at each building, create neighborhood schools on the elementary level, and allow the district to prioritize facility improvements at certain buildings.

“If there’s one thing I’ve heard from the community is how they loved and enjoyed neighborhood schools,” Turman said.

This proposal would, however, cause about half of elementary students to change schools.

Notably, the district is already implementing a significant change.

In May, the district broke ground on its project to renovate and re-open Steele Elementary School on the 2500 block of N. 5^th St., which closed in 2011. Work on that building, which will house K to 5^th grade students, is slated to be completed by August 2024.

Overall, Turman believes a bigger change is needed to create more “effective and efficient schools” and to take students out of Scott and Rowland, two schools that were previously office buildings.

“We had an option,” he said. “We could just say we are going to leave it at Steele and we are going to move forward, or are we going to swing for the fences?”

The district also has identified over $100 million worth of repairs, renovations and maintenance needed at its buildings in the coming years, which could include $23 million for renovations of Scott and Rowland, Turman said.

According to Turman, the district is also beginning to recover from enrollment loss due to COVID, which makes weighing reconfiguration important.

The two other options on the table are scaled-back versions of the most far-reaching plan. Option one would simply open Steele and eliminate 5^th grade from Marshall Math Science Academy, and option two would include everything besides closing Rowland.

No matter which option is chosen, student redistricting would then need to take place, as Steele is slated to open for the coming school year.

In the coming weeks, the district will seek community input on the proposals before likely bringing forth a final proposal to Receiver Dr. Lori Suski in February.

“I want to make sure that when we pull this all together we know that this is exactly the direction we need to go,” Turman said.

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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