Councilman Baltimore Resigns
Harrisburg City Councilman Jeffrey Baltimore resigned last month from Harrisburg’s seven-member City Council.
In his resignation letter, Baltimore said he made a “difficult” decision after “person reflection” and “deliberation with his family,” according to Joyce Davis, the city’s communications director. He further said that he was “proud” to have served with “a creative, talented, caring and enthusiastic team” on council, Davis stated.
Baltimore was appointed to his council seat in 2014 following the death of Councilwoman Eugenia Smith. The next year, he was elected to a four-year term.
Baltimore has chaired both the Public Safety Committee and the Community & Economic Development Committee.
“Councilman Baltimore was a great asset to Harrisburg City Council,” said Council President Wanda Williams. “He is very passionate about public service, community development and an outstanding role model to the youth of our city. On behalf of City Council, we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Council now must pick a replacement for Baltimore. Council members have begun accepting applications to fill the vacant seat. The person selected will serve until January, and an election for a two-year council term will take place in November.
Security Camera for Midtown
A wireless security camera will be coming soon to Harrisburg’s Midtown neighborhood, as a community group last month received a grant to extend the city’s video surveillance system.
Midtown Action Council (MAC) announced it received a $15,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help fund the extension of Harrisburg’s wireless security infrastructure to N. 2nd and Forster streets. Currently, the system’s downtown component ends at 2nd and Pine streets.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority as a community group, and it’s on the mind of every resident in Harrisburg,” said MAC President Jonathan Hendrickson. “This grant will help us access the infrastructure we need to eventually place wireless security cameras in the neighborhood.”
Before the system can be installed, MAC must raise $4,120 in matching funds. However, the organization is confident it can secure the funding for deployment this fall, said Dan Fulton, MAC’s secretary/treasurer.
In 2013, Harrisburg began deployment of a wireless security infrastructure, including 10 cameras downtown, Uptown and on Allison Hill, which allow city police and Dauphin County to conduct real-time surveillance. The $425,000 system was funded by Dauphin County’s Crime Task Force.
In Midtown, the first wireless camera will be installed facing north on 2nd Street, from the intersection with Forster Street.
Fulton said this project “sets the stage” for future wireless cameras to be installed strategically through Midtown.
“This is just a first step, but it’s arguably the most important step because it gives us a foundation to build on,” Fulton said.
Airbnb Confab
Proponents and opponents gathered last month in Harrisburg’s Government Center at a city-sponsored meeting on all things Airbnb.
Harrisburg officials hosted the gathering to hear from a select group of business owners, as to how—or if—the city should regulate the run-your-own hospitality service.
“We’re here tonight to take information from you, the current operators,” said Michael Hughes, Harrisburg’s tax and enforcement administrator.
Over 90 minutes, Hughes and other officials, including Fire Chief Brian Enterline, Planner Geoffrey Knight and Solicitor Neil Grover, heard arguments for and against so-called short-term rentals, which include Airbnb and other Internet-based room reservation services. The wide-ranging discussion included such issues as zoning, taxation and safety.
Dee Fegan, chair of the board of the PA Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns, was the first to speak up, objecting that Airbnb hosts do not currently pay the Dauphin County hotel tax or, in many cases, other taxes, such as sales and mercantile taxes, which apply to traditional B&Bs.
“I just want to point out that rules are already in place,” she said. “It’s just up to people to follow them.”
Ted Hanson, who owns a short-term rental on Boas Street, said that he long has leased out his two-bedroom Airbnb house, which is next door to his own home, on an annual basis, but now is just renting it in a different way. Besides, he said, he’s helping to stimulate the local economy.
“I feel like I’m doing a service for the city,” he said. “I send people to businesses all over Midtown.”
Following the meeting, Hughes said the city now needs to ponder what changes, if any, to make to laws and regulations to accommodate short-term rentals. He’d like any changes to take effect on Jan. 1.
“Airbnbs were never contemplated when the rules were passed,” Grover said. “Now, we have to answer the question—do those rules apply or not?”
Home Sales Flat
The region’s hot real estate market took a breather in July, with sales nearly flat compared to last year.
Residential sales totaled 936 units, two fewer than in July 2016, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors. The median price rose to $180,000 from $175,500, GHAR said.
In Dauphin County, sales actually increased to 317 units in July versus 308 the year earlier, with the median price jumping to $164,900 compared to $155,900 in July 2016. Notably, average days on the market fell markedly to 44 days from 72.
Cumberland County sales decreased to 323 units versus 374, though the median price rose to $199,900 compared to $190,000 in the year-ago period. In Perry County, sales totaled 52 units, a rise from 34 units, with the median price falling to $164,000 versus $187,400 in July 2016.
GHAR covers all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.
So Noted
BI Solutions has received the 2016 Admiral Stanley R. Arthur Award for Logistics Excellence for its work on behalf of the U.S. Navy. The Harrisburg-based company is the prime contractor of the LOGCELL project, which supports the P08A Poseidon, the Navy’s maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
Harrisburg International Airport announced last month that it will receive a $10.9 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. HIA said it will use the funds to rehabilitate the airport’s primary runway, prolonging the life of the pavement, replacing centerline lights, upgrading lead-on lights, reconfiguring the Surface Movement Guidance and Control System and upgrading runway surface monitoring equipment.
Mecum Auctions reported $20 million in sales last month from its fourth trip to the PA Farm Show Complex. The company said the highest bid came in at $415,000 for a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird. More than 20,000 people, including spectators, bidders and consignors, attended the show.
Penwell Bowman + Curran LLC, a newly formed law firm, opened last month at 215 Pine St. in Harrisburg. Scott Penwell, Brandt Bowman and Matthew Curran are the founding partners of the firm, which specializes in business law.
PinnacleHealth plans to open a primary care doctor’s office inside Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg, according to the company. The 3,000-square-foot office, located next to Rite Aid, will have six exam rooms, a community/conference room, a patient check-in and waiting area, a laboratory area and several offices. It is expected to open in mid-November.
S&T Bancorp this month will complete the final stage of its acquisition of Integrity Bank. As of Sept. 5, all Integrity Bank branches will make the name change to S&T Bank.
Sara K. Weiser, PSECU financial education manager, was recently honored by Junior Achievement USA with a 2016-17 Bronze Leadership Award. This award recognizes people in the community who have demonstrated a sincere commitment to JA’s mission of inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy.
Visit Hershey & Harrisburg is the new name of the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitor’s Bureau. The organization changed its name to offer better and more consistent brand identity, said President Mary Smith.
Wildwood Park is seeking applications for its 2018 “Art In The Wild” environmental art exhibit, with the theme of “Natural Abstraction.” Most of the materials used for the installation should be natural. Exhibit applications and information can be found at wildwoodlake.org.
Changing Hands
Barkley Lane, 2505: E. & I. Gonzales to Y. White, $71,000
Berryhill St., 1944: G. Domon to E. Cruz, $72,900
Berryhill St., 2334: S. Kemble to W., J. & J. Morrow, $35,000
Caledonia St., 1921: M. Schreck to Cardinal Investments LLC, $32,000
Conoy St., 108: P. Marks to D. Noll, $114,000
Cumberland St., 272: M. Walsh to B. Hall & K. Humen, $128,000
Derry St., 2426: S. Rimal to P. & C. Ambrose, $38,000
Edgewood Rd., 2301: D. Butler to New Holland Enterprise Management LP, $144,000
Ellersie St., 2350: B. Fuhrman to PA Double Deals LLC, $44,000
Elm St., 1707, 1709 & 1711; and 1706 & 1708 Walnut St.: I. Cox to Q. Webster & N. Brunner, $45,000
Emerald St., 248: M. Chapman to C., A. K. & K. Thompson, $80,000
Forster St., 216: Thomas Mark Mustio Trust to F. Farry & K. Erway, $115,900
Green St., 1730: A.J. Fedore and Co. Inc. to T. Zingman, $199,000
Green St., 1816: G. Brown to D. Leaman, $92,500
Green St., 1938 & 1940: I. Brea & O. Sanchez to D. & C. Varno, $212,000
Green St., 2011: M. & E. Hunter to E. & S. Orndorff, $225,000
Green St., 2022: Cartus Financial Corp. to M. Crider, $224,000
Green St., 2152: Kusic Financial Services LLC to J. Barker, $54,308
Green St., 2438: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to R. Diggs Jr., $60,500
Harris St., 240 & 242: David Kaminski IRA to Heinly Homes LLC, $215,000
James St., 1315: W. Cropper to J. Brinks & C. Wise, $40,000
Kelker St., 425: Wells Fargo Bank NA to D. & K. Steiner, $95,000
Maclay St., 330: A. Clay to Keystone Properties Group LLC, $35,000
Mercer St., 2430: M. Janos to PA Deals LLC, $40,000
Midland Rd., 2316: J. & S. Kalnasy to S. Agyeman, $280,000
Muench St., 276: K. Lannon to S. Garraty, $122,000
N. 2nd St., 607: Bricker Boys Partnership to DelPenn Partners LLC, $335,000
N. 2nd St., 2241: D. Kray to K. Shubert & L. Christopher, $165,000
N. 2nd St., 2345: L. Whitcomb & M. Quinn to L. Vaughan & M. Henry, $193,000
N. 2nd St., 2410: C. Bennet to M. Sheaffer, $167,000
N. 2nd St., 2534: J. Erb to M. Tuck, $149,900
N. 3rd St., 1308 & 1310; 1313 & 1315 Green St.; and 1318 Susquehanna St.: P. & M. Navarro to James Family Holdings, $415,000
N. 3rd St., 1615: Joshua Group to Heinly Homes LLC, $75,000
N. 3rd St., 1623½: G. Neff & J. Shopf to Heinly Homes LLC, $75,000
N. 3rd St., 1625: Gary Neff Inc. to Heinly Homes LLC, $75,000
N. 3rd St., 2116: Katamin Properties LP to N&R Group LLC, $47,500
N. 4th St., 1644: 1515 Associates to Z. & L. Engle, $57,500
N. 4th St., 2452: V. Burkholtz & D. Cooper to Lifeline 1 LLC, $47,000
N. 5th St., 1702A: V. Dincher to S. Kent, $82,000
N. 6th St., 3001: R. Vogel to B. Yanez, $75,000
N. 7th St., 2632: P. Chacon to T. Krone, $62,000
N. 18th St., 714: C. Frey to E. Sanchez & R. Hidalgo, $36,900
N. Cameron St., 1914: J. Pagliaro to E. Maher, $98,500
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 212: T. Grumbine to D. Taylor, $142,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 213: L. Mundy to B. Esworthy, $85,000
Penn St., 1928: LSF9 Master Participation Trust to S. Burgin, $125,000
Race St., 554: N. Batholomaei to T. Corl, $125,000
Reily St., 210: P. & H. Jackson to J. Manzella, $103,000
Rudy Rd., 2017: A. Meppurathu to A. Saldana, $177,900
Rudy Rd., 2307: C. & E. Kerns to J. & K. Klein, $162,000
South St., 110: E. Comp to M. O’Neill, $110,000
S. 13th St., 445: RWM Properties LLC to H. Yap, $59,900
S. 13th St., 30; and 401 & 403 S. 14th St.: San Pef Inc. to Round Rock Investments LLC, $226,000
S. 18th St., 1304: S. Lee to H. Noh, $120,000
S. 19th St., 1215: F. & B. Matjasic to C. Turner, $102,300
S. Front St., 573: T. & C. Hinkson to B. & K. Crews, $144,900
S. Front St., 577: E. Taylor to M. Kuhns, $139,900
S. Front St., 633: T. Imswiler & H. Jones to S. & P. Benjestorf, $90,000
S. Front St., 635: T. Imswiler & H. Jones to S. & P. Benjestorf, $90,000
S. Front St., 705½: J. Foreman to J. & A. Juratovic, $125,000
Susquehanna St., 1610: S. Uhrinek to D. Lawyer & S. Flagle, $156,000
Susquehanna St., 1839: J. Cremo to S. Conover, $104,000
Tuscarora St., 104: J. Jones to S. Muniz, $189,900
Author: Lawrance Binda
