HARRISBURG-LANCASTER-LEBANON-YORK | South Central, PA | Regional Development Thread

[EastSideHBG]

Crossgates withdraws Farm Show hotel plans

Thursday, August 04, 2005
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News

A development company has dropped plans to build a suites-style hotel and conference center on the grounds of the state Farm Show Complex.

The move by Crossgates Inc. comes after the state Senate last month postponed a vote on legislation that would have approved a land deal for the hotel.

Under the legislation, the state would have sold a 5-acre plot at the northeast end of the Farm Show Complex to Crossgates Inc. of Harrisburg for $550,000.

But state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin County, persuaded the State Government Committee to postpone the vote, citing concerns about the loss of parking spaces and other issues.

Gregg Schwotzer, president of Crossgates, said postponing the vote meant that the company could not secure the land until sometime this fall or early next year.

Schwotzer said that was too long of a delay to hold Crossgates' deal with the hotel franchise, Staybridge Suites.

"[The firm] had pulled the franchise," Schwotzer said. "It became time to move on."

Staybridge is a national chain with about 100 locations that bills itself as the "upscale suites hotel," with every room featuring a full kitchen.

The planned hotel would have featured a conference area, including meeting and banquet space, a restaurant and an indoor swimming pool.

Meanwhile, Insite Development of Harrisburg has received all its approvals from the city to begin construction of a 92-room Comfort Inn Suites Hotel at 1017-1033 Maclay St.

City spokesman Randy King said the company hopes to close on the property this month and begin demolition and site preparation work in September.

An office building housing Barbizon Modeling School on the site would be razed. The location is across from the southern end of the Farm Show grounds.

A third hotel has been proposed about a mile away, in Susquehanna Twp.

Mayor Stephen R. Reed said while he's disappointed to lose Crossgates, he expressed confidence that another development company will want to build a hotel on the Farm Show grounds.

"The market is extremely strong," Reed said. "We have had conversations with at least two or three additional development teams that have all said they are prepared to propose a project there."

But to build on the Farm Show grounds, a company would have to negotiate a land deal with the state Department of General Services to secure the site.

The Legislature must then pass a law approving the sale, a process that could take months.

Interest in the Farm Show site by hotel companies seems to have been spurred by a $86 million expansion that was completed in 2003.

That increased the size of the complex from 16 acres to 24 acres, making it one of the largest convention and exhibition facilities in the country.

Since expanding, the complex has been holding more than 125 events during 280 days each year, attracting more than 1 million visitors.

[wrightchr]

this basically sums up the development occuring in Silver Spring Twp. Silver Spring will eventually become like Hampden and Lower Allen within the next 10 years, with township population projections rising well over 20,000.

Bridge fee to increase new-house cost
Thursday, August 04, 2005
BY CHRIS A. COUROGEN
Of The Patriot-News

Prospective homeowners can expect to pay more for homes along Sample Bridge Road in Silver Spring Twp.

Supervisors are requesting that builders pay the township $1,000 per home to help pay for construction of a bridge across Conodoguinet Creek.

The township would use the fee to amass a local matching fund, which is needed to get state aid for the $4.8 million project. The local match is typically 10 percent. That equates to $500,000 -- or 500 new housing units.

Chris Hoover, engineer for Milfording Highlands, one of the developments scheduled for construction, said builders would factor the fee into the price of their homes.

"It's not going to come out of the developer's profit," he said.

Plans on the development, which calls for 122 units on the south side of the stream, have been delayed to allow the builder to sign off on the fee. Hoover said the builder will likely agree to it.

The builders for Country Club Estates, slated for construction near the Pennsylvania American Water plant on the north side of the creek, have agreed to pay the fee. Country Club received conditional zoning use approval last week for 100 units.

Supervisor Jan LaBlanc said the township expects to receive other proposals.

"If the rumor mill is correct, we will be looking at five developments in that corridor," he said.

The one-lane bridge, a county-owned structure built in 1957, is "functionally obsolete," according to a report by township engineers. The county installed a guardrail and improved the deck last year. More guardrail improvements are scheduled for 2007.

The bridge, which is one of 23 owned by the county, is not on a replacement schedule.

"The bridge is sufficient for the load it carries now. It won't be sufficient, though, at some point in the future. It will have to be replaced," said Chris Latta, a township supervisor. "You don't want to get to when it has to be replaced and then be scrambling for the money to do it."

CHRIS A. COUROGEN: 975-9784 or ccourogen@patriot-news.com

[wrightchr]

according to CB Richard Ellis, the Harrisburg area maintains over 180 million sq. ft of industrial/warehouse space...an incredible number for a region this size. and more to come!

Board delays action on freight station
Friday, August 05, 2005
BY DAN MILLER
Of Our Carlisle Bureau

CARLISLE - North Middleton Twp. supervisors last night delayed until Aug. 18 acting on a proposed railroad freight transfer station south of Newville Road.

Supervisors, after hearing concerns from nearby residents about traffic, noise and other impacts, want to visit the site before deciding.

The Railroad Associates Corporation, or TRAC, of Derry Twp. wants to extend a single-track siding from the Norfolk Southern line. A Millersburg-based company would use the track to transfer plastic material from rail cars to tractor-trailers. The material would be used to make vinyl windows and doors.

The station would be restricted to five tractor-trailers per day and could only use the facility during daylight, TRAC President Michael Kennedy said.

Some residents and supervisors have expressed concern over TRAC plans to expand the station beyond the first phase. Kennedy said the company eventually wants to add up to six more track extensions. This could mean 30 to 50 tractor-trailers using the station each day.

Traffic is another concern for some.

Trucks would enter from the west and would be required to exit by turning left toward Allen Road, leading to Interstate 81, but some residents said allowing tractor-trailers to turn left across busy Newville Road would be unsafe unless a traffic light is installed.

"If you want to kill people, that's a good way to do it," said Rick Hoover, of the 1100 block of Newville Road.

The TRAC proposal is supported by DP Partners, developers of the nearby LogistiCenter warehouse complex.

The transfer station, by providing rail access, would "broaden the appeal" of LogistiCenter and "help accelerate the construction of future buildings" within the complex, to ultimately total four million square feet of warehouse space, DP Partners' Stephen Bailey wrote in a letter to township officials.

TRAC first requested approval for its entire plan but, after hearing opposition from residents, restricted its request to phase one. Kennedy said TRAC would seek approval of the expanded station after meeting with residents.

DAN MILLER: 249-2006 or danmiller@patriot-news.com

[EastSideHBG]

Can somebody please tell me what the f*ck is going on around here?!? Hopefully the retailers don't commit to this. Why do we need so much of the same shit so close to each other?!? There are now two Ruby Tuesdays within spitting distance for example. How about somebody open up something we don't already have around here!!! If you are going to open another Target, it should be where they don't have one already and where there is a high pop.: on the West Shore in the Camp Hill/Hampden Twp. area. Not one like this, a block from one that is already there...


2 retailers named for proposed shopping center

Saturday, August 06, 2005
BY TOM DOCHAT
Of The Patriot-News

Target and J.C. Penney have been named as tenants for the proposed High Pointe Commons shopping center to be constructed in Swatara Twp.

The two retailers would be the main anchors for the 300,000-square-foot shopping center off Lindle Road, just east of Route 283 and near the Wyndham Harrisburg-Hershey hotel.

CBL & Associates Properties Inc., a partner in the project, lists the two stores on its Web site in discussing features of High Point Commons.

Neither retailer would confirm yesterday that it is committed to the shopping center.

"We're interested in the Harrisburg area, but it is premature to discuss any potential sites," Target spokeswoman Aimee Sands said.

At J.C. Penney, spokesman Tim Lyons said, "We haven't announced anything for that location at this point."

A CBL spokeswoman said the company is "actively marketing" the property.

The company's Web site said the center will feature a 124,000-square-foot Target store and a nearly 100,000-square-foot Penney store. It also will have 65,000 square feet of space for smaller retailers.

High Real Estate Group of Lancaster is the other partner in the project. H. Stephen Evans, retail division managing director for High, said Swatara Twp. commissioners have approved development plans for the shopping center with some conditions.

"We anticipate starting construction within a very short period of time," Evans said.

CBL, a real estate investment trust based in Chattanooga, Tenn., hopes to open the shopping center by October 2006.

Penney had closed its 153,000-square-foot store at nearby Harrisburg Mall in April 2001, but still has a store at Capital City Mall.

Target has a store at Paxton Towne Centre along Route 22 in Lower Paxton Twp. A Target store is scheduled to open in March at the Carlisle Crossings shopping center in South Middleton Twp.

[wrightchr]

I'm surprised JC Penney is considering a stand alone store...not attatched to a mall. They have a store on the West Shore at the Capital City Mall, I'm not sure about anywhere else in the metro. Maybe they are just trying to buy into the East Shore market.

As for Target, I used to work for this company, so I know their tactics. They are trying to compete directly with Walmart, by far their biggest competitor. Soon enough there will be 2 Wally world's on the East Shore, so maybe they believe they can get a jump on them if they build first. As for the West Shore store, the company has long sought a prime spot in the Camp Hill/Carlisle Pike area. It's only a matter of time.

With sizeable populations on both shores, I think we'll start seeing at least TWO of everything...when it comes to retail/big box stores.

[EastSideHBG]

/\
I agree, Chris, considering the one at the Harrisburg Mall tanked a few years ago and now Boscovs takes up their old spot.


HARRISBURG

Project to improve access to City Island gets under way

Tuesday, August 09, 2005
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News

It will be easier to get on and off of City Island thanks to a $3.6 million improvement project under way.

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed said the project will involve the replacement and widening of the outdated, 70-year-old Market Street Bridge underpass on City Island.

In addition, the north and south ramps connecting the bridge and the island will be widened and upgraded. The bridge's roadway across City Island also will be resurfaced and new pedestrian access areas created.

The result will be a transformation of the island's entrance ways that should ease traffic congestion, improve safety and convenience to pedestrians and motorists, and be more appealing to visitors, Reed said.

The project, which is being paid for by federal transportation money, is being overseen by the state Department of Transportation. Most of the work should be completed in time for the opening of the Harrisburg Senators' baseball season next April, Reed said.

"This will be significant improvement to Harrisburg City Island, which now attracts over 1 million visitors a year," Reed said.

New landscaping and the creation of a picnic area on the south side of City Island are also included in the project.

Construction will be staged to have little impact on what remains of the summer and the baseball season, Reed said.

The Market Street Bridge will remain open throughout the project, but there might be some minor traffic restrictions at certain times, he said.

[Spudmrg]

I'm surprised no one picked up on this.....

City school lobbyists lost bid for state funds
District spends $115,000 a year to solicit support
Monday, August 08, 2005
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News
The Harrisburg School District lost out on $12 million in highly anticipated state funding despite being one of the few districts in Pennsylvania to be represented by a lobbying firm.

The district pays $115,000 a year to the Harrisburg-based lobbying firm Triad Strategies to woo state and federal officials in hopes of securing more funding.

Superintendent Gerald Kohn said the district's relationship with Triad, which dates to 2001, has been fruitful, despite the recent setback in the 2005-06 state budget.

"We've had an excellent relationship with Triad," Kohn said. "We're lucky to have them."

As usual, this budget season saw an intense round of lobbying by Triad on the district's behalf.

Kohn and Triad President Roy Wells said they had felt good about increasing the level of state funding for two Harrisburg programs.

Among the numerous meetings that Kohn and Triad lobbyists held to shore up the funding was a February session with state House Speaker John M. Perzel.

According to accounts of the meeting by Perzel's staff, the speaker told Kohn he would help deliver the $12 million to Harrisburg, but stopped short of promising the funds.

Nevertheless, Kohn and the district's lobbyists indicated that they believed Harrisburg had an inside track on the money.

"We had every reason to believe that the money was going to be in the budget," Kohn said of the extra $12 million -- $6 million apiece for Harrisburg's alternative-education program and the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology High School.

Added Wells: "There was some considerable confidence that, at the end of the day, Harrisburg would get all the items on its wish list."

But the additional $12 million was never made part of the state's $24.3 billion budget. The city district is now slashing at least $9.2 million from its budget for the coming year because it lacks the extra money.

Kohn said he doesn't blame Triad for what proved to be overconfidence that led Harrisburg to include the extra money in its budget.

"You can't help but be disappointed," Wells said. "But we're not able to make 100 percent guarantees to a client."

Kohn ticked off instances in which Triad helped Harrisburg receive almost $40 million extra in state and federal money in the last four years.

The money included $8 million in state money for the district's alternative-education program in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 state budgets.

Kohn added that it was Triad that came up with a strategy to go after $12 million from the state's capital projects budget to help build SciTech High in the 200 block of Market Street.

Normally, school districts can't receive capital projects money, but Triad suggested going after the funds under the umbrella of Harrisburg University, which is a partner in SciTech High.

The net result is Harrisburg gets free use of a state-of-the-art building, Kohn said.

Kohn said the lobbying firm helped the district win a $9 million federal grant for safe schools and establish a state tax credit program that has netted $3 million.

There's no way to determine how much less we would have received," Kohn said of the funding successes. "But it's got to be at least $10 [million] to $20 million. They've been a huge part of our success."

It is rare for Pennsylvania school districts to hire lobbying firms.

Tim Allwein, assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said that aside from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, he couldn't think of a school district with its own lobbyist.

It's much more common for school districts to band together, either as an association or in an intermediate unit, and hire a lobbyist as a group, he said.

The advantage is that a larger group of districts will bring support from more state lawmakers, Allwein said.

But Wells argued that Harrisburg is a special case that can make a strong argument on its own for additional funding.

"Harrisburg, along with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, are distressed school districts," Wells said. "They fit into a special category. We believed we could help them because of that."

Kohn said he is looking ahead to next year, when Triad will again assist Harrisburg in making a case for more money.

"We're going to rely on their lobbying and strategy," he said.

JOHN LUCIEW: 255-8171 or jluciew@patriot-news.com

[Spudmrg]

:nono:

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section have charged a New Jersey based environmental corporation and two of its top executives with illegally operating a hazardous waste storage facility in Harrisburg, Dauphin County.

Corbett identified the defendants as Andrew V. Latham, Jr., 50, of 673 Linden Ave, Ridgefield, N.J. and Thomas A. Cattani, Esquire, 44, of 9 Courtland Dr, Warwick, N.J., along with Whitewing Environmental Corporation, of 535 Midland Ave, Garfield, N.J.

Corbett said the defendants are charged with collecting and storing thousands of gallons of used automotive anti-freeze, oil and solvent used to clean auto parts. The materials were stored at a warehouse located at 2700 Paxton St., Harrisburg as well as a storage area at 6740 Allentown Blvd, Harrisburg, between Dec. 2000 and Feb. 2004.

According to the criminal charges, the used anti-freeze and used oil filters was collected by Total Recycling Services, Inc. (TRS), 2700 Paxton St., Harrisburg. TRS became a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitewing Environmental Corporation in 2002.

TRS sold anti-freeze and oil absorbent pads to automotive repair facilities throughout the northeastern United States. In addition, the company also collected waste anti-freeze, oil filters and solvent from its customers, using the Harrisburg location as a distribution and collection point.

Corbett said that Lantham served as President of TRS and co-CEO of Whitewing Environmental Corporation during the time of the alleged criminal activity. Cattani served as Vice-President and General Counsel for TRS and Whitewing.

Corbett said the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) initially discovered that TRS was operating an unpermitted residual and hazardous waste transfer and storage facility in March 2002. At that time, company officials were notified that a permit was required for all waste collection, storage and transfer at the Harrisburg facility.

According to the criminal charges, the company continued to collect and store waste anti-freeze, oil and solvents at the Paxton St., Harrisburg facility despite repeated inspections, violation notices and orders from the DEP. In June 2003 the DEP ordered TRS to immediately halt operations at the Paxton St. facility.

Corbett said a licensed environmental disposal company removed a total of 5,389 gallons of hazardous waste and 22,289 gallons of non-hazardous waste from the Paxton St., Harrisburg facility, in October 2003, after TRS operations were halted at that location.

Corbett said that following the DEP order to halt operations, company officials allegedly made arrangements to store trucks filled with hazardous waste at a storage rental facility, located at 6740 Allentown Blvd, Harrisburg. From June 2003 to February 2004, employees from TRS allegedly parked up to five trucks per day at the Allentown Blvd., location, with each truck normally carrying several hundred gallons of used oil filters and anti-freeze.

Latham and Cattani are each charged with six counts of unlawful conduct under Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act along with six counts of improper management of hazardous waste.

Whitewing Environmental Corporation is charged with identical counts.

The defendants surrendered today to agents of the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section and were preliminarily arraigned before Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge William C. Wenner.

The case will be prosecuted in Dauphin County by Chief Deputy Attorney General Glenn Parno, of the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section.

Corbett thanked the Department of Environmental Protection for its assistance in this investigation.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Editors' Note: Photos of the defendant and copies of the criminal complaints are available by contacting the Attorney General's Press Office at 717-787-5211.

[Paul in S.A TX]

Any projects planned for harrisburg?

[wrightchr]

^ quite a few Paul. here's a few with website links to check out and thanks for your interest.

i've listed infrastructure projects only, because many of the residential/commercial projects are not listed online.

CorridorONE Regional Commuter Rail Project
http://www.corridorone.info/
http://www.mtptransit.org/

Southern Gateway Project
http://www.hbgsoutherngateway.com/

I-83 Beltway Corridor Improvements
http://www.i-83beltway.com/

I-81 Widening Study and Improvements
http://www.i-81study.com/

US 11/15 - PA 581 Beltway Interchange Improvements
http://www.us15atpa581.com/

I-76 - Susquehanna River Bridge Replacement Project
http://kci.com/projects/srb/

Northern Gateway Project/7th Street Widening
http://www.harrisburgpa.gov/governme...seventhSt.html

Penndot District 8 - Metro Harrisburg Road Projects
http://www.penndot8.com/

[phillyskyline]

Harrisburg - its a town i want to root for but it just doesnt do it for me. I feel like its a city past its time & just rusting away. Hopefully they can make a comeback. Are there any major businesses located there?

[wrightchr]

i disagree philly...if you would have seen Harrisburg 5-10 years ago, compared to today...the city and region have come a long way. DT has most amenities that philly and other cities much larger than it's size have. things are only getting better. all of the metro counties are experiencing growth and in influx of residents. something most of PA can't say.

i will say that from the standpoint of the image of the city, things still need improving. the city district is very small...only 12 square miles (8 sq mi land) and a population of about 50,000. but with a DT of over 10 million sq ft of office space and over 20 highrise buildings, it seems much larger. some new highrise development DT with a few select 300-500 ft additions would definately improve the skyline.

as far as corporate businesses, here's a list of the region's top employers (2000 data).

Commonwealth of PA = State Government 31,200
U.S. Government = Government 11,600
Hershey Foods Corp. = Food, Food Processing 5,600
Highmark Blue Shield = Insurance 5,600
Tyco Electronics Corp. = Electronics 5,332
Penn State Hershey Medical Center = Health Care 4,251
PinnacleHealth System = Health Care 3,587
EDS Corp. = Electronics 2,708
Rite Aid Corp. = Drug Store Retail 2,375
County of Dauphin = County Government 2,175
Fry Communications = Publishing 1,688
Capital Blue Cross = Insurance 1,661
PA Steel Technologies = Steel Manufacturing 1,500
Roadway Express = Trucking 1,500
Bookspan Book Club = 1,200
Holy Spirit Health System = Health Care 1,194
County of Cumberland = County Government 1,093
Harrisburg School District = Public Education 1,100
West Shore School District = Public Education 1,015
ABF Freight Systems = Trucking 834

you can find a well rounded economic profile of the city/region here: http://www.harrisburgpa.gov/econProfile/

[EastSideHBG]

Thanks Paul in S.A.

Originally Posted by phillyskyline

Harrisburg - its a town i want to root for but it just doesnt do it for me. I feel like its a city past its time & just rusting away. Hopefully they can make a comeback. Are there any major businesses located there?

It's very odd that you would say that, seeing as HBG was the 2nd most distressed city in the entire U.S. in the 80s. Now the region has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state (and the U.S.), it is one of the only places in PA that is growing, DT HBG has a 97% occupancy rate right now, the city has some of the fastest appreciating residential property in the area, etc. But to each their own and you are entitled to your opinion of course.

[EastSideHBG]

LOWER PAXTON TWP.

Businesses protest plan for barrier on Route 22

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

BY BILL SULON
Of The Patriot-News

Businesses in western Lower Paxton Twp. are gathering support from customers opposed to the state's plan to extend an 8-inch-high barrier down the center of Route 22 in front of their stores.

"It would kill us here," said Robert Zinkan, who owns Mike's Music Shop in the Route 22 Plaza, a strip of businesses that would be most affected by the barrier.

The state Department of Transportation and Lower Paxton Twp. officials said the barrier is needed to make travel safer in the area. Some motorists try to make left turns out of the plaza and cross four lanes to head east on Route 22, also known as Jonestown Road and Allentown Boulevard.

Bob Fitting, who owns Bob's Tire & Auto Service in the plaza, said a median barrier will "take away half my potential customers" and result in increased traffic, including tractor-trailers, on back roads.

More than 250 people have signed petitions urging PennDOT to stop construction of the median barrier. The petition says the barrier would "effectively close off the intersection of Jonestown Road and Franklin Street."

The median structures, called mountable barriers, are designed to prevent motorists from making left turns and from crossing from one side of the road to the other across travel lanes. Rescue vehicles, most of which have high wheel bases, can cross the barriers in emergencies.

When PennDOT said it intended to install the barriers in another part of the township, Lower Paxton Twp. Manager George Wolfe said he made officials aware that the section in front of the Route 22 Plaza warranted attention.

"We said, 'Hey, guys, this is worse,'" Wolfe said. "It's a bad intersection."

In a July 20 letter to the business owners, Barry Hoffman, a PennDOT district executive, said his agency and the township "agreed that the median break at this intersection must be permanently closed, eliminating all left turns in both directions."

However, Michael Keiser, a PennDOT engineer, said in an interview yesterday that the agency was "open to a little bit of a revised approach."

The latest revision includes the possibility of adding a center turning lane along Route 22 to allow traffic to turn onto Franklin Street, rather than blocking the intersection with a median barrier, Keiser said. Motorists entering Route 22 from Franklin Street would be barred from making left turns.

Instead of turning lanes and barriers, PennDOT should consider installing a traffic signal at the intersection, some business owners said.

Susquehanna Twp. resident Melissa Kuskin, who owns Around the Clock Laundromat in the plaza, said she had a mixed opinion on a traffic signal but thought one might make the area safer.

But there is no evidence a signal is needed, Keiser said.

Unless the businesses paid for a signal, the township would have to foot the bill. "It's not our responsibility to put in a traffic signal to benefit private businesses," Wolfe said.

BILL SULON: 255-8144 or bsulon@patriot-news.com.

IF YOU GO

# WHAT: A public meeting about the Route 22 median.

# WHEN: 11 a.m. tomorrow.

# WHERE: Lower Paxton Twp. building, 425 Prince St.

# OF NOTE: PennDOT and township officials are scheduled to attend.

[EastSideHBG]

Shopping center deal made

Investment trust to buy The Point at Carlisle Plaza

Thursday, August 11, 2005
BY TOM DOCHAT
Of The Patriot-News

The owner of the Camp Hill Shopping Center is looking west, to Carlisle, for another potential revitalization project.

Cedar Shopping Centers Inc., a real estate investment trust based in Port Washington, N.Y., has agreed to acquire The Point at Carlisle Plaza, which is anchored by a Bon-Ton department store, Lowe's and Office Max. A Dunham's sporting goods store is scheduled to open in the center in the fall.

Cedar is expected to close on the $11 million deal in September. Information on the purchase is contained in a prospectus that Cedar filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of a 9 million-share stock offering.

Leo Ullman, CEO of Cedar Shopping, could not be reached for comment yesterday. In a conference call last week, he said the Carlisle property would be a potential "de-malling candidate."

That would fit the pattern of what Cedar did at two properties it owns in the Harrisburg area: the Camp Hill Shopping Center and The Point shopping center in Lower Paxton Twp.

At Camp Hill, Cedar converted the former mall into a strip center during the first phase of a redevelopment project, adding tenants such as Staples, Pier 1 Imports, a Hallmark card store and Five Below. Cedar is building a 91,000-square-foot Giant supermarket that will replace a smaller Giant store on the property.

At The Point in Lower Paxton Twp., Cedar converted the mall part of the property into a strip center and added tenants such as Giant, Staples and Fashion Bug.

The Carlisle property was purchased for $5.8 million in 2002 by Carlisle Realty Partners, a unit of Michael Joseph Development Corp. of Wexford. Since then, a Lowe's home improvement store and other retailers have been added. Lowe's paid $3 million to obtain the property for its store.

Guy J. DiRienzo, a partner with Michael Joseph, did not return calls for comment.

Bon-Ton spokeswoman Mary Kerr said the retailer exercised a renewal option on the lease that expired this year at its Carlisle store.

"We are staying there," she said. "Right now, everything is status quo for that store."

Cedar has taken an active interest in retail centers in the Harrisburg area over the past few years. It bought the Camp Hill property in the fall of 2002 and subsequently acquired shopping centers in Newport, Halifax and Fairview Twp. anchored by Giant supermarkets. It's building a shopping center anchored by Giant along Route 39 in South Hanover Twp.

The company also has signed a letter of intent to buy the Pennsboro Commons shopping center in Enola, according to its stock-offering prospectus. It would pay $17.8 million for the 110,000-square-foot shopping center, where Giant is the anchor store.

*********

TRADE TALK
Thursday, August 11, 2005

Lola's Day Spa, a 1,200-square-foot spa, has opened in the Shops on Third at Strawberry Square in the former Emporium Luggage space.

Two other Strawberry Square tenants, UPS and Tazberries, will be closing their stores on Aug. 31.

/\
LOL wow, they didn't last long. And for UPS I find that really surprising, as there was such a need for that store DT. Oh well *sigh*

[Spudmrg]

I hope this does'nt scare away people.....It should'nt..but people project fears onto cities....

'He gave me no choice'
Thursday, August 11, 2005
BY REGGIE SHEFFIELD
Of The Patriot-News
Howard E. LeNore doesn't want people to be afraid of downtown Harrisburg. He just wants you to keep an eye out for yourself.

Late last Thursday, the 31-year-old cook at Cragin's Brick Haus, a downtown restaurant, was walking with his girlfriend to their car on Pine Street, less than a block from busy Restaurant Row.

As he stopped for a moment to talk with a co-worker before heading home, his girlfriend, Tisa Loewen, continued up the street to the car. Moments later, LeNore was startled to hear his girlfriend yell out his name.

LeNore said he saw a man restraining Loewen in a headlock, telling her, "Don't yell; don't scream."

The man, whom police identified as James Totten, 49, of York, ran off with her purse, and LeNore went after him.

A foot chase went as far as the 200 block of State Street and ended with the two in a scuffle, police said. Totten had a knife, according to police. LeNore had a utility knife from work in his pocket, and slashed Totten's throat in the struggle, police said.

LeNore spent the next several hours in a lockup at the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, facing a charge of criminal attempted homicide. The charge against LeNore was dropped after Totten recovered from his wounds, authorities said.

Totten faces robbery and other charges and is in Dauphin County Prison.

"I didn't want that to happen, but he gave me no choice," LeNore said.

"He was trying to take my life over something that didn't belong to him," he said.

LeNore said he was hesitant to talk with The Patriot-News about the incident because he was worried about how it would be interpreted. He said repeatedly that he worried his actions might be viewed as those of a vigilante, which he denied.

"I tried to tell the man I didn't want this to happen, but he gave me no choice. All this over a purse?" he asked.

Last week's incident echoed an unrelated but similar recent incident in the city: A group of residents on Green Street corralled a would-be burglar after their neighbor ran him out of his house at gunpoint, police said.

Acknowledging the impulse to fight back as "probably a basic human survival instinct," city spokesman Randy King cautioned crime victims against escalating a bad situation.

Some criminal suspects have sued their would-be victims for injuries sustained in the course of a crime, he said.

"The bottom line is that property or valuables can usually be replaced. Is putting your life on the line to protect a material possession a wise course of action? Probably not in most people's minds," King said.

However, King added, "If persons committing crimes knew that their victims would likely defend themselves with force or were armed, the crime rate would drop very significantly."

Both LeNore and Loewen live in Harrisburg. They said they love the city. Loewen said that what she really feared was that the incident might hurt downtown business owners.

But neither said they were scared of working downtown, worried about commuting to work or ever wanted to leave.

"I would never give this place up for the world. I see it growing. I see it growing in a positive way," LeNore said.

Loewen, 25, said that she still feels safe.

"If you're going to live in the city, you have to be aware of your surroundings. You can't be ignorant. You have to protect yourself and you have to be responsible," she said.

REGGIE SHEFFIELD: 255-8170 or rsheffield@patriot-news.com

[Spudmrg]

I personally feel that 'da burg is on an upswing, but has'nt even touched it's full potential. We're sitting on a combination of location, talent, capital, and resources that few regions can match. Yes, I'm away right now, but I have every intention to return in the (reasonably) near future and put my money where my mouth is .

[wrightchr]

is this project underway? or is it still in the planning stages? why is there still a debate over the median. 45,000+ vehicles travel this road everyday. it's damn near impossible to cross the highway as it is. i don't see it having a great impact on businesses. people will just turn around or come from other directions to avoid the hassle. i would.

LOWER PAXTON TWP.
Barrier plan falls in favor of center turning lane
Friday, August 12, 2005
BY MARY KLAUS
Of The Patriot-News
State Department of Transportation officials, responding to concerns of Lower Paxton Twp. residents and business owners, yesterday announced they were dropping plans to erect a solid barrier down the middle of Route 22 at Franklin Street.

Instead, they said they will create a center turning lane at that intersection to allow traffic to turn onto Franklin Street but not left back onto Route 22.

The compromise received a mixed review from nearby residents and owners of Route 22 Plaza, a strip of businesses which will be most affected by the change.

Township and state officials have said improvements are needed to make the road safer, but businesses have been worried about access to their stores.

"This may not be a perfect scenario," Michael Keiser, a PennDOT district highway design engineer, told 35 people yesterday at a public meeting about the issue. "But it's an alternative to a dangerous intersection."

Next week, Keiser said, workers will begin creating a turning lane and installing about 500 feet of mountable barriers to prevent motorists from crossing the road over lanes that are not part of the turning lanes.

"We also want to put a left turning lane on Route 22 at 39th Street in Susquehanna Twp. to help eliminate accidents there," he said. "And we'll put a barrier down the middle of Route 22 near Sterling Alley, Susquehanna Twp."

Joe Sherrick of 3945 Lexington St. in Lower Paxton Twp. said his street will be "directly impacted" because motorists trying to get from the businesses to the opposite way on Route 22 will go through neighborhoods such as his. "It's a safety issue," he said.

"It will hurt our business," said Jessie Fitting, who with her husband, Bob Fitting, owns Bob's Tire & Auto Service in the plaza.

"And what about the safety of the kids on the back and side streets where the tractor-trailers and other trucks will go when they pull out of here?"

However, Susquehanna Twp. resident Melissa Kuskin, who owns Around the Clock Laundromat in the plaza, called the turning lanes "a compromise I can live with.

"A traffic light would be safest of all," she said. "But having people wait in a specific lane to turn is safer than we have now."

Lower Paxton Twp. Manager George Wolfe said that during the past six years there have been 45 accidents at that intersection, including 26 in which one or more vehicles had to be towed.

"Right now, the road near Dunkin' Donuts and the Route 22 Plaza is totally open," Keiser said.

He said some motorists leaving the Route 22 Plaza on Franklin Street make left turns and cross four lanes of traffic to head east on Route 22, which is also known as Jonestown Road and Allentown Boulevard.

MARY KLAUS: 255-8113 or mklaus@patriot-news.com

[phillyskyline]

It's very odd that you would say that, seeing as HBG was the 2nd most distressed city in the entire U.S. in the 80s. Now the region has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state (and the U.S.), it is one of the only places in PA that is growing, DT HBG has a 97% occupancy rate right now, the city has some of the fastest appreciating residential property in the area, etc. But to each their own and you are entitled to your opinion of course. [/QUOTE]

You know what? I'm glad to hear things are improving in H-burg. I havent visited the area in 6-7 years, so I should make a visit soon. IMO, a better harrisburg, a better PA. I didnt realize there were as many corporations as there are in H-burg. Thank you for the rundown.

[EastSideHBG]

Yeah, phillyskyline, for sure. HBG is NOTHING like it was 6-7 years ago and I think you would be pleasantly surprised. If you ever do come through let me know and I will hook you up with a tour.

Chris, I totally agree re: the barrier and I am not sure what all of the fuss is about.

This is interesting. I drive dowm Cameron everyday and I can tell you that there is a MAJOR revitilization going on and it's only going to get better...the ball is rolling for sure!!!

And since we are on the subject, I picture a Station Square-esque project being a perfect fit for the big empty lot on Cameron adjacent to DT (across from the CAT station, next cross street is Herr St.). I see shops, big chain restaurants, casinos (hey, why not cash in?), etc. If I had the money I would do it in a second.


HARRISBURG

Overshadowed Cameron Street hopes for a fresh look

Friday, August 12, 2005
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News

Cameron Street is Harrisburg's busiest thoroughfare, but it's long taken a backseat when it comes to development.

That may be about to change, with an entertainment complex, a 24-hour diner and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology on the horizon.

While trendier spots such as Second Street have sizzled, Cameron Street has fizzled for the most part.

Restaurant Row developed in the heart of downtown and still spawns eateries and nightspots, with several more to open this year.

Meanwhile, Cameron's claim to fame remains the Appalachian Brewing Company, opened in 1997, along with a few fast-food places near the Farm Show Complex.

It wasn't supposed to be this way.

A decade ago, Mayor Stephen R. Reed envisioned the Cameron Street warehouse district north of Market Street as the city's next area of restaurant and retail growth.

The city hoped to renovate the area dubbed Paxton Commons, with buildings at 28-36, 38-40 and 42-44 N. Cameron St. housing eateries and specialty shops.

The Appalachian Brewery Company, the only piece of the project to get off the ground, was wooed there as the centerpiece of Paxton Commons.

Eventually, the project was to include the widening of Paxton Creek, a small park, additional shops and parking facilities in an eight-block area around Cameron and Market streets.

It sounded good, but it never happened.

"That lasted till the day we signed our lease and nothing has happened since," said Artie Tafoya, director of the brewery. "It's a little bit of a disappointment."

Instead, North Second Street became Harrisburg's hotbed of development in the late 1990s, generating a momentum that hasn't died.

Tafoya said he doesn't regret taking a chance on Cameron Street. He described the renovated abandoned warehouse that became the brewery's home as one of the best and most unique buildings in the city.

There's plenty of parking and, over time, occasional patrons became loyal customers.

"We became a destination," Tafoya said. "I don't know that I'd want to be on Second Street. I love it here. We couldn't have this kind of building on Second Street. It's a fabulous place, very comfortable."

After eight years of being alone on Cameron Street, the brewery might be getting some company.

Shelton Carr, who owns a local construction company, is spending $500,000 to renovate the 87-year-old Chelsea Auto Parts building at 22 N. Cameron St. into a combination soul food restaurant, dance club, arcade, pool hall and lounge.

Dubbed "Someplace Special," the 15,000-square-foot facility would feature family entertainment, but won't sell alcohol, he said.

"It's someplace the entire family can go and enjoy themselves," Carr said of the business, which he plans to open this fall. "I wanted to create a place where people could go and enjoy themselves without alcohol."

Carr saw Cameron Street as the perfect setting.

"It's accessible. You've got a lot of space and plenty of parking," he said. "I believe that Cameron Street is going to be one of the up-and-coming areas. I envision Cameron Street developing into an amusement strip. I just want to be a part of that."

Nearby, at Cameron and Market streets, workers are putting the finishing touches on the Cameron Street Cafe, billed as a 24-hour diner.

The development is not the belated realization of his Paxton Commons project, but Reed said he's encouraged by the investment.

Reed noted improvements up and down the street, including the Hess Express gas station, Dollar General, various office and manufacturing investment and plans for hotels near the Farm Show.

"Cameron Street is the busiest street in Harrisburg, and there not a whole lot of space left downtown," said Reed, citing factors driving the growth.

Even the Paxton Commons project could get a boost.

Reed said what could really push Cameron Street and Paxton Commons over the top are plans for Harrisburg University to locate its main campus in the U.S. post office facility in the 800 block of Market Street.

"It's still viable," Reed said of Paxton Commons. "That campus is going to be the thing that really drives this. That's when you'll see the investment and the business interest coming in."

Tafoya said he would welcome more businesses on Cameron Street. He said investment would lure more patrons to the long-forgotten street.

"Anything that comes into the area is going to benefit us," he said. "Some things are happening. We'd like to see a little bit more."