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

[EastSideHBG]

Steelton properties to get face-lift

Monday, November 08, 2004

BY JIM LEWIS
Of The Patriot-News

Twenty-two buildings along Steelton's main street will be repainted, washed or improved in other ways as part of an effort to revitalize the town's business district.

Steelton has awarded grants of up to $2,500 to the owners of the buildings, the first action under a state-funded program to revive Front Street. Owners must pay for 50 percent of the improvements to qualify for a grant.

Many of the grants will pay for fresh paint, power washing and new windows and doors, said Christina Fackler, manager of the borough's Main Street Program. She hopes property owners will tackle more serious, or "more aesthetic" improvements, in the future, she said.

Borough officials hope it's the beginning of a face-lift for Front Street, where quaint old buildings have suffered from neglect and an over-abundance of vinyl siding over the decades since layoffs silenced the steel mill along the thoroughfare.

Steelton received a $115,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development to improve Front Street from Gibson to Mohn streets. An architect recommended several changes, including old fashioned-style street lights, trees along the sidewalks, and dramatic lighting for several churches and an Islamic temple.

Mayor Tom Acri called the 22 projects "a benchmark in our downtown revitalization efforts."

Steelton could get additional state money, borough officials said.

"This administration will continue to do everything it can to help the program succeed, but it is ultimately up to all of us to work together to make this a downtown we are all proud of," said Michael Kovach, Borough Council president.

[EastSideHBG]

Thank God that piece of sh*t theatre is finally being demolished LOL This sounds like a really good plan, and I think it will turn that mall around. Even though it does well, it was never my favorite for various reasons...


West Shore mall plans to increase retail space

Capital City joins shopping centers making renovations

Tuesday, November 09, 2004
BY TOM DOCHAT
Of The Patriot-News

The owner of Capital City Mall plans to spend $11 million to convert the movie theater at the mall into a food court and turn the existing food court into 30,000 square feet of specialty retail space.

Renovation work is expected to begin early neat year.

The new food court is to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2005, and the specialty stores should be in place by the spring of 2006, according to Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, the mall owner.

PREIT said it intends to spend an additional $2 million on upgrades to the commons area at the Lower Allen Twp. mall with updated lighting and entrance improvements.

Capital City is the third enclosed mall in the area where face-lifts are planned.

Work is nearing completion on multimillion-dollar upgrades at the former Harrisburg East Mall, now called Harrisburg Mall, and the Camp Hill Shopping Mall is being converted into an open shopping center in phases running into 2006.

At Capital City Mall, the six-screen United Artists theater will be converted into an eight-bay food court and two family restaurants.

Officials said they don't have any lease agreements for the restaurants, but they are looking for eateries such as Ruby Tuesday, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar or T.G.I. Friday's.

The movie theater, which is leased on a month-to-month basis, is attached to the mall, but does not have direct access to the stores. The renovations will include a common walkway to direct shoppers into the food court from inside the mall.

Joseph F. Coradino, executive vice president-retail for PREIT, said the improved food offerings are intended to increase shopper time and spending at the mall.

PREIT said the proposed specialty stores will be part of a "lifestyle" wing at the mall geared toward professional women. John Walters, general manager of the mall, said the goal is to attract retailers like those that recently opened at Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace on the East Shore.

The new Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace, off Interstate 81, features Coldwater Creek, Williams-Sonoma, Chico's and Ann Taylor Loft. Coradino said the Capital City Mall tenants would be fashion-oriented stores designed to meet the needs of higher-income customers.

The 609,000-square-foot mall is anchored by Sears, Hecht's and J.C. Penney. The occupancy rate was 98.4 percent on Sept. 30, and sales for the past 12 months have averaged $345 per square foot, PREIT said.

Walters said the last major renovations at the mall were in 1998.

The movie theater at the mall has been threatened with closure, especially since Regal Cinemas, which owns United Artists, announced plans last year for a 14-screen theater at the Camp Hill Shopping Mall. However, the Camp Hill theater plan has not been finalized.

Leo Ullman, chairman and CEO of Cedar Shopping Centers Inc., owner of the Camp Hill mall, said the mall has letters of intent with both Regal Cinemas and a fitness center to lease space occupied by Giant Food Stores LLC.

Giant is building a much larger supermarket at the Camp Hill mall. The existing Giant store will be demolished to make way for the theater or the fitness center, but not both.

"Right now, we're leaning toward the fitness facility," Ullman said yesterday.

Work on that 50,000-square-foot project can't begin until the middle of 2005 after the new Giant store opens, he said. Construction would take nine months after that.

Major renovations are near completion at Harrisburg Mall. A Boscov's department store opened in May, and a 225,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops store is scheduled to open Nov. 18. Other changes in that $40 million project include new entrances, food-court renovations, new signs and exterior and parking-lot improvements.

Philadelphia-based PREIT became the owner of Capital City Mall in November after its merger with Crown American Realty Trust.

PREIT also owns the Paxton Towne Centre in Lower Paxton Twp. The 717,000-square-foot center includes Target, Weis, Costco, Border's, Kohl's and other stores.

[EastSideHBG]

Derry Twp. to allow Giant Center sign

Giant Center wins approval for sign

Thursday, November 11, 2004
BY PHYLLIS ZIMMERMAN
For The Patriot-News

Call it a sign of busy times at the Giant Center.

Derry Twp. supervisors Tuesday night granted a request by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Co. to amend the township's zoning laws to allow a marquee-style sign in front of the arena.

The entertainment company plans to install a three-sided sign announcing upcoming arena and community events. The sign will have a 1,200-foot visibility from Route 39 and Hersheypark Drive.

Until now, the township's zoning code offered no guidelines for such signs.

The new ordinance allows such signs for businesses that own at least 100 joining acres in an area zoned for commercial entertainment. Hershey Entertainment is the only business in the township that qualifies.

The sign, which would require a building permit, is allowed to be up to 42 feet wide or 42 feet tall, with a maximum area of 1,000 square feet. It may contain an LED screen for moving text and images.

Supervisors held a public hearing about the zoning amendment on Oct. 12, but there was no public comment before the final vote. Supervisors passed the amendment, 3-0, with little discussion.

Supervisors Frank O'Connell and Richard Lenker Jr. abstained, citing conflicts of interests. Both are employed by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.

[EastSideHBG]

Wal-Mart plans tangled in lawsuits

Retailer, residents take Lower Paxton to court

Friday, November 12, 2004
BY KELLY BOTHUM
Of The Patriot-News

The snaking lines of traffic will get even longer on Route 22 the closer it gets to the holidays.

But there's one place shoppers won't be heading on the busy road, at least for now -- Wal-Mart.

The mega-retailer's plans to build a 223,806-square-foot supercenter in Lower Paxton Twp. remain stalled, despite conditional approval of the project by the township supervisors.

What was nearly a done deal unraveled in September when Lower Paxton officials say Wal-Mart never agreed within the allotted time to nine conditions set forth in the approved project, as required by the township ordinance.

The missed deadline meant the plan for the supercenter was automatically denied, according to the township.

Now, with three lawsuits pending in Dauphin County Court, it doesn't look like the situation will be resolved any time soon.

Lower Paxton Twp. solicitor Steven Stine said the township can do little more than wait for the cases to move forward.

Its position is that the township was followings its own ordinance.

Stine said under the ordinance, Wal-Mart had 15 days to accept the conditions of the plan, most of which required approvals from local and state government agencies.

When Wal-Mart failed to acknowledge the conditions by the deadline, the project was automatically denied, Stine said.

Wal-Mart proposed building a supercenter on Route 22 at the site of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and School.

Plans included a grocery store, garden center and drive-through pharmacy. Supervisors reluctantly approved the plan over the objections of many residents, saying the proposal met the township ordinances.

With Wal-Mart building at the site, Holy Name planned to relocate to West Hanover Twp. and build a school, 30,000-square-foot church and rectory on land owned by the Diocese of Harrisburg. Those plans have yet to be approved by West Hanover Twp. supervisors.

After the supercenter project was denied, developers for Wal-Mart filed two suits in county court, one appealing the denial and another challenging the approval by the supervisors.

In addition, the township also faces a suit from the Lower Paxton Residents for Responsible Growth, a group formed to fight the Wal-Mart plan. Attorney Steven R. Snyder, who represents the citizens, said he plans to file a motion next week asking the three suits to be combined since they stem from the same issue.

Snyder said his group's position is that the township erred in approving the Wal-Mart supercenter but did the right thing by later denying the plan.

The condition that sparked the debate dealt with a requirement for a fence to be built on the site abutting another property. In approving the plan, the township said the fence must be acceptable to the adjacent property owners, something developers opposed.

A letter to the township from the engineering firm representing Wal-Mart said developers would be willing to accept the conditions of the plan once the fence requirement was removed. In their lawsuit, the developers argue that the fencing requirement is not mandated by any township ordinance and is invalid.

If its attempt to reverse the decision fails, Wal-Mart can resubmit its plan, but it would fall under more restrictive commercial zoning regulations adopted by the township since the plan was submitted last spring. The new restrictions could reduce the size of the planned store.

[EastSideHBG]

They sure love lawsuits here in South Central PA, don't they?

Camp Hill sued over housing

Friday, November 12, 2004

BY CHRIS A. COUROGEN
Of The Patriot-News

The Camp Hill Borough Council erred when it gave the go-ahead to a proposed town home development, according to a lawsuit filed in Cumberland County Court.

The council's approval of a 30-unit project for a 7-acre tract on the east side of North 17th Street, north of Myrtle Street, violates the borough zoning ordinance, claims the suit filed by Aubrey Sledzinski of 400 N. 17th St.

Borough zoning laws in effect when the plan was filed by Rhodes Development Group Inc. of Lemoyne allowed apartment buildings as a conditional use in the area, providing the lot directly abuts and accesses a "major collector street" as delineated in the borough's comprehensive plan.

The plan, which has not been updated since 1973, lists borough streets designated as major collectors. The list includes 19th Street but not 17th. A map in an appendix to the plan, though, shows 17th Street, not 19th, as a major collector.

"Our argument will be that the text controls the designation," said Sledzinski's attorney, Steven A. Stine.

Neither the comprehensive plan nor the borough code book provide a definition for "major collector street." Stine said he is not sure if any case law gives either the text or the map priority.

Stine said common sense would indicate that 19th Street is the proper street for that designation, because it's wider, more heavily traveled and in better condition, and it has a traffic light at the Market Street intersection.

The lawsuit is the latest round in a battle between residents of North 17th Street and the developer dating to 2002, when Rhodes announced plans for an eight-story apartment building on the site. Amid opposition, Rhodes opted for the town house route.

That move appeased opponents, in part, they said, because Rhodes agreed on several conditions, including sidewalks along 17th Street and aligning the buildings so that neighboring homes would not face the rear of the town homes.

"We were satisfied," Sledzinski said.

Final plans submitted in September, though, did not include many of those provisions, Sledzinski said.

Sledzinski is also appealing a borough zoning permit for another town home development on the west side of North 17th Street. That case is before the borough zoning hearing board.

Council President Jeffrey Smith was not available for comment. A message left for borough solicitor Steve Feinour was not returned.

[EastSideHBG]

No doubt this will be a HUGE draw for the area!!!


Bass Pro Shops has many sights

Sunday, November 14, 2004
BY ELLEN LYON
Of The Patriot-News

Walk in the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World opening Thursday at the Harrisburg Mall and you can tell immediately that things are different now.

Lord & Taylor, former occupant of that retail space, never had this much taxidermy or camo clothing.

As Martha Stewart might say, that's a good thing, at least for the midstate hunters and anglers.

For others, Bass Pro Shops -- which added 50,000 square feet to the mall for this 225,000-square- foot store -- is simply a stunning visual experience.

It's the Springfield, Mo.-based outdoor outfitter's 26th, and second-largest, store.

It's got a stocked trout stream just outside the mall entrance to the store and a 40-foot rock climbing wall and 60,000-gallon aquarium and waterfall inside the store.

A Citizen Kane-sized fireplace and lots of knotted pine columns and wood paneling give the interior the look and feel of a giant Adirondack Lodge.

Panoramic murals painted on the walls depict Pennsylvania landscapes.

Look down and you'll see imprints of dinosaur fossils and wildlife tracks on the floor.

Look up and you'll see a float plane suspended in the lobby's 80-foot-high vaulted ceiling.

Look around and you'll spot a worried moose surrounded by a pack of snarling wolves, one already on his back. Nearby two bucks lock antlers.

A raccoon overlooks the extensive footwear department, which carries hunting, hiking and work boots, athletic shoes and even pink slippers.

"The taxidermy will be incorporated with the merchandising," general manager Jim Wargo explains.

It's enough to divert your attention from all the stuff for sale. But not for long.

There's something for everyone here: pet supplies, knives, optics, birdhouses, camping and hiking gear, home furnishings, toys, sunglasses, clothing for all ages, food, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, coolers, canoes and kayaks.

This is the place to get that bass-shaped mailbox you've been looking for.

Then there are the more than 3,000 guns (including antique ones ranging in price from $500 to $50,000) and the more than 4,000 fishing rods.

There's a fine gun room and a full-time gunsmith on duty.

Well-known angler Bobby Clouser of Middletown manages the fly shop. "You'll find what you need and you'll find the help you need. We'll answer your questions," he promises.

In the archery department, you can get your bow tuned and your arrows cut to size. Then you can try them out on the 25-yard archery range.

The marine department offers about 200 boats, 40 of them displayed on the showroom floor. "It'll be an indoor boat show every day," Wargo observes.

A simulator in the golf pro shop allows you to try out that new club.

"It's a little bit more than a hunting and fishing store," Wargo proudly proclaims.

There's also entertainment. An arcade will offer hunting related games and skeet shooting. The NASCAR shop will have Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. race car simulators.

In anticipation of Bass Pro's opening, the mall invested $40 million in a full-color LED marquee, pylon signs and renovations to the food court, building entrances, exterior and parking lot, according to mall manager Mark Nobile and owner Larry Feldman of Feldman Equities.

Thousands are expected at Thursday's grand opening. The mall has 4,223 parking spaces, so Nobile recommends that people come early and be patient.

Before the store even opens, it's already guaranteed one customer.

As Bill Wilsback hung a shelf in the hunting department last week, he said his wife had asked him what he was going to do with all the extra money he earned at Bass Pro Shops.

"I said, I'm not getting a paycheck. I told them just give me vouchers for merchandise."

[EastSideHBG]

Development by rail

Sunday, November 14, 2004

The proposed regional com muter rail system that would have Harrisburg as its hub isn't all about addressing traffic congestion.

That's a big part of it, but just as important is the role it will play in making central Pennsylvania attractive and economically competitive in the future.

A key element will be the new residential and commercial development that will be triggered around the system's stations, many of which will be located in old or decaying areas ripe for improvement.

Critics of CorridorOne, which would eventually run from Carlisle through Harrisburg to Lancaster, give this prospect little credence. But a study released last month by the Federal Transit Administration and reported last week in USA TODAY predicts that by 2025 nearly 15 million U.S. households (twice as many as today) will want to rent or buy near transit stops.

In Los Angeles and other areas of the country with existing or expanding rail transit systems, private developers are rushing to take advantage of this expanding market. The article cites Arlington County, Va., as a community that did it right by concentrating development along its three-mile subway route. The result is a corridor with 35,000 residents living in 18,000 houses and apartments, 75,000 jobs, 1,900 hotel rooms and 17 million square feet of office and retail space within walking distance of subway stations.

Fairfax County, Va., located on the same Washington Metro system, is an example of how not to do it, by concentrating on massive parking near the stations so that most people end up driving to the stations.

Every station site poses its own particular assets and challenges. The nature of the challenge for CorridorOne will likely be one of trying to appeal to both types of commuter, those who live near the station and those who live at some considerable distance from it.

The bottom line is that there is an expanding portion of the population that doesn't find navigating traffic-clogged highways attractive and wants to live and work where the convenience of affordable mass transit is available. Throw in the rising cost of gasoline and parking, as well as the economic and environmental benefits of encouraging the re-development of older communities, and Corridor- One can be seen as the multi-purpose, multi-benefit investment in the future it truly represents.

[wrightchr]

Dave, i didn't know about the law suit in camp hill. i'm glad to see the residents fighting back. bass pro sounds great and corridor one has so many advantages...i just wish the critics would give it a real chance. i've been pretty busy here in washington. i'm hoping for some time off soon, but it doesn't look like it's gonna happen. hope you are doing well back in the 'burg

[harrisburger]

that bass pro shops is going to add wayy too much traffic to those busy interchanges, but the harrisburg mall really needs the shot in the arm. i'm thinking that after the holiday season, the numbers will come in and that mall will be completely filled up with retailers who thought this area wasn't desirable enough.

[Spudmrg]

I personally wonder if the new Bass Pro Shops will beat that place out in Hamburg, Pa. They poured a huge chunk of public funds into that project and generated alot of traffic in an area that really was'nt ready for it. Despite our (lack of) fondness for I-83....we have the capacity to handle traffic....at least outside of rush hour.

I've been a CapitalOne supporter since I first heard about it. My only worry is that if they get a test run, I seriously doubt they will be able to break even without a good injection of public funds. The major questions are....who's paying and what will lose out on money because of CapitalOne?

[Spudmrg]

Anyone going to the Grand Opening tommorow for Brass Pro Shops? It looks like PennDot's trying to route the event traffic away from the main I-83/Harrisburg Mall exits, which suggests a big turnout. I'm not much into the outdoors, but this store looks interesting enough for a vist or two.

[EastSideHBG]

My Dad was there on Wed. for a special ceremony he was invited to and he said the store is incredible inside!!! BIG fish tank, waterfall, stream, mountain scenes... I hope to make it over there sometime tomorrow. Here's a good article about it. Needless to say, this is going to be a HUGE draw for the area:


BASS PRO SHOPS GRAND OPENING

The hunt is on

Store's 1st day flushes out shoppers and bucks

Friday, November 19, 2004
BY ELLEN LYON
Of The Patriot-News

Michael Stone arrived at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Harrisburg Mall at 6 a.m., in time to be first in line for the store's grand opening yesterday.

With a few hundred people gathered behind him, Stone, 30, of Mount Holly Springs, had plenty of time to contemplate the message inscribed above the store's entrance: "Welcome Fishermen, Hunters and Other Liars."

Stone, sporting a red Bass Pro Shops cap, said this was his first visit to one of the national chain's stores, although he is a loyal catalog customer.

Pronouncing himself "tickled to death" that the outdoor outfitter has come to Swatara Twp., Stone said he wanted to shop for hunting and fishing gear before he went to work at noon.

Stone got his chance at 8:12 a.m. when store general manager Jim Wargo sliced a ribbon strung between two taxidermist-stuffed deer and opened the doors.

Wargo, who used a Bowie knife for the ribbon-cutting, joked that "we don't use scissors here."

Everything in the former Lord & Taylor store, expanded to 225,000 square feet by Bass Pro Shops, is in keeping with an Adirondack hunting lodge theme, from knotted pine pillars to restroom doors labeled "Bucks" and "Does." Bass Pro Shops provides translations for the men's and women's rooms for those unfamiliar with the gender of deer.

Perhaps the shoppers farthest from home were Pat and Ramona Holbrook of British Columbia, who got up early while visiting relatives to be among the first in the store.

They said the traffic advisories scared them, but they had no trouble getting to the store and were impressed with the highway signs directing them.

They live near Duck Lake, which has world-class, large-mouthed bass fishing. "That's where he took me for our anniversary, fishing for bass," Ramona Holbrook said.

"I was in this line last night," boasted a camouflage-clad Tim Lee of York, one of a number of shoppers who returned after attending the store's preview opening Wednesday night.

Asked how much he spent on the three bows he bought during the preview tour, Lee shot back, "more than I want in print."

When last seen, Lee was heading toward the cashiers with another bow, a box of arrows, two boxes of shotgun shells and hand warmers.

Harvey and Pat Givler came from Middletown for their first visit to a Bass Pro store.

"It's my birthday. I wanted to get a birthday present. I'll take one of those new Trackers out there," Harvey Givler said, nodding toward the boats in the parking lot.

Shoppers were divided over whether the Bass Pro store beats the competing Cabela's that opened last year in Berks County, about 55 miles east of Harrisburg.

Kitty Wagner of Mount Joy, who was looking at bear puppets for her grandchildren, said that, while she likes the quality of clothing at Bass Pro Shops, she prefers Cabela's for its "animal attractions" and restaurant.

But Jack Group, a civilian employee of the Army who works in Carlisle and lives in York, likes Bass Pro best.

"I like this for the fact that it's an hour closer so this is much more convenient to me," said Group, who shopped for a tree stand after finishing a night shift at work.

Mike Seeger of Dillsburg said he, too, prefers Bass Pro Shops, "because they actually stuck with the history of Pennsylvania" in the artwork and wildlife exhibits. Cabela's has more of a safari theme, he noted.

Several shoppers used the adjective "awesome" to describe the store's waterfall, 60,000-gallon aquarium, 40-foot rock-climbing wall and taxidermy displays, which include grizzlies, black bears, wolves, rams and raccoons.

Michelle Herren of Lower Paxton Twp., who tried out a putter on the practice green in Bass Pro's golf shop, said she allowed 16-year-old daughter Kyrstin to take off from school for the store's opening day.

"It's an educational trip," Herren said.

Kyrstin Herren declared the store "better than the one in Baltimore. It's a lot bigger."

Even Santa Claus showed up in denim overalls to do a little shopping before his 10 a.m. shift in the mall. "I'm going to check my list and see what I have to get," said the naturally white-haired and bearded Santa, who declined to give any other name.

Santa said he used to hunt and still fishes some. "He's got to have some relaxation," the jolly old elf said.

Mall officials were delighted with the opening day.

"The mall is beginning to do really well and I think Bass Pro will greatly, greatly increase the sales," said Ed Feldman of Feldman Equities, which is one of the mall's owners.

Mall manager Mark Nobile said that after months of planning with state, county and local officials, parking and traffic flow did not appear to be a problem despite fears of congestion and delays.

Mall employees are temporarily parking off-site and being shuttled in to make sure there are enough parking spots for shoppers, Nobile said. Other off-site parking lots, with shuttle service, will be available if overflow parking is needed, he said.

The true test is yet to come.

"We anticipate the real opening will be on Saturday," Feldman said.

[EastSideHBG]

NICE!!! :carrot:

Harrisburg council backs stadium project

Council backs stadium project

Friday, November 19, 2004
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News

It looks as if renovation plans for Harrisburg's Commerce Bank Park will finally get their turn at bat.

The City Council last night gave the signal that it is ready to support up to $19 million in financing to cover the city's share of the $28.3 million stadium makeover.

"Let's not hold up baseball any longer," said council President Richard House, adding that a final vote could come as early as Tuesday. "We've got to move forward with this."

The renovation project has languished since the summer, as debate swirled over Mayor Stephen R. Reed's twin project for City Island -- a proposed sports hall of fame.

The delay is blamed for adding about $1.5 million to the stadium work's price tag and tacking on about six months to the job, spreading the work over two years.

Under the new timetable, the stadium improvements won't be finished until sometime in 2006. There will be evidence of construction during the 2005 season, but it should not affect games, officials said.

Reed pushed for the stadium improvements and his planned National Sports Hall of Fame to be approved together, but the council had balked.

In a compromise, Reed backed off on seeking full financing for the $24 million hall of fame along with the stadium. Instead, he sought $1 million in "seed money" for the hall to be included in the financing package for the stadium.

Last night, at least one council member, Linda Thompson, called for that money to be removed as well.

Other members asked numerous questions about how the $1 million would be spent, and they again voiced reservations about the entire hall of fame project.

The council will determine the final fate of the seed money when it votes on the stadium financing on Tuesday.

If the seed money is lost, the hall of fame could starve for cash. It has already racked up nearly $330,000 in unpaid architects' bills, and there would be no source of funds to move the project forward.

"It would put it on hold until I don't know when," House said.

Gov. Tom Ridge earmarked $9.5 million in state funds for the hall of fame back in 2001, but the city can't touch the money until it has enough of its own to match it.

Ground was to be broken for the hall of fame in 2005. The proposed facility, covering 65,000 square feet, would cover amateur and pro sports and feature interactive exhibits, a gift shop and a theater. There would be a separate restaurant and bar with deck overlooking the Susquehanna River and the city.

The stadium improvements, which should move forward soon after the financing is approved, will include 1,700 additional seats, for a total of 8,000 and a total capacity of 9,500 fans.

There will be 20 skyboxes, 766 club seats, a right-field party deck, a left-field restaurant. Players would get new clubhouses, and fans would be treated to a grand entryway.

[EastSideHBG]

Wal-Mart is still tied up in lawsuits, though.


W. Hanover planners OK church's land-use design

Holy Name church plans forwarded to supervisors

Friday, November 19, 2004
BY PHYLLIS ZIMMERMAN
For The Patriot-News

After months of deliberations, the West Hanover Twp. Planning Commission last night sent construction plans for a Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic church and school complex to the township supervisors.

The planners recommended the supervisors approve Holy Name's land-use plan but forwarded two conditional-use requests with no recommendation.

The church proposes moving to a site bordering Resurrection Cemetery on Oak Grove and Sterling roads, and Wal-Mart plans to build a store at the church's current location in Lower Paxton Twp.

Holy Name plans to build a 66,000-square-foot school for kindergarten through eighth grades, a 30,000-square-foot church, a rectory and office, and athletic fields to replace its current 40-year-old facility.

The planning commission favored the land-use plan 5 to 1; commission member Carol Buskirk cast the no vote.

Two other votes, regarding conditional-use requests for the church and athletic facility, failed to muster the required support for a recommendation.

Richard Bolt and board Chairman James Zeiters voted in favor of the conditional use for the church in a low-density residential area. Buskirk, Barbara Zemlock and David W. Wingeard voted against, and Marlin Moyer abstained.

Favoring conditional use of the recreation facility were Bolt, Zeiters and Moyer. The other members did not vote.

A public hearing on the conditional-use requests is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the township municipal building, 7171 Allentown Blvd.

[Spudmrg]

I was over at Bass Pro the other night(for some strange reason I thought it was "Brass Pro"), that place is impressive. I don't know the outdoors well enough to rate the selection, but I can say that I've never seen that many racks(pardon the pun) of outdoors equipment in one place. They also did a good job in renovating that side of the Harrisburg (ex. East) Mall. Parking was'nt as bad as I expected, but the shopping season/start of deer rifle season is only after Thanksgiving.

Anyway, I recommend visting Bass Pro soon, but I suggest you avoid the weekend after thanksgiving......it could be busy. It's quite the attraction.

[EastSideHBG]

Yeah, I hope to check it out sometime this week before the big holiday rush kicks in.

[EastSideHBG]

Hardly any good news this week it seems. In addition to this, there is a rather large hike in the sewer rates and the occupational privilege tax. And since I work in the city, my OPT will go from $10 to $52. *sigh*


Reed puts ballpark plan on hold

Mayor blames City Council vote to grab revenue

Wednesday, November 24, 2004
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News

Plans for a revamped Commerce Bank Park baseball stadium appear to have struck out last night.

Mayor Stephen R. Reed said he would place the $28.3 million project on "indefinite hold" after a move by City Council to siphon 5 percent of Harrisburg's baseball revenues for their own causes.

Reed called the council's action a "poison-pill amendment" designed to financially cripple the stadium project.

The action also deals a major setback to any hopes of attracting Class AAA baseball to the city, the mayor said.

As a result, Reed said he would veto the stadium legislation, which council passed 4-3 last night, even though the bill authorized $18 million for the renovations.

"The legislation has to be vetoed, and it will be," Reed said. "They authorized a stadium project to proceed that will fail financially."

Perhaps signaling an election-year issue, Reed added that there would likely be no movement on stadium improvements until the council membership changes.

Vice President Linda Thompson and members Gloria Martin-Payne, Eric Waters and Susan Brown Wilson voted for the 5-percent amendment. They said it would benefit health and human-services projects.

Of those members, Thompson and Waters are up for re-election next year, as is Reed.

"The prospects for a new stadium are pretty low at this point," Reed said. "I don't think it will happen with the current council."

Without the upgrades, Reed said, there is no chance of attracting a AAA team to City Island, as has been his hope. He said this ensures a baseball "status quo," with the city-owned Harrisburg Senators continuing to play in the 1980s-era ballpark.

The plan called for adding seats and a restaurant, plus cosmetic changes. Had the project moved ahead, the renovated park would have been unveiled in 2006.

Also on hold is the planned National Sports Hall of Fame, Reed's twin project for City Island. By the same 4-3 vote, council removed $1 million in so-called "seed money" for it.

The money would have gone to pay bills and salaries, raise funds, complete designs and conduct a feasibility study on the proposed $24 million project.

Without the funding, the project likely will starve for cash, Reed said.

The $9.5 million in state funds earmarked for the hall of fame in 2001 cannot be used for design costs and must be matched by the city or returned.

While the hall of fame remained controversial among some council members, it was always expected the stadium renovations would succeed.

At issue is the 5 percent of the city's gross revenues from baseball that City Council sought to earmark for causes that it would control.

The move to seize a portion of baseball revenues was led by Thompson. She said she sought an expanded role for council in funding various human health, social services and economic development causes in the city.

"I'm not trying to get my name in the paper by going against the mayor," Thompson said.

Reed maintains that the city-owned baseball team operates on a 2-percent margin.

"They knew exactly what they were doing," Reed said of council. "They were killing the project."

Even Council President Richard House, an avid baseball supporter who once worked for the Senators organization, voted against the stadium funding once the legislation was amended. "I can't support this," he said.

House was joined in opposing the amendments and the entire bill by Otto Banks and Vera White.

The stadium and hall of fame projects have languished since summer as debate swirled on council.

The delay was blamed for adding about $1.5 million to the stadium price tag and tacking about six months on to the job. Reed said he has no idea how much time and money will be lost by halting the project.

The improvements would have included 1,700 additional seats -- increasing the stadium's capacity to 9,500 -- 20 skyboxes, 766 club seats and a right-field party deck.

[EastSideHBG]

Here's the article about it. Not definite yet, but it looks like it will probably pass:


Harrisburg may raise tax on jobs, sewer fees

Plan calls for occupational privilege levy boost

Wednesday, November 24, 2004
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News

People who work in Harrisburg, and users of its sewer system in the city and six other municipalities, could pay more next year.

Harrisburg property owners would escape a real estate tax increase under the city's $60.06 million budget for 2005.

Under the spending plan presented last night by Mayor Stephen R. Reed, Harrisburg would be among the first to take advantage of new state legislation that would allow municipalities to raise their occupational privilege taxes.

Reed proposed increasing the once-a-year tax, now at $10, to $52, the maximum under the new legislation.

Everyone who works in the city making $10,000 or more would pay the levy.

The move would raise $2.6 million for Harrisburg, most of it coming from workers who live out of town.

The Legislature approved a measure allowing the increase, and Gov. Ed Rendell is expected to sign it into law.

Pennsylvania's occupational privilege tax hasn't been raised since 1965.

In addition, Reed called for a 12.5-percent hike in Harrisburg's sewer rates. He said the increase is necessary because the operation had combined losses of more than $1.5 million over the past two years.

The increase would add $1.89 to the monthly bill of the average family of four using 6,500 gallons, for a total sewer bill of $15.56.

If Harrisburg approves the increase, the six surrounding municipalities that also use Harrisburg's sewer system would be obligated to pass along the increase to their residents as well.

The municipalities are: Steelton, Paxtang and Penbrook boroughs and Lower Paxton, Swatara and Susquehanna townships.

Meanwhile, city property owners would avoid a tax increase this time around.

With Harrisburg's real estate tax unchanged, the owner of a house assessed at $100,000 would continue to pay $850 in city property taxes under the city's 8.5-mill levy on land and improvements. County and school district taxes are separate.

Harrisburg's proposed budget represents a 6.5 percent increase over this year's spending plan of $56.34 million.

But due to poor revenue projections and some cost overruns, the city ended up exceeding its own budget and will actually spend about $57.43 million this year. So the actual increase in spending is only about 4.5 percent under the new budget.

Reed called the spending plan extremely tight. It reduces city employment to an all-time low of 663. That's down from 735 workers a few years ago and 986 in the 1980s.

City management will not receive pay raises in 2005, and the city recently agreed to a new contract with AFSCME, its largest union, that also carries no salary increase next year.

In addition, the union agreed to a less expensive health care plan and reductions in life insurance coverage. AFSCME members' next pay raise will be 2 percent, which kicks in on Oct. 1, 2006.

"We cut all over the place," Reed said.

Council is expected to hold numerous committee hearings on the proposed budget before the measure comes up for a final vote in late December.

[EastSideHBG]

I'm trying to find some good news guys, honest!!! The property taxes in this county are getting beyond ridiculous now...


Dauphin County seeks 19% tax hike

Thursday, November 25, 2004
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News

The Dauphin County Commissioners yesterday proposed a second 19 percent increase in property taxes in as many years, despite having a $9 million surplus.

The proposed tax increase means that the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $110 more next year.

Combined with the 19.5 percent increase for 2004, the same property owner's county tax bill would rise to $688 -- nearly a 40 percent increase in two years.

Commission Chairman Jeffrey Haste, a Republican, said property owners should take comfort that the county spread out the increases.

"It could have been the entire 40 percent last year," Haste said. "We could have done it that way."

At least one commissioner, Democrat George Hartwick, said he remains uncomfortable with the size of the increase for 2005. He said he hopes the 19 percent increase could be reduced before a final vote Dec. 15.

The commissioners have talked about a looming "$50 million hole" in the budget that could develop.

But the county's own budget figures show there is no shortage of cash in this year's and next year's budgets.

According to projections, Dauphin County will end this year with a $9 million surplus. And with the tax increase for 2005, it could finish that year $16 million to $17 million in the black.

The county would receive $12.5 million from the 2005 tax increase.

Haste said the county was looking beyond the flush cash position in pushing for another tax increase now.

He argued that the money would be needed to pay rising costs, especially debt payments, and to strengthen the county's finances to get better bond ratings.

"If you look at this year and say, 'Why is this happening, why is there still a tax increase?' The reason is we are looking ahead." Haste said. "The importance of this is for our bond rating."

In pushing through a tax increase in the first year of their four-year terms, the commissioners are following the lead of previous county boards.

The move ensures the widest possible gap between a tax increase and the commissioners' re-election bids in 2007.

The commissioners offered hope that the increase for 2005 would be the last for a while, at least until the next county election.

Also in keeping with county tradition, the tax increase was announced the day before Thanksgiving, nationally the biggest travel day of the year.

All of the budget discussions took place during a 10 a.m. meeting, when members of the public are unlikely to attend. No residents spoke against the move. **How shady was this?!?**

If approved, the increase would support a proposed $110.14 million general fund budget for 2005. The spending plan represents a $1.45 million increase over this year, or about 1.3 percent.

The commissioners congratulated themselves for holding down the county's spending through cost-cutting measures, including eliminating 35 full-time jobs.

There was no word yesterday on how many of the eliminated positions were already vacant. The job cuts represent 1.67 percent of the 2,100-person county work force.

While commissioners talked of additional spending cuts, there were indications that the county's fiscal austerity could be short-lived.

Officials predicted spending could rise by as much as 8 percent in 2006, with successive 4 percent spending increases in each of 2007 and 2008.

Officials said most of the spike is due to increases in debt payments for projects such as the administration building, courthouse renovations and nursing home.

The county's budget experts said the only way to make measurable reductions would be through deeper staffing cuts.

The library tax would remain at 0.35 mills, or $35 for the owner of a $100,000 home.

[harrisburger]

eastside, i really don't know stats too well, but i remember hearing cumberland's taxes are really low, and hampden's are the lowest in the area...if these are true, why are dauphin's going so much higher? actually, i'd rather my taxes went up to pay for cumberland valley's dire need for money...anyways, are these increases generally accepted by easterners, or are the citizens angry regarding them? the snobby westerners would burn those responsible for raising any taxes...