TheBurg

07.20 | THEBURGNEWS.COM | 7 NEWS All stories by eBurg staff | Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month announced the city's plan to evaluate and rewrite its police Use of Force General Order. Inspired by former President Barack Obama calling upon mayors to review methods of policing, Harrisburg officials began to take a look at city policies, Papenfuse said. e city is using Campaign Zero's "8 Can't Wait" challenge as a framework. "At the end of the conversation, there will definitely be a rewrite of the general order," Papenfuse said. e project looks at eight policies that local governments can adopt, claiming they may decrease police killings by as much as 72 percent. e eight policy recommendations include: • banning chokeholds and strangleholds • requiring de-escalation • requiring warning before shooting • requiring exhaustion of all alternatives before shooting • a duty to intervene when excessive force is being used • banning shooting at moving vehicles • requiring a use-of-force continuum • requiring comprehensive reporting Papenfuse explained that Harrisburg's Use of Force General Order explicitly addresses seven of the eight orders. It lacks only a "duty to intervene" when officers use excessive force. He mentioned that it is taught in the police academy. "We can definitely add number eight," he said. In addition to the city addressing the eighth policy, officials are also looking to expand on and enhance the other seven. For example, Papenfuse said they want to require more de- escalation and warning before excessive force is used. "I want to hear from the public," he said. Papenfuse encouraged Harrisburg residents to email 8cantwait@harrisburgpa.gov with comments and questions. JULY 4 CELEBRATION PLANNED Fourth of July celebrations may remind you of life as normal this year. Harrisburg Independence Day festivities will be combined with Saturday Nights in the City for an evening of food, fireworks and more food. Originally scheduled as a drive-through food truck event, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said the city decided to make it a traditional walk-up experience. "We do think it's appropriate given where we are to do a walk-up," he said. As usual, a multitude of food trucks will make an appearance, this time on City Island instead of Riverfront Park. Papenfuse said there will be fewer trucks than before, but still more than a dozen. While no vendors will be in Riverfront Park, people are free to picnic there. With the added twist of including the city's outdoor dining event, Saturday Nights in the City, people will have the option of sitting for table service from downtown restaurants. "It's been so successful," Papenfuse said of the Saturday event. "We definitely wanted to include that and give people a chance to come downtown." As is tradition, fireworks will close out the night at about 9:15 p.m., set off from City Island. roughout the event, participants are encouraged to practice social distancing, Papenfuse said. NEW OWNER, PLAN FOR HUDSON BUILDING Originally, it was supposed to be a high-rise apartment building—with a huge convention hall, to boot. It was supposed to be 10 to 12 stories tall. at never happened. Instead, over the years, the cavernous Hudson building has been everything from a bank to a church to a series of small shops. And, for almost 20 years, it's simply sat empty and falling apart. Now, the building, at N. 6th and Maclay streets in Uptown Harrisburg, has a new owner and a new plan, one that includes something city residents have long said they wanted—a grocery store. "Harrisburg is a food desert, so we plan to have a grocery component," said new owner Adam Maust, who purchased the property through his company, Mighty Group Holdings LLC. "at's one of the things that I'm most excited about." According to Dauphin County, Maust bought the 50,000-square-foot building and surrounding lots late last month for $425,000 from Philadelphia Suburban Development Corp., a King of Prussia-based commercial real estate development firm. at company bought it in 2004 and never redeveloped it. e neglect is quite apparent, as the building has deteriorated significantly since that time. Maust said that he's putting together a plan for the complete rehabilitation of the structure, with architecture by Camp Hill- based By Design Consultants. First off, the building needs to be gutted, as little of the damaged interior is salvageable. He wants demolition to begin in July. He then plans to ask the Camp Curtin community what it would like to see in the space. He wants to hold community meetings to get the feedback and buy-in of people who live in the neighborhood. He's pretty sure that the area needs a grocery store, so that's high on his agenda. He also plans to move his own Harrisburg- based marketing company, A Mighty Group, into a small portion. He thinks that a brewery and art studios could be good fits, maybe a restaurant or a coffee shop. e property includes a parking lot and several empty lots, which he wants to turn into community green space. "I'm open to any idea," he said. "It's really talking to the community to see what makes sense." Maust said that he wanted to purchase the building for several reasons. First of all, he's from the area and, he said, loves Harrisburg, so wanted to make a contribution. Secondly, he thinks that the 6th Street corridor is ripe for redevelopment with such projects as the new federal courthouse and the planned state archives up the street. "I saw this as an exciting opportunity to change Harrisburg for the better," he said. "I hope this will be an anchor that we can build on." He also likes the proximity to the state Farm Show Complex, which is just across the Maclay Street Bridge. He said that he easily could see the building serving as an adjunct for large events there, with event and meeting space. Since the building is so large, there are many possible uses, he said. And, if his project is successful, he might even consider building up, since the stone and steel bottom floors were built to support a 12-story structure. "is building is an anchor for the entire corridor," he said. "It will be one of the very best buildings in Harrisburg." HARRISBURG ADOPTS "8 CAN'T WAIT" WOMEN'S SHELTER BREAKS GROUND Bethesda Mission last month broke ground on a new women's shelter to replace its two deteriorating existing buildings. First, the transitional living building on Forster Street will be demolished and rebuilt, followed by the main building, situated in a 120-year-old former school building. Once completed, the half-acre site will hold a new, four- story building with 51 beds, the new transitional living building and outdoor garden and park space. "e shelter has given women who have been in crisis a whole new opportunity for a different life," said Scott Dunwoody, Bethesda Mission's executive director. Within the past two years, Bethesda has raised over 85% of the $4.2 million price tag on the project through grants and private donors. ey are now looking for community donations to meet their goal. Contractor Pyramid Construction is expected to complete the project by the fall of 2021. e shelter offers long-term and transitional living for women in crisis to seek restoration and personal growth. Many have faced abuse and addiction. e buildings have 25 beds for women and their children. Shelter Director Shelley Brooks explained that the growing need in the Harrisburg area for young women's support was a motivating factor in the expansion. "It's time to spread out a little because the need is great," she said. HOME SALES DOWN, PRICES UP e residential real estate market showed mix results in May amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania, according to housing industry data. e Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR) reported last month that, for May, sales fell by about half in the region, but the median price increased by 6.8 percent year-over-year to $205,000. In Dauphin County, 173 houses sold compared to 355 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price rose to $176,300 from $172,000. In Cumberland County, sales totaled 152 units versus 326 in May 2019, while the median price increased to $233,950 compared to $215,000 a year ago. Perry County had 21 sales for a median price of $157,000 versus 39 home sales for $150,900 in May 2019. Average days on the market for listings were virtually unchanged—52 days versus 51 in the prior May.

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