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12 | THEBURGNEWS.COM | 01.22 10. MEGA MURALS Each year, I try to start this list out on a positive note— before I lower the boom. It's a custom that I'm happy to continue this year. Back in May, Sprocket Mural Works launched its third Harrisburg Mural Festival with a planter-painting project on Allison Hill then just kept on painting the town. By fall, Sprocket had marked its 50th Harrisburg-area mural over the past seven years, including its largest project to date—a vibrant linear painting lining the Mulberry Street Bridge. anks to Sprocket, our little city on the Susquehanna is now so mural-rich that it's tough to fling a hand-knotted pretzel without hitting a beautiful piece of public art. 9. HOUSING IS HOT e residential market has been red-hot all year, both in the city and the suburbs. In recent months, our regular market updates have shown that sales have dipped, but prices continue to climb, indicating that supply may be constrained. As I wrote in a column last year, Harrisburg needs more housing at every price point. In May, City Council took action to help address this need, passing the city's first-ever affordable housing statute. is legislation attempts to walk a fine line, urging builders to include affordable housing in their projects without making it a mandate. Since then, some developers have said they would comply while others seemed reluctant. e coming year may test the gentle balance between encouraging affordable housing while not discouraging new development. 8. 2ND TIME AROUND Back in the 1950s, cities around the country engaged in a bizarre form of self-destruction, undertaking major road projects that wrecked their own urban fabrics and quality of life to benefit the suburbs. Harrisburg was no exception. As the city emptied out, leaders soon realized that they had made a big mistake, and, by the 1970s, already began contemplating how to undo the damage, especially to the main thoroughfare of 2nd Street. Well, it took decades, but it finally is happening. In the spring, the city embarked on a project that will remake much of N. 2nd Street into a more pedestrian-friendly, two-way neighborhood road, as opposed to the high-speed hellscape it's been for 60-plus years. In this writer's opinion—one big Harrisburg street down, several more to go. 7. BOND BATTLE Municipal bonds—boring, right? On the surface, sure, but Harrisburg, of course, managed to turn the mundane into the dramatic. is salvo in the years-long council v. mayor wars began in May with an administration plan to retire a chunk of debt and refinance the remaining bonds. Council members introduced the plan, but then quickly turned against it. Fair enough—disagreements happen. But the conflict soon spiraled into another he said/she said fight, like so many other feuds over the past eight years. e result ended up positive enough anyway. Council basically got its way, with the city accepting two-thirds of a deal that the administration had reached with its bond insurer. Mayor Eric Papenfuse didn't get the refinancing he wanted, but Harrisburg shed a big hunk of debt and set itself up for possibly retiring its remaining bonds over the next few years. 6. CLASS ACT After last year's virtual experiment, Harrisburg school district students returned to the classroom in August. Masks were mandatory, but there was no real organized opposition to the requirement. us, Harrisburg was spared the nasty "school board wars" that have engulfed so many districts nationwide. Otherwise, the district set itself up for casting aside three years of state oversight by appointing a new superintendent, Eric Turman, and a new chief recovery officer, Dr. Lori Suski. Unless the court renews the receivership, which seems unlikely, the Harrisburg district should be self-governing again by June. NEWS AT THE TOP What were the top Harrisburg news stories of 2021? Our editor is back with his annual list. BY LAWRANCE BINDA I s it January already? Each year, I find myself surprised that, once again, it's time for my annual review of the top 10 Harrisburg news stories. is year marks a decade for this self-imposed punishment—um, I mean, tradition—an exercise that I share with my long-suffering illustrator, who is the real hero here (sorry, Rich). So, without further delay, here's my totally subjective ranking of 10 Harrisburg news stories of 2021. You may agree; you may disagree; you may decide to move out of town. OK, I hope you don't move out of town.

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