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Historic Harrisburg Resource Center |
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Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, 1230 North 3rd Street
The former Central Trust Company, built in 1893 and donated to Historic Harrisburg Association in 1993, has been operated as a civic resource and non-profit activity center while undergoing grassroots restoration.
Immediate Issue: Capital Fundraising to complete restoration and make the building self-supporting through leases to synergistic organizations. |
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The Broad Street Market , 1233 North 3rd Street
America’s oldest continuously-operated farmers’ market, and an anchor of the Midtown market District, the 150 year old market boasts a vibrant array of ethic, organic and Pennsylvania Dutch vendors, meeting urban nutrition needs with fresh produce, specialties and prepared foods.
Immediate Issue: Aging infrastructure requires major capital investment |
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Commercial bank and Trust Co. Building |
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Commercial Bank and Trust Co. Building (Furlow Building), 1222 N. 3rd Street
This property, a landmark on the Third Street Commercial Corridor, was designed by Harrisburg architect Charles Howard Lloyd in 1908, to house a bank and ten luxury apartments. The Bank closed during the Great Depression. Recently renewed interest from GreenWorks Development has brought the possibly of restoration and rehabilitation closer.
Immediate Issue: Preservation Opportunity |
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Former Sixth Street (aka Ridge Avenue Methodist Church Parsonage (“Swallow Mansion”) |
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Former Sixth Street (aka Ridge Avenue Methodist Church Parsonage (“Swallow Mansion”), 1000 North 6th Street
This historic property was built by the Harrisburg architectural firm Warren O. Weaver and Son in 1896 in The Queen Anne architectural style. This property also served as the Curtis Funeral Home, a prominent black-owned business, and was a proposed site for Harrisburg’s African American Museum. The property serves as the South gateway to Fox Ridge and is a cornerstone along the Sixth Street Corridor.
Immediate Issue: Neglect and severe deterioration |
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Former Home of German Jackson (Jackson Rooming House) |
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Former Home of German Jackson (Jackson Rooming House), 1006 North 6th Street
This property was the former residence of Frank and Eleanor Hess who was a dry goods merchant and milliner. The property was built in 1884 in a Second Empire building design. This was later the home of Levin Cohn and the German Jackson rooming house. The Hess Residence serves as the North gateway to Fox Ridge. During its ownership by German Jackson, who was the head doorman at the Penn Harris Hotel, this property provided lodging to African Americans, including such famous entertainers as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, during the era of segregation and when blacks where not welcome at Harrisburg’s hotels.
Immediate Issue: Lack of Funding
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Fox Hotel (Santana’s Restaurant) |
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Fox Hotel (Santana’s Restaurant), 236 South 2nd Street
This property was originally known as the Fox Hotel and was built in 1906 for Otto Fox. It replaced the earlier Fox Hotel at Second Street and Meadow Lane. In 1939 it became Santana’s Restaurant. This property is currently owned by Pinnacle Health System, which has tabled the idea of demolition at this time. Arguably, if this property were destroyed and replaced with more modern urban architecture or surface parking, it would erode the context of the historic neighborhood surrounding the John Harris Mansion.
Immediate Issue: Possible Demolition |
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Beidleman House, 1225 Market Street
This Market Street landmark, at the gateway to Allison Hill, is located in the Mount Pleasant National Register Historic District. It was built in 1906 for the prominent attorney and politician Edward E. Beidleman. Beidleman served in the State House from 1904-1911, State Senate from 1912-1918, and was elected Lieutenant Governor from 1919-1922. In 1937, the building was converted to professional offices and apartments.
Immediate Issue: Neglect and severe deterioration |
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Moose Lodge (Ron Brown Charter School) |
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Moose Lodge (Ron Brown Charter School), 922 N. 3rd Street
This property was built as the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge No 107. It was designed in Greek Revival style by noted Harrisburg architect Clayton Jacob Lappley in 1924. The Lodge was an early victim of the Great Depression. Most recently it was owned and used by the Ronald H. Brown Charter School
Immediate Issue: Vacant and lack of attentiveness. |
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The Hickok House (former VFW) at Front and Locust Streets
The Hickok House at 201 Front and Locust Streets in Harrisburg may be proposed for demolition by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), a quasi-government agency.
 The home (right) was built in 1903 as a wedding gift. Rare unusual woods were used throughout its interior. This woodwork was shipped from the family's lumber mill operations in Williamsport. The Hickok family was influential in Harrisburg and the Commonwealth. The home remained in the Hickok family until they sold it to the Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in the 1943s. The VFW recently sold it to PHFA, which has expressed interest in demolishing it and expanding their modern building next door.
Read "Housing agency's expansion draws ire" from the Patriot-News, Sunday, March 16, 2008.
PHFA is a quasi government agency with representation from the governor to DCED on its board. PHFA also promotes itself as being a good steward of design, healthy nieghborhoods and revitalization.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) has met with PHFA but appears to have little power or authority to intervene. It seems that, despite PHMC suggestions to preserve the Hickok House, PHFA is unwilling to alter their plans or put into practice some of the same good practices they advocate for other communities.
HHA is working on a strategy to help people who want to preserve this historic building succeed in their efforts. HHA has worked with Capitol Area Neighbors (CAN) and others on other preservation issues, including the proposed demolition of the Dunlap Building at 2nd and Locust Streets — the opposite end of this beautiful Locust Street block. HHA will assist CAN, nearby residents, our members and others in their effort to save the Hickok House.
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Read more...
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Former Brotherhood Relief & Compensation Fund Building |
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Former Brotherhood Relief & Compensation Fund Building, 2101 North 6th Street
Designed originally in 1923 as a 10-story building, the project was halted following financial difficulties. The basement and two stories of steel framework stood untouched for several years. As revised and scaled back by Philadelphia architectural firm Ritter & Shay, the building was redesigned and completed in 1932. The structure later became known as the Hudson Building (1979) and later housed the Tri-County Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc.
Immediate Issue: Preservation Opportunity |
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Sunoco Convenience Store in Olde Uptown, 2053 North 2nd Street
The preservation priority at this location is not the existing building but its immediate surroundings, which include the Olde Uptown Historic District and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence. The presence for decades of an inappropriate gas station/convenience store has been a community eyesore. Sunoco’s plans to rebuild present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance the neighborhood with a non-cookie cutter store designed to honor its surroundings while serving its customers.
Immediate Issue: Corporate Disinterest in Community Improvement
In May of 2011, the Historic Harrisburg Association listed the Sunoco Gas Station on its Top Preservation Priorities list. With the announcement and application by Sunoco to rebuild the current 1950s facility, Historic Harrisburg Association saw this as an opportunity to enhance a neighborhood for generations to come. See below our letter to Harrisburg City Council and Historic Harrisburg's official position statement (which can also be found on our News Section):
Letter to Harrisburg City Council
Official Position Statement - Sunoco Gas Station
UPDATE: The Historic Harrisburg Association is disappointed with the decision made by City Council regarding the redevelopment of the Sunoco Gas Station. While we commend and encourage economic development, the decision by City Council this evening will not result in a building which respects and enhances the architecture of the surrounding neighborhoods nor of the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence located directly across the street. We do however, look forward to working with city officials and community leaders on many preservation priority projects as Historic Harrisburg continues to advocate for economic development that respects and preserves the cultural and architectural integrity of our neighborhood
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2900 Block of Front Street |
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The proposed demolition of three classic Front Street homes to make way for a large condo development is still an issue of concern.
Many concerned citizens, mostly residents of the affected neighborhood, expressed their concerns at various meetings and made a difference. This issue will likely return. Continued vigilance and a readiness to act are needed from local residents and concerned citizens everywhere.
We will provide new information as it becomes available.
Below are the three buildings HHA and the community are working to save.
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2901 Front Street, Harrisburg, PA
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2909 Front Street, Harrisburg, PA
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2917 Front Street, Harrisburg, PA
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To express your concern about the possible demolition of these three buildings and the resulting negative change to our historic Front Street, please
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or your elected officials. |
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Federal Courthouse Location — Sixth and Reily streets
The new federal courthouse will be built at Sixth and Reily streets in Midtown Harrisburg. This is a win for Right Site Harrisburg, Historic Harrisburg Association and the entire Harrisburg community.
HHA is a founding member of Right Site Harrisburg and has for years advocated for this site. A courthouse at Sixth and Reily streets will spur further economic development already happening in the area. We are proud to be a part of the effort to have the courthouse put at this location, and we will continue to work with the community and elected officials to promote economic development that respects the architectural integrity of the city.
Read the letter from the General Services Administration announcing the site selection (PDF).
Right Site Harrisburg Information
Historic Harrisburg Association, Capital Area Neighbors, Midtown Action Council, and Friends of Midtown have formed a coalition of stakeholders called Right Site Harrisburg to convince the federal General Services Administration (GSA) to build the new federal courthouse at the northeast corner of Sixth and Reily streets.
Right Site Harrisburg Web site
www.rightsitehbg.com
Read HHA's 2007 position statement (PDF) |
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