News Around The Burg
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Comprehensive Renovation for Cumberland Court
Feb. 3 -- Construction has begun on a large-scale rehabilitation of Cumberland Court, the sprawling apartment complex next to the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg.
Maine-based Evergreen Housing Partners bought the brick, garden-style complex in December for $3 million from long-time owner Cumberland Court Associates. Nick Bouquet, development associate for the company, said that Evergreen now is investing an average of $40,000 in each of the complex's 108 units. Interior improvements will include new kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, heating/cooling systems, windows and lighting in each unit. The complex's exterior will receive new outside lighting, an improved security system and a new roof.Bouquet said the company also plans to build a community center, which will include community space, a policing center, a computer center and new management offices."We are undertaking a substantial interior and exterior renovation that will modernize the units so that everything the tenants see and touch will be new to the unit," said Bouquet, who added that privately held Evergreen will be a long-term holder of the property, which will continue to serve lower-income residents.Renovations on the complex, built in 1975, should be complete by year-end, he said.Evergreen Housing Partners specializes in acquiring, improving and managing properties for low- and moderate-income residents. Locally, it owns the Rutherford Park Townhouses in Hummelstown and the Garden Court Apartments in Lancaster.Cumberland Court is bordered by Capital, Verbeke, Herr and N. 6th streets.Glass Factory Rehab Gets OK from Planning Commission
Feb. 1 -- The Harrisburg Planning Commission tonight gave final approval to convert the long-empty, century-old former glass factory at the corner of N. 3rd and Muench streets into an apartment house of 19 studio and 12 one-bedroom units.
In voting unanimously to approve the project, the commission removed a condition that the developer, Skynet Property Management LP, hire a contract compliance officer to ensure that minority businesses are considered in the bidding process. With the economy sputtering along, City Council has become aggressive at making sure minority contractors have a chance to compete for contracts. The commission agreed with Skynet’s attorney, John Baranski, who said the policy was not applicable to the private developer who is using no public money for the glass factory project.Skynet also agreed to provide landscaping and green space around parts of the building, located at 1841 N. 3rd St. In return, the developer was granted relief for parking, having only to provide 26 spaces instead of 31. The commission also appeared satisfied that the apartment house would not become a rooming house, a fear expressed by Historic Harrisburg Association, Harrisburg Young Professionals and the Olde Uptown Neighborhood Association at a preliminary hearing last summer. Skynet assured the commission the project would be a standard apartment building as required by zoning. Its 31 units would range in size from 285 square feet to 532 square feet, be leased monthly and be priced at $690 for the least expensive to more than $800. The commission did question how Skynet could develop the property at the cost it cited on its application, $300,000. Applicant Eric Peel said that was just for the mechanical and framing part of the construction. The final cost would be more.“I hope you can pull that off,” said commission member Vern McKissick III.Skynet President Josh Juffe has said the cost could reach $1 million to completely develop the property. City Council approval is the next step in the process for the glass factory. No date for a hearing has been set.
