Demolition Work Underway For New U.S. Courthouse In Harrisburg

English: Photo of Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse In Harrisburg PA Category:Images of Harrisburg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cash may be short in some areas of the federal government – ask any worker dealing with mandatory furloughs at the midstate’s military bases – but work is finally underway for a new U.S. courthouse in Harrisburg.

That is evident in the dust and rubble at Sixth and Reily streets.

Demolition has started at the site.  The old Bethesda Mission building on the property was nothing but a pile of broken cinderblocks and splintered timber as of Friday morning.  Next to go will be nine row houses.

The razing is occurring three years after the feds chose the site for the project to replace the 1960s-era Ronald Reagan Federal Building at Third and Walnut streets in Harrisburg’s downtown.

Read more:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/07/demolition_work_underway_for_n.html#incart_river_default

Will A New Face In The Mayor’s Office Improve Harrisburg’s Image?

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Dauphin County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note: YES!  We would like to see Eric Papenfuse win the November election.  It’s time to restore someone with business acumen to the office of the mayor in Harrisburg.  Eric is an excellent businessman and has been a leader in helping to revitalize Midtown Harrisburg.  Eric’s bookstore, Midtown Scholar, is one of the anchors of the new Midtown.

When major financial news organizations send reporters to a city the size of Harrisburg to cover the election for mayor, it usually means things haven’t been going well.

That was evidenced Tuesday night, as a Reuters news dispatch described Mayor Linda Thompson‘s defeat in the Democratic primary. The story began, “The embattled mayor of Pennsylvania’s financially crippled capital of Harrisburg was ousted on Tuesday…”

Embattled.  Financially crippled.  Harrisburg.

No matter who wins in November, the city’s next mayor must repair Harrisburg’s badly damaged brand, and that could be one of the most formidable aspects of the job.

Read more:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/harrisburg_mayor_thompson_pape.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Functionality And Beauty Are The Hallmarks Of StudioVB In Midtown Harrisburg

One of the many new businesses springing up in Midtown Harrisburg is StudioVB.  The interior design studio is co-owned by husband and wife team Logan and Valerie Betz.  Valerie is the Interior Designer and Logan is the Business Manager.

Valerie and Logan have beautifully renovated their own historic Midtown row house and are part of the emerging arts scene that is attracting hip, young professionals, who want the convenience of city living, to Midtown Harrisburg.

Valerie has two degrees, one in Fine Arts and one in Interior Design.   Valerie studied at the New York School of Interior Design and worked for several prestigious design firms in New York City before returning to her native Harrisburg.

Valerie’s love for design has grown into a passion and a great appreciation of the relationship between efficient functionality and beautiful design. She has a particularly strong talent for clean lines, small spaces, combining textures, and refined details.  In addition to being an interior designer, Valerie is a skilled artist.  Being a designer and an artist is a winning combination.

StudioVB is small enough to give you the personalized attention you deserve, yet large enough to tackle a full-scale interior design project.  No project or budget is too small.

StudioVB offers services such as:  interior design, home staging for sale, DIY design plans, re-design, green and sustainable design, e-design, event design, home organization and fine art.

StudioVB wants to help you with your design dilemma in an efficient and affordable way.  They want to make the most of your living space, while adding beauty and functionality to your life and home.

StudioVB serves Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Carlisle and Lebanon.  They will also consider projects across Pennsylvania and in surrounding states.

To learn more about StudioVB:

Internet:  http://studiovbdesign.com/

Voice: (717) 884-8243

StudioVB, LLC

218 Verbeke Street

Harrisburg, PA  17102

Studio hours are by appointment only

Monday – Friday from 10am until 6pm

Please call to schedule an appointment.

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center Project – Back On Track

Harrisburg’s Midtown area is undergoing an arts/culture/entertainment renaissance aimed at transforming Midtown into a destination for Central Pennsylvania residents and beyond.  This article gives some great insight on what is to come and details on this important project!

…When done, the $6 million HMAC complex will be an important piece of Midtown’s emerging arts corridor along N. 3rd St., joining two other projects expected to get underway this fall—the $5.5 million Susquehanna Art Museum two blocks north at 3rd and Calder and the Furlow Building, a $5 million apartment house renovation project just up the street…..

To read all about what’s going on in Midtown, click here:

http://www.theburgnews.com/TheBurg-Aug2011-small.pdf

The article is on page 5.  You can scroll down to “HMAC Poised To Step Forward”.  The file is large and takes a minute or so to download.

New Digitally Based Record Label Formed In Harrisburg

A new digitally based record label has been formed in Harrisburg by three friends with a passion for music and a desire to help local talent succeed.  Rock Paper Records will use the most current technology, including social media, to help their artists achieve notoriety and success.

Rock Paper Records offers management, development and viral/standard marketing strategies for their clients.  The trio brings 15 years of marketing, band management, operations, branding and tour management to the table.  This twenty something group, Jay Tran, Logan Betz and Sean Kunkle, are self-professed “music nerds” who love music and want to help “the little guy/gal” find success in the music industry.

Providing the best results at the lowest cost, having fun, helping the community and being environmentally conscious is the mantra for Rock Paper Records.

If you are a musician who would like to take your career to the next level, Rock Paper Records wants to help you get there.  Their goal is to get you to your musical goals!

Rock Paper Records is located at:

106 Calder Street, Harrisburg, PA 17012

Voice:  717-756-9890

Internet: http://www.rockpaperrecords.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/RockPaperRecords?v=info#info_edit_sections

Email and submissions:  info@rockpaperrecords.com / submissions@rockpaperrecords.com

It’s 3rd in the Burg Today! Harrisburg’s Version Of First Friday

Image via Wikipedia

3rd in the Burg is a new Harrisburg-focused take on First Fridays. On the Third Friday of each month, city galleries will be hosting special exhibitions and events throughout Harrisburg.  Support the arts, culture and cuisine in our capital city today, July 15th!  Click the link below to see today’s schedule of activities in Harrisburg!

http://3rdintheburg.com/

Harrisburg’s 3rd In The Burg And Jazz Festival Tonight!

Image via Wikipedia

A great deal of activity is going on in our capital city tonight.  It’s 3rd in the Burg night (Harrisburg’s version of First Friday) and the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz Festival takes place today, Saturday and Sunday, at venues around Harrisburg!

For more information about tonight’ s 3rd in the Burg events:

http://3rdintheburg.com/

For more information about tonight’s Jazz Walk and this weekends 31st Annual Central Pennsylvania Jazz Festival events:

http://www.cpfj.org/festival_2011.html

Get out there and enjoy the arts in PA!

Midtown Harrisburg Becoming Arts And Cultural District: Susquehanna Art Museum Moving To Midtown

Image via Wikipedia

A vacant property is set to become the new home of the Susquehanna Art Museum in Midtown Harrisburg.  Midtown is a neighborhood in transition.  If you recall my 3^rd in the Burg post, I touched on Harrisburg’s emerging arts and cultural scene.  This neighborhood has become a focal point of urban renewal and revitalization by making itself a “destination” that is attracting people to Harrisburg.

Millions of dollars are being poured into Midtown redevelopment.  Creative business owners like Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Midtown Cinema, Midtown Harrisburg Arts Center and a growing list of restaurants and cafés are also leading the way.  The addition of the Susquehanna Art Museum will strengthen the fledgling district and attract more business to the area.  Having events like 3^rd in the Burg already in place will only accelerate revitalization efforts.

Another huge addition to Midtown will be the new federal courthouse that will break ground in 2013.  The $130 million building will bring an influx of workers into the neighborhood that have disposable income to spend on things like food and arts/culture, along with other businesses that will sprout up as the result of all this development.  The site of the new federal courthouse is now a parking lot.

GreenWorks Development has been busy spending redevelopment dollars in Midtown.  They own a large amount of property in the neighborhood, including the new museum site.  In addition to the $50 million they have spent thus far, they plan to spend another $75 million on future projects.  Harrisburg Area Community College and Fulton Bank have already benefited from GreenWorks’ projects.  A four-story Campus Green building, costing $14.3 million, is another project that has benefited Midtown.  GreenWorks is also involved with residential development by creating affordable and market-priced housing in Midtown, which will be critical for Midtown’s continued redevelopment.

Midtown Development has also been a player in this neighborhood’s revitalization efforts by renovating blighted properties.

Local business owners and residents are optimistic.  Most see a bright future for Midtown.  There are always some skeptics and detractors, but the majority of residents see these changes as taking their neighborhood in the right direction.  There is still a long road ahead and things take time, but tangible progress is being made to revitalize Midtown Harrisburg and make it “the place to be” in Pennsylvania’s capital city.