Downtown Harrisburg Revitalization
Since there's so much conversation around downtown and what to do we thought it'd be important to give some context. Take a look at the data and ask questions. So many of these vacant store fronts are the result of greed. Supply and demand. If there's an over supply and low demand than the price should adjust right? When it doesn't you end up with vacant store fronts. Some of these are being kept vacant intentionally for speculation (look at the Market St block with Harristown) and some are vacant because the price isn't adjusting.
Has the city explored PILOT (Payment in lieu of taxes) programs that other similar PA municipalities have? What vibrancy could return if entrepreneurs were able to take a bet on a business because rent is cheap? How can absentee landlords be forced to implement improvements or pay a vacancy tax?
The research methods for the current downtown plan through the PA Downtown Center are bad. They didn't do a real survey. If this $300k plan doesn't address these issues then it's going to be up to us citizens.
Inform yourself and speak out.