CITY ISSUES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR 350-UNIT STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT
Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that the City of Harrisburg has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of up to 350 units of student housing in the Midtown.
Mayor Reed said the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Harrisburg has assembled 3.0 acres of land in Harrisburg’s Historic Midtown for new infill construction. He said the City is seeking proposals from qualified investors to plan, construct, own and manage off-campus housing for students enrolled in institutions of higher education. Developers may propose more or less than 350 units if desired.
The land area consists of most of the northern side of the 400 block of Reily Street and most of N. 6th Street between Reily and Harris Streets.
Reed said Harrisburg’s dynamic economic development has included the City’s evolution as a regional center for higher education. He said post-secondary institutions within the City have grown in number in recent years and now include the establishment of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and the construction of its 16-story Academic Center at 4th and Market Streets, as well as Harrisburg Area Community College’s Midtown Center at North 3rd and Reily Streets, Messiah College’s Harrisburg Institute at Dewberry and Chestnut Streets, Temple University and the Dixon University Center. The Mayor said that the City’s educational development gives rise to the demand for student housing.
In the midstate region, there are two dozen institutions of higher learning. Student residents of the planned units do not have to be attending a City-based college or university.
"The City of Harrisburg is interested in creating a housing environment for students by offering quality living accommodations that are clean, attractive, and student-oriented," said Mayor Reed. He said the proposed site is within easy walking distance of downtown, Riverfront Park, a movie theatre, numerous restaurants, a farmer’s market, City Island, sport and health facilities, museums, art galleries, bookstores, thrift shops, and a performing arts center.
Reed said the City of Harrisburg offers a ten-year graduated scale of tax abatement on any property improvements exceeding $50,000.00. He also said the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority can form a partnership with a developer to facilitate tax-exempt bond financing. The Authority is also eligible to apply for a portion of any environmental assessment and remediation that is needed on the site. The project can be structured as either a long-term lease or as a direct land purchase between the developer and the Redevelopment Authority, said Reed.
The Mayor said the structures shall be no more than five stories and should include a masonry finish. The façade must be of a brick or stone, cognizant of the predominant building materials of the surrounding area. He said all designs, including accessibility standards, are to meet Fair Housing Act requirements applied to student housing.
Reed said all proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. on March 24, 2008. For more information on the Student Housing RFP, contact the City’s Department of Building and Housing Development at 255-6480.
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