MAJOR GAINS REGISTERED IN CITY OVER THE PAST YEAR
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today reported that in 2007 the City issued 1,840 building permits representing $266,433,000.00 in new economic development, which is a 68% increase in the level of investment over the preceding year. It puts 2007 into one of the top five years in the volume of new economic development. Since 1982, there have now been a total of 37,971 permits issued for $4,405,000,000.00, continuing to reverse three decades of previous decline that caused Harrisburg to be listed as the second most distressed city in the nation.
The report was part of Mayor Reed’s annual State of the City Address, delivered before an overflow crowd at the PA Farm Show Complex today. Sponsored by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the annual event was again sold out with well over 800 midstate business, civic, political and other community leaders in attendance.
Other highlights of Mayor Reed’s 2008 State of the City Address included:
Major improvements continue to occur in the Harrisburg School District, including an expansive curriculum upgrade and the continued implementation of additional learning programs. The graduation rate has increased 116%, enrollment is up 39%, the drop-out rate has been cut from 8.4% to 4.8%, test scores have risen and the number of students going on to higher education has risen 383%.
The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, now in its second year of operation, has received multiple national accolades and awaits the completion of its new 16-story academic center, to be dedicated on December 11, which will offer 371,000 square feet of classrooms, laboratories, seminar rooms, auditorium and other space.
Attendance at special events held within the last year exceeded three million visitors, while attendance has also increased at City-based recreational programs.
In other citywide attractions, the Harrisburg Senators attracted over 240,000 fans last year, the National Civil War Museum has been visited by over 450,000 since opening, over one million persons were at events at the PA Farm Show Complex last year, and the State Museum of PA had over 121,000 in attendance in 2007.
An extensive wave of housing renewal work, the most ever undertaken at one time, continues its progress, with over 5,500 homes or apartments having been renovated or built in the current era either by the City or through private development. Among these are the nearly 100 Olde Uptown townhomes currently being rehabilitated or newly built, the 49 upgraded units of the Historic Mount Pleasant Apartments project, the 71 new townhomes slated for new construction in the Governor’s Place neighborhood of the City’s Uptown, where 222 units have just been completed, Capitol Heights, where over 200 homes are being built, and Marketplace Townhomes.
The Midtown Master Plan was unveiled last year which is a comprehensive land use strategy to chart further development in the areas north of Forster Street, including low-rise construction and rehabilitation for office, retail, residential and educational use.
Several new hotel projects are in the works, including construction on the $11 million Staybridge Suites Hotel on Wildwood Drive, the $2.5 million upgrade of the Comfort Inn on S. Front Street, and hotels at N. 2nd and State Streets and at N. 3rd and State Streets
All 93 signalized intersections in the city will have LED lights by year’s end, cutting energy use by 80%, and major infrastructure projects were completed, including the $16.6 million South Street Parking Garage which created 755 additional parking spaces on 12 floors
As he has in past State of the City Addresses, the Mayor acknowledged the efforts and contributions of midstate citizens, businesses, and others. The Mayor dedicated his remarks to the efforts of Harrisburg’s and the nation’s military servicemen and women, who are defending American and democracy around the world.
"While the wisdom of war is debated in civic circles, nothing can detract from the courage, valor, duty and service that our men and women in the Armed Forces have rendered," said Mayor Reed.
The Mayor listed dozens of new projects and developments in his Address that have come to fruition or are in the planning and development stages, involving millions of dollars in new investment in the City and the creation of hundreds of new jobs. Gains in neighborhood renewal, public education, infrastructure, tourism, sports, arts, culture and recreation were also noted by the Mayor.
"The year 2007 is therefore amongst the top five best years in terms of new economic development in at least a half century," said Reed. "The progress of this era has taken Harrisburg to new levels of advancement never experienced in its history."
Reed also highlighted advances that have been made in public education over the past year, noting an array of statistics on higher graduation rates, number of students enrolled, higher test scores, and other increases, as well as decreases in the drop-out and teenage pregnancy rates.
"The special focus on education includes the arduous, comprehensive and long-term process of improving urban public schools," said Reed. "It is one of the nation’s most challenging issues and simple and quick solutions do not exist. We are, in this City, engaged in nothing less than a complete rebuilding of a school system."
The Mayor concluded his annual address by noting, "With ardor, spirit, passion and vision do we embrace the future. The best days are yet to come. With conviction, faith and confidence, we believe in a figure without limits and dedicate our work to the highest ideals of public service."
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