URBAN RENEWAL IN HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA Reform and Redevelopment under Mayor Stephen Reed: Michael Gaetani History 481: The Major Seminar Professor Robert Griffith April 2, 2005 College of Arts and Sciences Research Conference

1979: Three Mile Island “The streets of Harrisburg are deserted in fear.”

Secondary Sources These included mainly books and case studies of urban decline and renewal during the past century. Prominent among them were: These included mainly books and case studies of urban decline and renewal during the past century. Prominent among them were: –Downtown, Inc. - Frieden and Sagalyn –The Geography of Nowhere - James Howard Kunstler –Urban Waterfront Redevelopment – Douglas Wrenn

Urban Decline in America Great Depression: Great Depression: –Many factories in Northern industrial cities closed, causing a “rise of the rustbelt.” –Older urban housing became run-down. After World War II: After World War II: –The automobile industry boomed; superhighways were constructed, causing massive urban population relocation. Suburban sprawl: Suburban sprawl: –The more affluent people moved away from the city seeking more land, new houses, shopping malls, etc. –This was facilitated by the construction of the superhighways.

Early Urban Renewal Efforts: 1950s and 1960s Government redevelopment projects were disastrous for downtowns. Entire blocks of older houses and buildings were leveled to make way for new office structures. (Ex: Southeast DC) Government redevelopment projects were disastrous for downtowns. Entire blocks of older houses and buildings were leveled to make way for new office structures. (Ex: Southeast DC) Superhighways were constructed through old neighborhoods, and tens of thousands of people across America were displaced. Superhighways were constructed through old neighborhoods, and tens of thousands of people across America were displaced. Large, self-contained office buildings detracted from the urban atmosphere; people from the suburbs came in to work, never left the office building, then drove home. The result? Downtown dies. Large, self-contained office buildings detracted from the urban atmosphere; people from the suburbs came in to work, never left the office building, then drove home. The result? Downtown dies.

Later Renewal Efforts: 1960s and 1970s Baltimore, Maryland (1960s-1980s) Baltimore, Maryland (1960s-1980s) –Civic and business leaders concentrated on Inner Harbor redevelopment –New projects such as the National Aquarium, the Harborplace shopping center, and the Historic Ships drew in tourists. Alexandria, Virginia (1940s/50s-1980s) Alexandria, Virginia (1940s/50s-1980s) –The historical housing opportunities made Alexandria an alternative to Georgetown for upscale residential development. –The city created a viable daytime commercial market in the central business district by restoring historic Market Square and constructing new mixed-used commercial/retail structures that provided office space as well as small shops and restaurants to cater to daytime workers.

Later Renewal Efforts Common traits: Common traits: –The initiative to renew came from many areas of the community rather than one person. –It was targeted at commercial and tourist interests; in other words, it was narrowly focused rather than broad-based renewal. –Renewal was localized, at least initially, to a small portion of the downtown. This is especially true for Baltimore. –The renewal process was step-by-step rather than a program of simultaneous action on many fronts (i.e. housing, commercial, tourist, economic, aid to the poor, etc.).

HARRISBURG: A CASE STUDY Primary Sources Interviews: Interviews: –Stephen Reed - Mayor of Harrisburg –Jeffrey Piccola - State Senator, Dauphin County –David Myers - Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Ed Rendell –Richard Heaney - Director, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development Newspapers: Newspapers: –The Harrisburg Patriot-News, City Publications: City Publications: –Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: An Economic Profile –Numerous pamphlets detailing government programs –Newsletters for school district and community events

HARRISBURG: A CASE STUDY Urban decline in Harrisburg: Urban decline in Harrisburg: –The city suffered constant population loss since the 1950s (90,000  50,000). This erodede the tax base. –The city also was plagued by abandoned housing. By 1980, 85% of Harrisburg’s housing units were vacant or transient rental units. –Due to local mismanagement, the city’s federal and state funds were suspended. Harrisburg was on the verge of bankruptcy. –Retail was vacating downtown. The historic center (Market Square) was filled with XXX theaters, bars, strip clubs. –Harrisburg was the 2 nd most distressed city in nation according to HUD criteria. –The city had the highest crime, fire, and vacant property rates in Pennsylvania.

REED’S FIRST MOVES Reed took steps to restore Harrisburg’s credit and finances Reed took steps to restore Harrisburg’s credit and finances He also worked to reform Police and Fire protection by increasing funding and involving the community. He also worked to reform Police and Fire protection by increasing funding and involving the community. The city offered housing programs, homeowner incentives, and tax credits to keep residents in town and draw in others. The city offered housing programs, homeowner incentives, and tax credits to keep residents in town and draw in others. Riverfront Park and Downtown Mayor Stephen R. Reed

Tourism City Island: waterfront redevelopment City Island: waterfront redevelopment Reed’s tourism initiatives centered on the construction of five national-class museums: National Civil War Museum, National Firefighters Museum – with more museums planned Reed’s tourism initiatives centered on the construction of five national-class museums: National Civil War Museum, National Firefighters Museum – with more museums planned Other projects included the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and the rehabilitation of historic homes. Other projects included the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and the rehabilitation of historic homes. City Island and WaterfrontNational Civil War MuseumWhitaker Center

Commercial Redevelopment The city offered tax incentives to attract businesses to downtown rather than to the suburbs. This has led to over $3.5 billion in new investment in the city since The city offered tax incentives to attract businesses to downtown rather than to the suburbs. This has led to over $3.5 billion in new investment in the city since The construction of Harrisburg Hilton and Towers marked downtown as a regional destination for convention activities. The construction of Harrisburg Hilton and Towers marked downtown as a regional destination for convention activities. The city became a regional banking, insurance, finance center through the construction downtown of new corporate headquarters of Penn National Life Insurance and Allfirst Bank. The city became a regional banking, insurance, finance center through the construction downtown of new corporate headquarters of Penn National Life Insurance and Allfirst Bank. All of this new construction and job growth downtown renewed the vitality of street life: restaurant row, nightlife All of this new construction and job growth downtown renewed the vitality of street life: restaurant row, nightlife Harrisburg HiltonHarrisburg SkylineMarket Square

Education Reform Through the passage of the Education Empowerment Act by the state legislature, Reed took control of Harrisburg School District in This has led to marked improvements in graduation rates and college attendance. Through the passage of the Education Empowerment Act by the state legislature, Reed took control of Harrisburg School District in This has led to marked improvements in graduation rates and college attendance. He instituted new programs including Pre-K and the Science & Technology Prep High School He instituted new programs including Pre-K and the Science & Technology Prep High School Reed has proceeded with plans for the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology – downtown Harrisburg’s first four-year resident university – schedule to open for its first classes in the fall of Reed has proceeded with plans for the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology – downtown Harrisburg’s first four-year resident university – schedule to open for its first classes in the fall of  State Senator Jeffrey Piccola, representing Dauphin County and the City of Harrisburg, was the chief sponsor of the Education Empowerment Act.

The Future of Harrisburg’s Renewal Both Piccola and Reed foresee the possibilities of merging municipalities as a solution to financial shortfalls and government inefficiency. Both Piccola and Reed foresee the possibilities of merging municipalities as a solution to financial shortfalls and government inefficiency. Infrastructure improvement will continue so that Harrisburg can accommodate future growth. Infrastructure improvement will continue so that Harrisburg can accommodate future growth. The education improvements and tax incentives are designed to sustain high-tech job growth in the city, and the mayor believes that in the next 20 years, the city will bear the full fruit of its investments. The education improvements and tax incentives are designed to sustain high-tech job growth in the city, and the mayor believes that in the next 20 years, the city will bear the full fruit of its investments.

Conclusions Harrisburg differs from other cities in that its renewal was very comprehensive and directed primarily by one man. Harrisburg differs from other cities in that its renewal was very comprehensive and directed primarily by one man. The renewal was aimed at a broad range of issues and required a reorganization of governmental priorities. The renewal was aimed at a broad range of issues and required a reorganization of governmental priorities. Harrisburg illustrates that tourism and heritage preservation are key factors to revitalizing stagnant economies. Harrisburg illustrates that tourism and heritage preservation are key factors to revitalizing stagnant economies. Reed’s program demonstrates that the private sector responds better to incentives than it does to heavy- handed government leadership. Reed’s program demonstrates that the private sector responds better to incentives than it does to heavy- handed government leadership. Reed’s philosophy: Harrisburg needs to be the regional center for tourism, culture, finance, commerce, etc. or it will not survive. Other mid-sized cities that adopt this mindset may also find success. Reed’s philosophy: Harrisburg needs to be the regional center for tourism, culture, finance, commerce, etc. or it will not survive. Other mid-sized cities that adopt this mindset may also find success.

The End