URBAN RENEWAL IN URBAN RENEWAL IN HARRISBURG, HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIAPENNSYLVANIA

Reform and Redevelopment Reform and Redevelopment under Mayor Stephen Reed: under Mayor Stephen Reed:

1980-20051980-2005Michael GaetaniHistory 481: The Major Seminar

Professor Robert GriffithApril 2, 2005

College of Arts and SciencesResearch Conference

1979: Three Mile Island1979: Three Mile Island

““The streets of Harrisburg are deserted The streets of Harrisburg are deserted in fear.”in fear.”

Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources

• These included mainly books and These included mainly books and case studies of urban decline and case studies of urban decline and renewal during the past century. renewal during the past century. Prominent among them were: Prominent among them were: – Downtown, IncDowntown, Inc. - Frieden and Sagalyn. - Frieden and Sagalyn– The Geography of NowhereThe Geography of Nowhere - James - James

Howard KunstlerHoward Kunstler– Urban Waterfront RedevelopmentUrban Waterfront Redevelopment – –

Douglas WrennDouglas Wrenn

Urban Decline in AmericaUrban Decline in America• Great Depression:Great Depression:

– Many factories in Northern industrial cities closed, Many factories in Northern industrial cities closed, causing a “rise of the rustbelt.”causing a “rise of the rustbelt.”

– Older urban housing became run-down.Older urban housing became run-down.• After World War II:After World War II:

– The automobile industry boomed; superhighways The automobile industry boomed; superhighways were constructed, causing massive urban were constructed, causing massive urban population relocation.population relocation.

• Suburban sprawl:Suburban sprawl:– The more affluent people moved away from the The more affluent people moved away from the

city seeking more land, new houses, shopping city seeking more land, new houses, shopping malls, etc.malls, etc.

– This was facilitated by the construction of the This was facilitated by the construction of the superhighways.superhighways.

Early Urban Renewal Efforts: Early Urban Renewal Efforts: 1950s and 1960s1950s and 1960s

• Government redevelopment projects were Government redevelopment projects were disastrous for downtowns. Entire blocks of older disastrous for downtowns. Entire blocks of older houses and buildings were leveled to make way houses and buildings were leveled to make way for new office structures. (Ex: Southeast DC)for new office structures. (Ex: Southeast DC)

• Superhighways were constructed through old Superhighways were constructed through old neighborhoods, and tens of thousands of people neighborhoods, and tens of thousands of people across America were displaced.across America were displaced.

• Large, self-contained office buildings detracted Large, self-contained office buildings detracted from the urban atmosphere; people from the from the urban atmosphere; people from the suburbs came in to work, never left the office suburbs came in to work, never left the office building, then drove home. The result? Downtown building, then drove home. The result? Downtown dies.dies.

Later Renewal Efforts:Later Renewal Efforts:1960s and 1970s1960s and 1970s

• Baltimore, Maryland (1960s-1980s)Baltimore, Maryland (1960s-1980s)– Civic and business leaders concentrated Civic and business leaders concentrated

on Inner Harbor redevelopmenton Inner Harbor redevelopment– New projects such as the National New projects such as the National

Aquarium, the Harborplace shopping Aquarium, the Harborplace shopping center, and the Historic Ships drew in center, and the Historic Ships drew in tourists.tourists.

• Alexandria, Virginia (1940s/50s-1980s)Alexandria, Virginia (1940s/50s-1980s)– The historical housing opportunities made The historical housing opportunities made

Alexandria an alternative to Georgetown Alexandria an alternative to Georgetown for upscale residential development.for upscale residential development.

– The city created a viable daytime The city created a viable daytime commercial market in the central commercial market in the central business district by restoring historic business district by restoring historic Market Square and constructing new Market Square and constructing new mixed-used commercial/retail structures mixed-used commercial/retail structures that provided office space as well as that provided office space as well as small shops and restaurants to cater to small shops and restaurants to cater to daytime workers.daytime workers.

Later Renewal EffortsLater Renewal Efforts• Common traits:Common traits:

– The initiative to renew came from many areas The initiative to renew came from many areas of the community rather than one person.of the community rather than one person.

– It was targeted at commercial and tourist It was targeted at commercial and tourist interests; in other words, it was narrowly interests; in other words, it was narrowly focused rather than broad-based renewal.focused rather than broad-based renewal.

– Renewal was localized, at least initially, to a Renewal was localized, at least initially, to a small portion of the downtown. This is small portion of the downtown. This is especially true for Baltimore.especially true for Baltimore.

– The renewal process was step-by-step rather The renewal process was step-by-step rather than a program of simultaneous action on than a program of simultaneous action on many fronts (i.e. housing, commercial, tourist, many fronts (i.e. housing, commercial, tourist, economic, aid to the poor, etc.). economic, aid to the poor, etc.).

HARRISBURG: A CASE STUDYHARRISBURG: A CASE STUDYPrimary SourcesPrimary Sources

• Interviews:Interviews:– Stephen Reed - Mayor of HarrisburgStephen Reed - Mayor of Harrisburg– Jeffrey Piccola - State Senator, Dauphin CountyJeffrey Piccola - State Senator, Dauphin County– David Myers - Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Ed David Myers - Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Ed

RendellRendell– Richard Heaney - Director, Mayor’s Office of Richard Heaney - Director, Mayor’s Office of

Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development• Newspapers:Newspapers:

– The Harrisburg The Harrisburg Patriot-NewsPatriot-News, 1982-2005, 1982-2005• City Publications:City Publications:

– Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: An Economic ProfileHarrisburg, Pennsylvania: An Economic Profile– Numerous pamphlets detailing government Numerous pamphlets detailing government

programsprograms– Newsletters for school district and community Newsletters for school district and community

eventsevents

HARRISBURG: A CASE HARRISBURG: A CASE STUDYSTUDY• Urban decline in Harrisburg:Urban decline in Harrisburg:

– The city suffered constant population loss since The city suffered constant population loss since the 1950s (90,000 the 1950s (90,000 50,000). This erodede the 50,000). This erodede the tax base.tax base.

– The city also was plagued by abandoned The city also was plagued by abandoned housing. By 1980, 85% of Harrisburg’s housing housing. By 1980, 85% of Harrisburg’s housing units were vacant or transient rental units.units were vacant or transient rental units.

– Due to local mismanagement, the city’s federal Due to local mismanagement, the city’s federal and state funds were suspended. Harrisburg and state funds were suspended. Harrisburg was on the verge of bankruptcy.was on the verge of bankruptcy.

– Retail was vacating downtown. The historic Retail was vacating downtown. The historic center (Market Square) was filled with XXX center (Market Square) was filled with XXX theaters, bars, strip clubs.theaters, bars, strip clubs.

– Harrisburg was the 2Harrisburg was the 2ndnd most distressed city in most distressed city in nation according to HUD criteria.nation according to HUD criteria.

– The city had the highest crime, fire, and vacant The city had the highest crime, fire, and vacant property rates in Pennsylvania.property rates in Pennsylvania.

REED’S FIRST MOVESREED’S FIRST MOVES• Reed took steps to restore Harrisburg’s credit and Reed took steps to restore Harrisburg’s credit and

financesfinances

• He also worked to reform Police and Fire He also worked to reform Police and Fire protection by increasing funding and involving protection by increasing funding and involving the community.the community.

• The city offered housing programs, homeowner The city offered housing programs, homeowner incentives, and tax credits to keep residents in incentives, and tax credits to keep residents in town and draw in others.town and draw in others.

Riverfront Park and Downtown

Mayor Stephen R. Reed

TourismTourism

• City Island: waterfront redevelopmentCity Island: waterfront redevelopment• Reed’s tourism initiatives centered on the Reed’s tourism initiatives centered on the

construction of five national-class museums: construction of five national-class museums: National Civil War Museum, National Firefighters National Civil War Museum, National Firefighters Museum – with more museums plannedMuseum – with more museums planned

• Other projects included the Whitaker Center for Other projects included the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and the rehabilitation of Science and the Arts and the rehabilitation of historic homes.historic homes.

City Island and Waterfront National Civil War MuseumWhitaker Center

Commercial RedevelopmentCommercial Redevelopment• The city offered tax incentives to attract businesses to The city offered tax incentives to attract businesses to

downtown rather than to the suburbs. This has led to over downtown rather than to the suburbs. This has led to over $3.5 billion in new investment in the city since 1982.$3.5 billion in new investment in the city since 1982.

• The construction of Harrisburg Hilton and Towers marked The construction of Harrisburg Hilton and Towers marked downtown as a regional destination for convention downtown as a regional destination for convention activities.activities.

• The city became a regional banking, insurance, finance The city became a regional banking, insurance, finance center through the construction downtown of new center through the construction downtown of new corporate headquarters of Penn National Life Insurance and corporate headquarters of Penn National Life Insurance and Allfirst Bank.Allfirst Bank.

• All of this new construction and job growth downtown All of this new construction and job growth downtown renewed the vitality of street life: restaurant row, nightliferenewed the vitality of street life: restaurant row, nightlife

Harrisburg Hilton Harrisburg SkylineMarket Square

Education ReformEducation Reform• Through the passage of the Education Through the passage of the Education

Empowerment Act by the state legislature, Reed Empowerment Act by the state legislature, Reed took control of Harrisburg School District in 2001. took control of Harrisburg School District in 2001. This has led to marked improvements in This has led to marked improvements in graduation rates and college attendance.graduation rates and college attendance.

• He instituted new programs including Pre-K and He instituted new programs including Pre-K and the Science & Technology Prep High Schoolthe Science & Technology Prep High School

• Reed has proceeded with plans for the Harrisburg Reed has proceeded with plans for the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology – downtown University of Science and Technology – downtown Harrisburg’s first four-year resident university – Harrisburg’s first four-year resident university – schedule to open for its first classes in the fall of schedule to open for its first classes in the fall of 2005.2005.

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 The Future of Harrisburg’s RenewalRenewal

• Both Piccola and Reed foresee the Both Piccola and Reed foresee the possibilities of merging municipalities as a possibilities of merging municipalities as a solution to financial shortfalls and solution to financial shortfalls and government inefficiency.government inefficiency.

• Infrastructure improvement will continue Infrastructure improvement will continue so that Harrisburg can accommodate so that Harrisburg can accommodate future growth. future growth.

• The education improvements and tax The education improvements and tax incentives are designed to sustain high-incentives are designed to sustain high-tech job growth in the city, and the mayor tech job growth in the city, and the mayor believes that in the next 20 years, the city believes that in the next 20 years, the city will bear the full fruit of its investments.will bear the full fruit of its investments.

ConclusionsConclusions• Harrisburg differs from other cities in that its renewal Harrisburg differs from other cities in that its renewal

was very comprehensive and directed primarily by one was very comprehensive and directed primarily by one man.man.

• The renewal was aimed at a broad range of issues and The renewal was aimed at a broad range of issues and required a reorganization of governmental priorities.required a reorganization of governmental priorities.

• Harrisburg illustrates that tourism and heritage Harrisburg illustrates that tourism and heritage preservation are key factors to revitalizing stagnant preservation are key factors to revitalizing stagnant economies.economies.

• Reed’s program demonstrates that the private sector Reed’s program demonstrates that the private sector responds better to incentives than it does to heavy-responds better to incentives than it does to heavy-handed government leadership.handed government leadership.

• Reed’s philosophy: Harrisburg needs to be the regional Reed’s philosophy: Harrisburg needs to be the regional center for tourism, culture, finance, commerce, etc. or it center for tourism, culture, finance, commerce, etc. or it will not survive. Other mid-sized cities that adopt this will not survive. Other mid-sized cities that adopt this mindset may also find success.mindset may also find success.

The EndThe End