I’ll just post it here.
There are a few threads on the Harrisburg Message Board on PennLive dot com about the proposed PAL building rehab at 1110 N 3rd st.
In case you haven’t heard about it, the Patriot News ran a story claiming that a developer had purchased the building from the city for $123,000 (the cost of a new roof and stablizing the building).
The article claims that the developers have some lofty visions for the project-a community art center, performance theater, coffee shop, a pool and, um…a bathhouse.
It states that the developers plan to get this all done for around one million dollars.
There’s also a quote from Carrie Wissler-Thomas from the Harrisburg Art Association singing the praises and crossing her fingers for this plan to come to fruition.
What PennLive deleted was a post I made questioning the validity of the story. My points were as follows:
- There wasn’t a quote directly from the developer.
- There is no way that project can be completed for $1 million.
- The developer apparantley purchased two vacant lots and will build more townhouses on them.
Additionally, I was unable to find ANY information online about the developer and the article claims one of the developers came to Harrisburg on a whim and just started flipping houses.
Go ahead…Google “Bartlett, Traynor and London LLC” and see what you come up with. The ONLY listing is the PennLive article.
Now don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to see this project happen. But I’ve seen my fair share of projects announced and then just fade away as if they were never even discussed.
Remember the huge planned overhaul of the area near Shipoke at the entrance to 83? Never another word was spoken.
Go ahead, Milton. Delete this…oh wait–you CAN’T.
Weird they deleted that. By the way, I got email from the developer weeks ago asking for help and even set up a meeting. They didn’t show, but they did call to apologize and say they were legitimate. So I don’t know what to make of it all, except I agree one million is low. here’s the guy’s email:
bartlettraynor@aol.com
Loved your development plans for Mid-Town. With all sincerity, we are looking at investing in midtown and have passion for Harrisburg. You to have passion, coupled with smarts,education and a panache for witting. Have at look at http://www.harrisburgarts.com and please feel free to call me or e-mail 717-421-3061 john traynor. Could be interesting!!
It’s funny you mention that they are building a bath house. That’s the same thing my husband said. That’s probably why pennlive deleted your comment…
Although I am also skeptical about the entire thing, but that’s just my nature.
When I talked to Traynor on the phone, he said that someone had criticized his plans because they thought he was putting in a gay club so maybe that’s a sensitive issue and what made them delete the bathhouse reference. Notice that the press release from the city was careful to note there would be locker rooms for men and women.
Personally, I don’t care as long as someone does something with that building. Club, museum, art center, film office, anything at all. Heck, I’d take a strip club over vacant at this point
A strip club! NOW we’re talkin!
One of the reason that the bath house reference may be so sensitive is that Midtown is still thought by many to be HBG’s “gay-bor-hood”. I remember when we moved here a couple of people I worked with thought it was strange that we would want to live where all “the gays were”. I just thought it was a nice area…
The bathouse wasn’t mentioned in my original post on PL. They deleted it because I questioned the integrity of what the Patriot News and PennLive publish.
You may be right on that count. All they seem to do is publish the press releases. Haven’t they heard of calling anybody? Well, the phone number is in my post above!!! Come and get it, reporters
The first thing I asked myself when I found out about this was “Why did NYers choose Harrisburg?” Granted, I’d love to see a community-building project happen in Midtown as well, but the fact that the developers have appeared to keep the very community they’re tailoring to in the dark (“Shh! Wait until the announcement!”) is a bit of a disappointment.
Why Harrisburg? Because land is cheap and the opportunity is here to reap a profit on the investment? Others are doing the same think. An Irish investor opened an Irish pub, for example. Maybe we just don’t see the opportunities with a fresh eye and outsiders do?
I don’t think they are trying to keep everyone in the dark, either. As I said, I learned about the project when one of the principals emailed me directly based on some commentary I had on my blog about mid-town development. I suggest if you want more info, just email or call the guy.
Actually, I almost did contact him.
I’d also like to think I can view it as an outsider, because I’m from Harrisburg but am living up near NYC. Harrisburg’s practically not on the map up here, largely due to the lack of direct public transit to Central PA from NYC.
It’s not that Harrisburg’s a bad place to set up, it’s just that if you’re in the business of making money, there are a number of other markets where investing could yield larger dividends.
In reply to all your concerns. It is only our intention to try and do something that we have passion for. Yes i spoke with Ms. Davenport and yes i did not meet her at starbucks. I called and spoke with her after the fact.
This project has been all comsuming. Our intentsion are good, honest, and openned we may be guilty of optimisim, but we want this to work.
I have no problem talking, meeting with anyone.
We want to create a place for all to enjoy and you will all find, we are caring people, who are not afraid to taking risks and investing our million into the community.
If you don’t think its enough please send your checks!!
Or at least your suggestion on how you would like to see an Art Center WORK.
We have had so many positive e-mails and want this to work. Art, film, theatre, music… Harrisburg has wonderful people who all want to expand and grow the art community.
Be apart of this. Best wishes John Traynor
P.S.
You can e-mail me at harrisburgarts@aol.com Look forwarded to being grilled! P.S. Bathhouse is not a bad idea…we can clean up Harrisburg!
John-
Please understand that this blog and my comments on the PennLive forum aren’t criticizing your plans–
However, the Patriot News has a tendency to announce projects that aren’t solidified.
After reading your comment, I do need to ask–have you actually purchased the building? Is it under your ownership at this point?
Or do you PLAN to purchase it from the city?
Again- I would LOVE to see your plan happen–as I said on the forum- I toured that building about six months ago with the notion of renovating it and opening a live music venue.
But inquiring minds want to know: Are the wheels actually in motion on this or are you just suggesting what would go well in the space?
LOTS of people have stepped up with ideas for that place over the years…but none as of yet have actually followed through…
Just to be clear – I’m all for the project and Mr. Traynor did in fact call to apologize after being a no-show at Starbucks. We did have a rather long conversation about Harrisburg, development and the PAL project and he did seem to be very sincere about the project. I agree we are all jaded by the number of announced and abandoned plans we have seen over the years. Let’s give this a chance.
What I’d like to see but haven’t yet is some suggestions from the developers for what the rest of us can do to assist. Will there be zoning and planning commission meetings at which support would be necessary from the community?
If I recall correctly, the Mayor’s office at one point issued a press release for the PAL building and even put up a big sign – it was supposed to be developed into the midtown wellness center, complete with holistic medicine, a spa and other goodies. Anybody else remember that? And of course, nothing happened . . .
WOW!! I like it!
[...] And I have to admit- until I met the guy, I thought that he was a made-up story. A fictional character plopped into the headlines as another way to bolster morale of the city by the MFL- [...]