Harrisburg Business District

The City of Harrisburg established the Harrisburg Business District Redevelopment Project Area to provide necessary resources for the development and redevelopment of the commercial corridors in the city.  City officials had identified a need for the revitalization of specific properties throughout the city, particularly in the historic downtown area of the Business District. Resources from the redevelopment project have been used to redevelop and revitalize retail and commercial properties throughout the area, with a particular focus on the beautification of the city’s square. Additionally, the Business District program has been used to improve some of the blighting conditions within the District, as well as upgrading the utilities and infrastructure throughout the area. Another priority of the Business District program was the redevelopment of those properties exhibiting deteriorated conditions and providing a resource to assist with the costs of demolition for those structures that are beyond repair and pose a health and safety risk to residents.

In terms of future development, the Business District has been a tool for the city to enhance the sales tax base by recruiting new retail businesses and also retaining existing businesses that are already in the community. Similarly to enhancing the sales tax base, these activities have also resulted in the growth of the property tax base. As properties are improved using Business District resources, the property values in the area increase as a reflection of the improvements and increased investment, and as a result, the property tax base for the city and all associated taxing districts increases. After the original establishment, the program proved to be such a valuable resource the boundary was amended to include more areas in the city that would benefit from inclusion, as there were both public and private project areas identified that needed additional assistance for development and redevelopment activities.