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Harrisburg Police propose Uptown community‑policing station in shopping center, lease set at $1 per year
Summary
The police department asked council to authorize negotiations for a three‑year lease of a vacant unit at 2965 N. 7th Street to operate a community‑policing substation. Officials said the location would increase visibility, improve response times, and eventually could be staffed full time; council encouraged cosmetic work by youth crews and stepped‑up outreach.
Harrisburg’s police command presented plans on June 16 to lease a vacant storefront at 2965 North 7th Street in the Uptown Shopping Center and operate it as a community‑policing substation.
Commissioner Thomas Carter and Deputy Chief Kenneth Young said the three‑year lease with AR Uptown LLC would initially run at a nominal $1 per year. The space (about 2,200 sq. ft.) is adjacent to the district office and would be remodeled for officer use; the department expects to reuse equipment from the Emergency Operations Center and will need a network connection and utility responsibility. Initially the site would operate by appointment and as a workspace for officers to write reports and meet residents; the department hopes to staff a full‑time presence if budget and operational needs allow.
Carter said the station would reduce the need for residents to travel downtown for police business and would improve visibility and response times within the uptown shopping area. Council members suggested practical, low‑cost steps to open sooner: post open/closed signage so residents know when staff is present, enlist youth groups and local nonprofit crews for cosmetic cleanup and painting, and coordinate with school transportation staff on bus‑stop safety near the site during construction.
Councilman Lawson and others praised the low lease cost and recommended using Civilian Service Aides and credible messengers as interim staffing while the department seeks budgeted positions. Council voted to forward the resolution to the legislative agenda for formal approval.
What happens next: the administration will return a lease ordinance for council action. The department plans phased activation — appointment hours first, then daytime staffing, and later an ambition for full‑time coverage if funded in the budget.
