Agnes Plus 50: A Celebration of Resolve

Agnes Plus 50: A Celebration of Resolve. . , The 50th Anniversary of the 1972 Tropical Storm Agnes Flood was commemorated in 2022 as "A Celebration of Resolve" by focusing on the half century of historic preservation and urban revitalization that followed the flood rather than on the dramatic and destructive episode itself. In retrospect, the devastation throughout City neighborhoods represented one of Harrisburg's most significant milestones in promoting subsequent revitalization and renewal. The demolition of rows of homes particularly in the hard hit Shipoke neighborhood prompted the rethinking of what urban renewal should represent. Longtime residents did not want to lose their homes, and new "urban homesteaders" saw opportunity in flood damaged houses that could be purchased for a few hundred dollars. This triggered a policy shift away from traditional urban renewal wherein entire blocks were razed in favor of a more sensitive and creative approach to community conservation and historic preservation, largely driven by grassroots activism., Beginning in 1973, this newly awakened public spirit helped to spark the founding of the Historic Harrisburg Association as well as initiatives from the city government to establish the first municipal historic districts followed by the overlay of National Register Historic Districts in 1974 and 1975. Shipoke became a focus of this renewal particularly as seen through the development of new townhouse construction interspersed with historically preserved housing stock., Meanwhile, the losses of significant downtown landmarks such as the Penn Harris Hotel and the majestic State Theater led to the efforts of the Greater Harrisburg Movement to establish the Harristown Development Corporation that set forth a plan to redevelop the Central Business District. The steady application of these early community development tools resulted in Harrisburg being recognized as a leader in historic preservation and urban revitalization, while making the city a residential and business location of choice, all owing to the foresight of community leaders awakened by the "watershed" impact of the flood waters of Agnes., [Captions:] , An iconic view of the flood waters inundating the Governor's Residence at N. Front and Maclay Streets and surrounding uptown neighborhoods., Restored Shipoke row on S. Front Street., Harrisburg's historic districts grew in number after the Agnes Flood., PennDOT's later built connector bypass with green space buffer helps to enhance Shipoke's tranquility., Stylish new construction with elevated living spaces built where flood damaged houses once stood blends well with historic homes.