Allison Hill: a compact Harrisburg community with affordable homes
Tightly packed 100-year-old homes, corner markets and hole-in-the-wall restaurants line the streets of Allison Hill, a compact neighborhood on the eastern side of the city of Harrisburg. Allison Hill has attracted immigrant populations from around the world, including countries throughout Africa and South America, thanks to a historically low cost of living and access to community services. Although one of the city’s lowest-income areas, the Allison Hill neighborhood has a rich community with nonprofit groups, local businesses and interesting architecture within half a mile of downtown Harrisburg.
Townhouses and single-family homes built in the early 1900s
Most of the properties in Allison Hill were built in the early decades of the 20th century, with popular styles including American Foursquares and traditional homes as well as Italianate and Victorian townhouses. Properties typically sell for between $50,000 and $200,000, depending on their condition . Some homes show signs of disrepair, while others have well-kept exteriors. “A lot of renovation has been done. Those same houses that were $50,000 are now $130,000 to $170,000,” says Wendell Hoover, Realtor at Iron Valley Real Estate in Harrisburg. “The percent of renovations have been 10 times higher than it was prior to COVID.” The western side of the neighborhood also has public housing apartments around Downey Elementary School.
Properties in Allison Hill typically sell for between $50,000 and $200,000, depending on their condition.
Some houses in Allison Hill sit on double lots and have private driveways and garages.
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Local spots along Derry Street and community outreach in Allison Hill
Derry Street is lined with small, casual restaurants serving global dishes. “There are all kinds of different authentic-type restaurants, from Chinese to Ethiopian to Mexican,” Hoover says. Options include Tacos Mi Tierra and Golden Star Restaurant. A few small markets along Derry Street specialize in African or Hispanic groceries, and there is also a Giant grocery store about 1 mile east of the neighborhood. The Central Allison Hill Community Center and Bethesda Mission Community Centers are neighborhood facilities offering youth programming and adult resources such as workforce development and mentorship programs. Additionally, nonprofit organizations such as Wildheart Ministries’ Love the Hill initiative support the community and lower-income families living in Allison Hill with outreach programs like street cleaning, a bi-weekly food pantry and seasonal block parties.
Tacos Mi Tierra is a popular lunch spot in Allison Hill serving up traditional Mexican fare.
Giant grocery store is a mile east of Allison Hill and has everyday grocery needs.
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Recreation and events at Reservoir Park
Reservoir Park borders the neighborhood to the east and has a sprawling playground, basketball courts and the National Civil War Museum. “They just refurbished the big playground there, which is really nice,” Hoover says. From the park’s winding trails and lawn on a steep hill, visitors enjoy views of downtown Harrisburg in the near distance. The 20-mile Capital Area Greenbelt Trail connects through Reservoir Park and loops around to the city’s waterfront on the Susquehanna River. In the summer, Reservoir Park hosts a summer concert series at Levitt Pavilion. The diverse lineup has included Latin, Afro-Caribbean, gospel and jazz performers.
The newly refurbished playground at Reservoir Park is popular with the local residents.
Allison Hill is home to The National Civil War Museum, one of the largest museums in the country dedicated solely to the American Civil War.
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Harrisburg School District serves Allison Hill
Many students living in the neighborhood are zoned to attend Downey Elementary School, Camp Curtin Academy and Harrisburg High School. All three of these schools in the Harrisburg School District have C-minus grades from Niche. The high school earns a B-plus in the athletics category, and it offers nearly two dozen varsity and junior varsity sports teams. The football team has finished every season since 2016 ranked among the top 20 high school teams in the state.
Harrisburg High School has an enrollment of around 1,200 and has a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
Camp Curtin Academy serves Allison Hill students in grades 6-8.
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Multiple bus routes go through Allison Hill
The Capital Region bus system operates several routes that stop in the neighborhood. Route 17 takes riders from Allison Hill to downtown Harrisburg, UPMC Community Osteopathic hospital and Hamilton Health Center, among other stops. Harrisburg International Airport is 10 miles southeast and is accessible via the Route 7 bus. Interstates 83 to the south and Interstate 81 to the north connect drivers across the state. Allison Hill has an overall CAP Index crime score of 7, with the score for some violent crimes even higher. That’s much higher than the national average of 4.
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On average, homes in Allison Hill, Harrisburg sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Allison Hill, Harrisburg over the last 12 months is $127,500, up 25% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
AGENT RELATED TO OWNER.LIST PRICE IS ABSOLUTE BOTTOM LINE AND NOT NEGOTIABLE FOR ANY REASON. ALL POTENTIAL BUYERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DRIVE-BY PROPERTY TO CONFIRM FURTHER INTEREST. **OUT OF RESPECT FOR TENANTS, OWNER WILL NOT SCHEDULE SHOWINGS WITHOUT A Letter of Intent, AT FULL LISTED PRICE, AND PROOF OF FUNDS; SUBJECT TO BUYER INSPECTION.This price point includes a
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This property at 42 N 18th St features a 1-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartment onthe second and third floors. Both units have 1 bathroom and full kithens, within a total of 1,228 square feet. The living room offers ample space for relaxation and entertainment, while the bathroom is designed for functionality. Each bedroom can accommodate various layouts, catering to different living arrangements.
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This property at 42 N 18th St features a 1-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartment onthe second and third floors. Both units have 1 bathroom and full kithens, within a total of 1,228 square feet. The living room offers ample space for relaxation and entertainment, while the bathroom is designed for functionality. Each bedroom can accommodate various layouts, catering to different living arrangements.
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