“Let’s hop on the next flight and begin our new lives in [Insert dream destination here].” – Every millennial college grad ever.
Wherever that dream destination may be for you, many central PA-based conversations circle back to uprooting and moving clear across the country to Portland, Oregon. A destination on the map known for its Voodoo doughnuts, easy access to hiking trails or beaches, and micro-breweries. Plus, don’t forget the 1,080 coffee shops in a 145 mile radius.
Aside from its obvious beauty, Portland draws in millennial crowds for its unique neighborhood offerings, wide array of options for the local foodie and increase in jobs with livable salaries. The combination aligns with a well-off economy.
We can’t all move to Portland though, right? Right. Because just like letting your roommate “borrow” one of your bagels for the third time this week, growing cities across the country have learned to share the wealth … and weirdness.
In a recent study, Harrisburg ranked in the top 15 citiesfor millennials to move to. The study assessed millennial-related concerns such as job availability, pay rate, commute time and nightlife. Interestingly enough, Portland ranked 82 in the same survey. So the question beckons, could Harrisburg become the next Portland? Relatively, the city the next wave of college graduates dream of moving to?
A long-awaited release of Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan to improve the city revealed ambitious plans for the future. It includes altering Second Street into a more residential street with two-way thru-traffic, adding roundabouts and increasing the amount of bike lanes. It looks at creating a logical transportation hub incorporating more than the rail lines and bus services already offered – it wants to connect foot and bike traffic as well by enhancing pedestrian walkways.
The plan also includes a major goal of increasing the population of the city from its current 49,000 residents to 60,000 in the next 20 years. This means retaining 25 percent of the residents who leave every year and encouraging them to revitalize the current and vacant homes sprawled around the city.
These plans cover issues including social, physical and economic development. And it’s these big ticket words that draw in young mindsets. Similar to Portland, millennials have the opportunity to start afresh – and invest – in a city that’s practically asking for their hand in marriage.
Take it from me – Harrisburg will offer you the honeymoon phase, it will test your temper (I swear, if I crave food from Broad Street Market on a Sunday ONE more time ….), and it will encourage growth in you each day for as long as you allow it to. Ah, happily ever …
Not quite. Harrisburg faces its own share of problems – problems that could quickly resemble the problems Portland faces in the wake of population influx. As the city of Harrisburg looks toward the future, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of becoming the next great livable destination on the map. As current residents and prospective residents, we have to ask ourselves what kind of city we want to foster.
How can we further prosper Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan to take social, physical and economic development into equal consideration? I’d say by studying a city like Portland, rather than becoming it, we have the power to see their triumphs, learn from their downfalls and inject a well-rounded development plan into our own city.
Harrisburg distinguished itself during the beginning of the 20th century for its beauty and progressive nature. By inviting millennials to create a life here – first renting an apartment, then buying a house, and later investing in their property – the city gains an opportunity to revitalize this old way of thought.
I’d challenge the residents of Harrisburg to welcome their neighborhood millennials, and share this new way of thought with them – they haven’t landed their one-way ticket to a newfound Portlandia, rather they’ve stepped foot in Harrisburg 2.0.
Cherishburg 