Old Fox Ridge This neighborhood, immediately north of the Pennsylvania state Capitol complex has had a difficult history. In the mid-1960's the 19th century neighborhood was eyed for the expansion of state offices. The Commonwealth appraised the properties and advised residents their homes would be taken under eminent domain and demolished to make room for state offices. Years passed. By the 1970's the state had shifted its attention south of the Capitol into the city's then decaying business district. The original plan was abandoned with the creation of Harristown Development Corporation resulting in Strawberry Square and the loss of the Penn Harris Hotel.
By 1979, more than half the property in the neighborhood was vacant and blighted. Banks redlined the area and refused to loan money. Real estate speculators were circling.
Well aware the state had reneged on its earlier plan she spearheaded an unsuccessful lawsuit to force the Commonwealth to honor its earlier commitment to acquire the properties.
Failing that, she used The Paxton Herald as her bully pulpit to force some resolution and turn a profit on properties she had been scooping up at rock bottom prices. Antoun succeeded in browbeating the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority into backing a mutant version of the state's abandoned proposal. However, this time the neighborhood was to be cleared not for state office buildings, but for commuter parking. Despite her subsequent claims, historic preservation was the furthest thing from her mind. See "Antoun's Lies" All was proceeding according to Antoun's design until 1979 with the arrival of a few plucky urban pioneers who saw the possibilities lurking under the grime and decay and decided to make their homes in the little neighborhood. They bought properties for more than Antoun was willing to pay. They signed petitions, went to meetings and forced the city to change its plans. They created an historic district. They secured federal money to assist in financing the rehabilitation of the homes of low and moderate-income residents. They spoiled her plans to turn a quick buck.
They decided to form a neighborhood organization, but Antoun was one step ahead. Unbeknownst to the neighborhood, on August 1, 1980 Antoun had formed an organization, Capitol Extension Neighbors Neglected Association, Inc. purportedly to "serv (sic) as liason (sic) between the citizens" and various government agencies. Listed as president of the organization was her operative, Bob "Flying Monkey" Kimmel who gave one of Annette's slum properties as his mailing address. We well remember Annette sweeping into a neighborhood organizational meeting in the Fellowship Hall of Messiah Lutheran Church with the surprising news we were conducting an "illegal" meeting. She had already formed the "official" organization. We insisted that organizational elections be held and immediately voted an actual resident of the neighborhood as president, effectively wresting control of the neighborhood group from Antoun. Annette was not pleased with this turn of events and responded with dozens of petty ways to harass the neighborhood, culminating in charging the ringleaders with a bizarre discrimination complaint. see: Antoun vs. Fox Ridge Neighbors, Inc. Now, a quarter century later, she has developed another scheme to make her money. This time she has a powerful ally in Mayor Stephen R. Reed. see: Museum Proposal This will be interesting. Stay tuned. |
Meanwhile, the little
neighborhood originally slated for redevelopment had spiraled into
decline. Residents, uncertain of the future, had deferred
maintenance and improvements to their homes..