Rent Battle: Harrisburg mayor wants Civil War Museum to pay

Pickett’s Charge didn’t work. Papenfuse’s might not either.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse says he wants to jack up the National Civil War Museum’s rent from $1 to $183,000 this year and gradually increase it to $633,000 per year by 2030.

But the head of the non-profit museum tells PennLive the rent proposal is baffling. Wayne Motts says the museum is abiding by its current arrangement, which runs to 2031 and includes nominal rent.

Papenfuse proposed the museum pay fair market rent to resolve a dispute over a portion of hotel taxes it’s been receiving. The regional visitors bureau had instead offered to spend $100,000 promoting other Harrisburg attractions.

Papenfuse says the city — which owns the museum’s building, land and many artifacts — can’t afford giving away rent.