A $Million, After The $Billion

Those who listen and read such things, have learned that the new owners of the former Banana Joe's repurposed train station, received a grant for $One Million of our tax dollars.  The former station will be used for a not yet determined use, beyond subsidizing another chosen developer.  There are no handouts like handouts in Pennsylvania, when an administration is going out the door.

What caught the attention of this cynical blogger was the myth that we were told about the NIZ. We were told that, rest assure, after the tax funded redevelopment starts, private money will start pouring in for private development. So here's the reality...A $million in public money for a private developer with no tenant in sight.

I don't know the developer, but I do know that he/she has friends in the right places. Welcome to Pennsylvania.

While other media will show you the Hamilton Street front view, I choose to show the back view of the train station (New Jersey Central), long before it was renovated into Banana Joe's. Likewise, I choose to tell you the back stories.

reprinted from November 4, 2022

ADDENDUM AUGUST 14, 2026: Although the developer did nothing with the $million and train station, he's back with a plan....that is one slow, expensive plan! I think he's back, but asked for a postponement of the planning meeting this week. He now wants to build a six story building, with stores and apartments. Don't rent the moving van just yet. Expect to hear about additional grant proposals and the new Allentown buzz term, affordable housing. Despite the $Billions being spent on the taxpayer subsided NIZ projects, only Nat Hyman is developing units with his own financing. I wonder if there are grants for blogging?