The Night Hamilton Street Died

What was once a thriving block of Hamilton Street will now be turned into a ghost down. Even now, although not the golden age shown above, the block between 7th and 8th does business. Still hosting three chain stores, the block had survived, despite one arrogant mayor after another. The Family Dollar Store is one of their most successful branches. Rainbow (jeans) and Rite Aid also anchor the block, along with successful independents. In a night of shame, one of the most shameful acts was Julio Guridy, interrupting the merchants so that Mayor Pawlowski could educate them. Pawlowski said that the arena could attract up to 1.5 million people a year, and that everyone will benefit, even relocated merchants. Considering that the hockey team only actually attracts 3,000 people to 40 home games, Pawlowski is off by about 1.4 million. In reality, the stores that remain on the south side of the street will now face an empty arena and much less foot traffic. The upscale restaurants, such as Sangria and Cosmopolitan, will suffer, because their patrons will avoid the nighttime traffic congestion. Lou Belletieri told Council that he operated a restaurant across from the Wilkes-Barre Arena, and did no business, what so ever, from it. Councilman Michael Donovan said that although he feels for the merchants, he owes the other 118,000 citizens The Pawlowski Palace of Sport.* He actually owed them the courage to say no to this ill conceived plan.*

*Palace of Sport is a borrowed term coined by a blog reader. Donovan was joined by five other councilmen in his yes vote.

Another Day, Another Battle

Sometimes in democracy there is no rest for the citizens. Last night the citizens of Northampton County won a major battle against what was essentially a two man decision. Despite pre-determined studies and other fabricated data, the voters chose dignity for their elderly. Tonight, Allentown City Council will vote to irrevocably change the nature of our downtown, based on the whims of one man. Like Northampton, he had studies done by the very people who would own the project. The mayor would dump our merchants, thinking that The Pawlowski Sport and Event center will restore prosperity to center city. Most residents can only see traffic and inconvenience coming, and would favor the arena either at the river-front or Coca Cola Park. Please join me this evening at 7:30, to remind City Council that although they and Pawlowski were elected to manage the city, they don't own it.

A Quick Learner

In mid April, Ed Pawlowski told The Morning Call he didn't know anything about the merchants being made offers that they dare not refuse. Several days later, Sarah Hailstone told the merchants that the City was the undisclosed buyer. If you think Ed learned a lot in those three days, that's nothing compared to today. Although I didn't attend this morning's meeting with the Mayor and merchants, I did meet with several of the merchants later in the morning. Once again Pawlowski had pleaded ignorance. He didn't know why the Farr Building was the only property the Arena didn't need, in a square block. Strangely, I know; The Farr Building had received close to a $half million in subsidy from Pawlowski, to create loft apartments for the coming onslaught of young professionals with disposable income. It fits his vision, and it will remain. While Ed knew no details at 8:30 AM this morning, within a couple hours he was prepared to announce the arena to the media. I suppose he's a quick learner.

When a Mayor's eyes are bigger than the taxpayer's wallet: Story of a failed arena

Zeppelin over Jerusalem

The German airship LZ127 Graf Zeppelin was in service from 1928 to 1937. Two of it's 590 flights were over Jerusalem. The first occurred on March 26, 1929. It was a night flight, during which they dropped mail into the German colony at Jaffa. The second flight, pictured above, was from Cairo on April 11, 1931. The ship hovered above the Church of Holy Sepulchre for several minutes.

Hardball for Hockey

The following resolution authorizing eminent domain is being put through City Council by the Administration. The arena will have multiple ramifications for center city Allentown. In addition to altering the historic shopping district, center city residents will experience a sufficient increase in traffic, especially in the evening after events. If such a decision should have been made solely by the Mayor, is a fair question. Although another meeting with the affected merchants is scheduled for Tuesday, their opinion and options are apparently of no significance.
R 28 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Allentown Authorizing the Preparation and Submission of Declarations of Taking and Related Documentation pursuant to the Eminent Domain Code of 1964, as amended, to Acquire Certain Properties bounded on the east by North 7th Street, on the north by Linden Street, on the west by North 8th Street and on the south by Hamilton Street within the City of Allentown – inclusive of the following properties, in the event any of these properties cannot be acquired by the City amicably before the institution of eminent domain proceedings in the Lehigh County Court:

Property Address
12 N. 7th St, . 22 N. 7th St., 38 N. 7th St., 40 N. 7th St
42-44 N. 7th St, 46 N. 7th St., 48 N. 7th St

21 N. 8th St., 23 to 27 N 8th St, 29 N. 8th St.
31 N. 8th St., 33 N. 8th St., 35 N 8th St.
37 N. 8th St., 39 N 8th St., 41 N. 8th St.
43 N. 8th St.

701-703 W. Hamilton St.,705 W. Hamilton St.
707 W. Hamilton St., 709 W. Hamilton St.
711 W. Hamilton St., 713 W. Hamilton St.
715 W. Hamilton St., 719 W. Hamilton St.
721 W. Hamilton St., 723 W. Hamilton St.
725-727 W. Hamilton St., 729-731 W. Hamilton St.
733-737 W. Hamilton St.

716 -718 W. Linden St., 720 W. Linden St., 728 W. Linden St.

UPDATE: City Council has been not given, nor has yet asserted, any role in this huge part of Allentown's future, except now being asked to sign off on legal confiscation.
UPDATE 2: Although I attended the first meeting with the merchants and city, and suggested the meeting for tomorrow (I also requested that Mayor Pawlowski attend), I no longer plan on attending. I have learned that the city just distributed a letter to the merchants outlining the Arena Plan, but predated the letter till early April. Merchants, to their credit, are willing to overlook the lack of good faith, and will be attending. Apparently, City Council is accepting the Administration's claim that many properties have accepted the agreement. I believe that those who have signed the agreements are those which have been long vacant, and see the opportunity for a bailout. I'm not surprised that the Administration once again has City Council under it's control.

The Republican Primary

All candidates for County Commissioner, save one (Norma Cusick), have indicated a readiness to sell Cedarbrook. As an independent I can vote for none of them on Tuesday, otherwise, I could vote for none of them anyway. A large part of my tax dollar goes to the criminal justice system, a County function I aspire to never utilize. Beyond the prison, courts, and Sheriff Department, there are the social services which administer to the dependents who are not yet criminals. Those too, I hope never to need. I don't need their soccer fields or farm preservation programs. Although I also hope to never need Cedarbrook, I have known people who have. Cedarbrook served them at the time of their greatness need. The County Government has grown way beyond the essential needs outlined by our forefathers. One of those needs was a facility of recourse for our elderly. Lets not pencil that away, to provide better recreation for the prison, or more social services for those who make being needy a lifestyle of choice.

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