Barbarians At The Bridge

Although both Cunningham and Pawlowski hosted celebrations of our regional birthdays this year, neither cares about our history, nor do their minions. Glenn Solt, Lehigh County's project manager, and supposedly aspiring County Executive, seems contemptuous of our history. He repeatedly claimed that the 188 year old Reading Road Bridge is neither historic or unique. He states that there were 14 such bridges in the county when he began his watch. Unfortunately, for our history, this is the only one that this blog has concerned itself with. When the effort to preserve the bridge began, Cunningham said that if the community wanted to keep the bridge, the plans could be modified; But, by this past Wednesday, Solt was putting on a full court press for a new bridge. Perhaps, he sees the aggressive bridge replacement program as an accomplishment for a future political campaign. Downstream, Schreibers Bridge is now being jeopardized by Pawlowski. Because Allentown allowed the beams on the 15th Street Bridge to rust away from lack of paint, the northbound traffic now uses Schreibers, another stone arch bridge, also 188 years old. Car and trucks now line up for a block to cross the historic bridge. Three weeks ago, I personally informed Pawlowski that an outside stone on the northwest approach had come off, and others were being stressed. When the 15th Street Bridge is closed this summer for replacement, the traffic flow on Schreibers will be overbearing. History is more than blowing out a candle at Agriculture Hall, or hosting a dinner at the Holiday Inn.

The old postcard shows Schreibers Mill from the east. Although the mill has been gone since the beginning of the 20th Century, the bridge in background is still serving Allentown.

The Uncertainty of Allentown

One man's transformation is another's destruction. Although Allentown's 700 Block of Hamilton Street had long lost it's glimmer and glamor of the 1950's, it was still a destination for the new demographic. That clientele is now being steered to outer 7th Street. The Planning Meeting, this past Wednesday, demonstrated all the uncertainty of the Arena Plan. My post on the Planning Puppies was not satire. Those gentlemen were actually reduced to asking about a tree and a garage door. One puppy mentioned that things should look pretty, so that when patrons walk beyond the arena, new shopping venues will develop; Good luck with that puppy, eat your treat. In the real world, the architect explained how hotel patrons will not have to venture outside, to access the arena, restaurants or bars. More important, she confessed that as of yet, there was no hotel operator on board. The puppies were approving merely a concept; A transformational, taxpayer funded hope, by Pawlowski, Reilly and Company. As outside municipalities begin to organize against the EIT funding mechanism,* the demolition of the entire block has been completed. While those stores had always provided the hope for more affluent days, I doubt if that will be true in the future for the arena complex.

* EIT Funding Suit story broken by Bernie O'Hare

Before the Transformation

For most of Allentown's past, there was no need for a Transformation. We were the ideal city, so much so, that in the early 60's, we were proclaimed The All-American City. We were Mayberry, only much larger. Our little leagues played under the lights, and our fathers worked for top union wages. Imagine a city that could boast that it actually manufactured in own fire engines! Imagine a city that had no litter. We now have so much litter, not only do we need trash cans, we need trash compactors. We once were a destination and envied; We are now resented, and sued. This blog will continue to report current city events as I perceive them, engage with the bureaucrats as my energy permits, and occasionally share a glimpse of our past.

A Failure to Intimidate

The Cunningham Administration failed to intimidate the County Commissioners into approving the Reading Road Bridge this evening. Earlier in the day, Commissioners received a seven page memo attempting to negate points recently made on this blog; Their usual nonsense, that the bridge isn't historic, and that it's filled with crap. The last page was a memo from someone in Allentown Public Works, stating that the bridge was responsible for the flooding upstream, and posed a danger to public safety. Cunningham's staff then send what they thought would be the knock out punch; A legal opinion from the County Solicitor, that since that note said that the current bridge threatened public safety, a no vote would make the County liable if anything happen. They had been served notice. The tactic seemed to push the Commissioners too far, they decided to table the resolution. Allentown Public Works would be more honest to write that they are depending on an almost identical stone arch bridge, Schreibers, to link the South Side with Center City. They should write how they allowed the beams on the 15th Street Bridge to rust away. They should write how they cooperated with the County in 1980 to build the pedestrian bridge for Reading Road Bridge. Now, after 188 years, they send a memo the day of the vote, that the bridge causes problems? Gotta love the arrogance.
UPDATE: The Morning Call report by Samantha Marcus

Joseph S. Daddona

Joe Daddona was mayor of Allentown four terms. Yesterday, when I visited the Reading Road Bridge, I saw the For Sale sign on the Daddona house, which adjoins Union Terrace. Actually, the park is now named for the former mayor. One of Joe's many accomplishments was to refurbish the historic Reading Road Bridge in 1980. It was under his leadership and pride that the adjoining pedestrian bridge was added at that time. Built in 1824, it was one of first bridges in Lehigh County. The current leadership takes campaign credit in replacing the bridges throughout the county. Although all identified defective bridges have already been replaced, they are now simply replacing older bridges. This bridge, in addition to being part of the county history, is part of the park's charm. Please join me this evening, and convince the County Commissioners to retain this important part of our past. Your presence would be appreciated at either one, or both, of two meetings on the topic. The committee meeting will be at 5:45 on the 4th fl. of Government Center. The main Commissioner Meeting, and vote, will take place at 7:30, in the first floor chamber.

file photograph from The Morning Call archives.

Allentown's Planning Puppies

Back in January, I told you how the Allentown Planning Puppies were miffed that the Arena was approved without them. Today, that more components have been added to the plan, and the puppies have completed their obedience school training, they were permitted to sniff the new plans. After viewing slides of the square block showing the arena, office building, hotel and parking deck, the head puppy asked if they were going to replace a tree that was removed for demolition access. A second puppy asked if the garage doors at the service entrance would be pretty. A third puppy begged for a treat, then they all voted yes. The End.