Evolution of The Transformation

There's a long history to everything that appears new in Allentown. The American Parkway, with it's new bridge scheduled to begin, goes back to Joe Daddona's era, 35 years ago. Some of the things that were to be serviced by that road no longer exist, others never materialized, and are long forgotten. All the while mayor after mayor obsessed on this new bridge, the existing ones have accumulated more neglect. While we accelerate the American Parkway Bridge, 15th Street receives another delay. The concept of a hockey arena goes back to Bill Heydt, when he tore down the former Hess's Store, and attempted to secure private investors. Thanks to the new Neighborhood Improvement Zone, we have found an effective financing mechanism, the taxpayer. In the real world, it seems the Sands Event Center will dominate the local entertainment market. I believe that the Allentown Arena and office buildings will have some success with foot traffic. The actual cost to bring those people here, will never be known.

rendering of proposed Corporate Plaza*, 1984/The Morning Call Archives
*destroyed by sinkhole in 1994

Take Your Medicine

If the NIZ bestowed any benefit upon Allentown, it was that Sacred Heart Hospital was included. Stranded down at 4th and Chew, the small old hospital serves those residents with the least ability to pay. Now the giant, Lehigh Valley Health Network, will open a sports medicine facility at the arena complex. Sixty percent of the staff will be transferred from their current suburban location. Although the clinic will benefit the arena project, and a private developer, it's unclear to me that it serves the best interest of the greater community.

Baggage Wars

When I grew up, Allentown produced Mack Trucks, General Electric appliances, and Black and Decker Tools, and that was within a block of my house. Four railroad spur lines fed a hundred factories. In addition to heavy industry, we were known for textiles. We now aspire to make money off of other people's loss, literally. The pawn shop owner snickers and laughs, and asks the poor son of a bitch if he wants to donate his treasure. We watch the leeches bid on abandoned storage spaces, hoping some other person left his grandmother's jewelry there, in a box. We don't even aspire to produce anything anymore, just profit from someone else's misfortune. We have become a society of lottery ticket buyers.

Deeds

CUNA To Question Pawlowski

Nobody could ever accuse CUNA* of being pro-active. Now, that the entire square block has been demolished, CUNA wants Pawlowski and Hailstone to come to a meeting and explain what guarantees has the City given that the public investment will truly benefit existing residents and living conditions.(education, housing, poverty)? They plan on holding four informational meetings before inviting Pawlowski. The first occurred last night; The second meeting will be held at 2:00PM at Zion Church, 620 Hamilton, this Sunday, March 25th.
UPDATE: Click on Cuna letter to enlarge


*Congregations United for Neighborhood Action

Allentown's New Parade Route

Yesterday I went to the beauty parlor. About five years ago my downtown barber retired, and I was forced to go to a unisex shop. She assured me she also cuts men's hair, but I have yet to see another one there, but I don't go that often. I'm not sure what she calls her shop or herself, but I use the terms I remember from my childhood; My mother would go to the hairdresser at the beauty parlor. My mother would also take me to the Halloween Parade on Hamilton Street. Parades started at the fairgrounds and ran down Hamilton Street. The Street would be lined with people all the way downtown watching the parade, and hawkers would sell balloons and treats. One of last ones I remember featured Hopalong Cassidy, movie cowboy star of the 1930's. They featured his movies on a weekly TV show in the 50's, so I was very surprised about how old he looked in person. Years later, I heard that they had to tie him to the saddle, so he wouldn't fall off his horse during the parade. In recent years they had Sally Star in a parade down Hamilton Street, also long past her prime, but the people who remember her were afraid to go downtown. Last year organizers of the St. Patrick's day parade started a new tradition in Allentown, taking the parade west, away from downtown. My hairdresser noted that parade would go by her old shop on the way to downtown, and now by her new shop, to get away from downtown. I know there is nothing racist about the organizers or the parade, but there might be something classist about the new parade route.

reprinted from March, 2009

photocredit: molovinsky