Morning Call Keeps Spinning Reilly's NIZ

The Morning Call has spun Reilly's NIZ since before it began. The newspaper, whose building was included in the NIZ map even though it was on the wrong side of Linden Street, has acted as a virtual press agent for Reilly's NIZ, aka City Center Real Estate.  A half dozen reporters, who have come and gone, have written a hundred articles promoting every new building in Reilly's empire. 

Yesterday's article concedes that the vendors have turned over in the Market place, but reports that now it's a hopping success.  It's nice for Reilly that he never had to hire a publicist. He in turn bought the Morning Call building for a cigarette warehouse.  As if the state taxes diverted for his debt service wasn't enough, Pat Browne sweetened Reilly's pot with the state cigarette tax.

While this blog covered the story of the displaced former merchants of downtown, the newspaper never had a word to say about their plight. You may not be able to read about Reilly's Art Walk Market place, that article is a treat for Morning Call subscribers only.

ADDENDUM: The previous Morning Call Reilly promotion on Wednesday told us that Allentown developers poured millions of dollars into office space. The article did refer to a unique tax plan, but didn't elaborate on how unique it is. There has always been tax incentives for center city, at least since the 1970's. Those incentives, such as the KOZ (Keystone Opportunity Zone), gave developers reduced taxes. The NIZ actually takes employee state taxes and gives them to Reilly for his debt service on the buildings...So we have privately owned buildings being paid for by the public. We taxpayers then also have to pony up or give up for other state services. This year Pa. held back on $100 million which was going to be used for school vouchers. Over $70 million went to Reilly's debt service, you do the math.

Monopoly Allentown Style

The Allentown Parking Authority, at the Mayor's bequest, is playing a high stakes game of Monopoly using the real money of citizens. Make no mistake, it's our money. If you received one of the hundred thousand plus parking tickets last year, or pay to park on a lot, or had a parking meter swallow your quarters, it's your money. The Authority has declared the North Lot "excessive" and is preparing to sell it for townhouses. This lot provides safe, convenient parking for the adjoining Verizon Building workers, and is three quarters occupied. The large "Germania" lot, on south 7th Street is virtually unused. Perhaps no lot in the Authority's inventory is more used and important than the "North" lot, yet in spite of a petition from Verizon workers, the Authority persists in selling it to a partner in the Mayor's vision. Although completed townhouses would indeed provide an impressive backdrop for the Mayor's re-election, let us not forget that Verizon has been providing over 200 jobs for decades and the true mission of the Parking Authority.

UPDATE: The Board of Directors passed the sale proposal with no discussion today by a 3 to 1 vote. Linda Rosenfeld, Malcolm Gross and Larry Hilliard voted for, Michael Donovan voted against. (Candida Svirzovsky was absent) 

reprinted from April of 2008 

ADDENDUM JULY 13, 2023:Although the buyer did not complete the lot purchase on N. 7th St., many of the APA surface lots were sold off to connected developers, contributing to the current residential parking woes.  This blogger has been on the Parking Authority's case for a long time.

My Grandfather's Horse

My grandfather lived on the corner of Chew and Jordan Streets. He butchered in a barn behind the house. The house is still there, 301 Jordan, but the barn is gone. He would deliver the meat with a horse and wagon. On the weekends, when the family wanted to visit friends, the horse insisted on doing the meat market route first. Only after he stopped in front of the last market on the route, would he permit my grandfather to direct him.
I managed rental properties between 4th and 12th Streets. I developed a route between the buildings, utilizing many alleys because of the one way streets. While on my route, I got to know many people living in Allentown, and the circumstances of the different neighborhoods. I would often take pictures of people and things I considered photographic. Although I no longer have the managing job, like my grandfather's horse, I continue on the route. But things have changed. Doing street photography has gotten difficult, people are defensive and paranoid. The streets are meaner and the people are harder. Just making eye contact can be uncomfortable.

Don't blame me, as a rental agent I always put the neighbor's comfort ahead of finding tenants. Don't blame me, as a citizen I ran for office and bluntly said what needed to be said.

reprinted from May of 2008

 

ADDENDUM JULY 12, 2023: Don't blame me, as a blogger I continue to say what needs to be said.

Inclusivity Can Be All Wet

Prior to the current administration, the parking lot along Cedar Creek behind the swimming pool was closed off when flooding was anticipated.  The new administration felt that gates sent a  message of unwelcomeness, and they were ordered removed from various locations throughout the park system.  These gates had been installed over the years to prevent damage from flooding, or to allow for proper snow removal during winter storms. 

When I first learned of their removal last year, I was offended by the waste of infrastructure.  Now I realize that it is actually a public safety issue.

This blog in the past has been critical of the Tuerk Administration's wokeness and obsession with being inclusive.  While I have become less critical about the mayor's agenda,  I will not hesitate to speak out when appropriate. 

The flooded car shown above belonged to a couple who decided to take a long stroll in the rain. Unfortunately the creek rose faster than their return walk, but at least they didn't feel unwelcome.

Gems Of Hamilton Street

Philmore and Rose Tucker opened their first yarn store on N. 7th St. in 1949. The Tucker Yarn Company has been at it's current location at 950 Hamilton Street for over 50 years. For knitting enthusiasts the endless inventory is legendary. Phil recalls how even in May, traditionally a slow month for the industry, Hess's annual flower show kept Hamilton Street and his store busy. A busy Hamilton Street is a memory now shared only by a couple of surviving merchants. Although many of Tucker's customers are elderly, the business is much more than a time capsule. His daughter Mae, nationally known in the trade, gives classes and operates a large mail order web site, TuckerYarn.Com 

reprinted from May 4, 2008 

ADDENDUM JULY 10, 2023: No businesses of Hamilton Street past, including Tucker Yarn, still exist. There are several new businesses, mostly clothing, that constitute Hamilton Street current curtailed retail.

Grant Us Some Wisdom With The Grant Money

Lehigh County inter-governmental agencies are so awash in leftover Covid Funds, their elaborate websites are chocked full o'nutty ideas.

Becky Bradley of  the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is so excited about landscaping the right of way along route 22.  That right of way was supposed to be new lanes to abate the congestion, until Pat Browne redirected the funding into a new exit for a new Jaindl industrial park just west of Allentown.  So now as you sit in the 4:30 crawl, you'll see new bushes between the road shoulder and fence.

Here in Allentown itself, we're trying to create a bottleneck around the statue in Center Square, by reducing the lanes on both Hamilton and 7th Streets. However, prance for joy at the new pollination garden to be installed in the former traffic lane.  Other genius plans are center city bike lanes.... As if the predators who cannot afford low loud cars will use them. You don't see a lot of spandex and bicycle helmets downtown.

Not The NIZ

7th and Turner is a block away from the NIZ, actually now only half a block, with the lines redrawn to include his latest apartment project, The Hive. That monstrosity faces the infamous 7-Eleven at 7th and Linden, and the hapless Lanta transfer terminal behind it. 

Back at 7th and Turner, it's symbolically the longest half block you can imagine...no delusions of sharing the wealth. I've been photographing Allentown for over fifty years, and the gap has never been more apparent.

It's not because money hasn't been spent outside of the NIZ,  because $millions have.  Grants have been given, and facades have been renovated.  People have been made store owners, complete with inventory, yet poverty permeates. The dispersing agencies have grown large and influential... We have succeeded in building a growing  poverty industry.

Allentown Memories

click on photo to enlarge
From low income sections of center city, to expensive suburbs, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley is becoming home to more and more outsiders. I'm afraid the time will soon come when local memorabilia will have little appeal. Fortunately, for those interested, some impressive collections still exist. This past year Robert Bungerz published Allentown Remembered, documenting his outstanding collection of historical postcards and other objects. David Bausch, former County Executive and authority on Automobile Art, is also a expert on things Allentown. Then there are the many small collections, home of the hidden treasures. Above is an early aerial photograph of the Allentown Fair. Those interested in the recent commotion concerning the 19TH Street Theater District may find the upper right of the photograph interesting. There is no theater, there are no houses on Saint George Street and most of the buildings seem to be garages and automobile in nature (don't tell Auto-Zone). This gem is probably from the late teens or early 20's, and comes from the Thomas Reed Collection. Thomas is aka Z1pyro, long time expert shooter for Zambelli Firework Company. He retired several years ago, and we who appreciate fireworks, notice his departure.

reprinted from July 9. 2008

ADDENDUM JULY 5, 2023: I've seen this photograph recently on another group page. It is even offered for sale by a stock photo agency. It actually comes from this blog. I photographed the original mural size print, about 4'x5', at Tom Reed's house in 2008. I failed to evenly light the mural, and the lower right side ended up washed out somewhat. He was given the photo-mural by the Fair Association years earlier. There is a later aerial photo with Allentown written on the grandstand roof. Over the years several photos have been borrowed from this blog without attribution, along with numerous story lines on local places.