Apr 30, 2013
Hamilton Street's Token Facade Grants
The other day I purchased a fleece sweatshirt in Archives, a store with urban fashions in the 600 block of Hamilton. The store is owned by New York Urban, located in the 700 Block. I could well be their only elderly Jewish customer, their wares being what I would call hip-hop. I'm sure that they were grateful for the sale, in that I was the only customer in the store. Today, The Morning Call reported that City Center Investments (J.B. Reilly) and PPL are providing $300,000 in facade grants for the remaining merchants of Hamilton Street, just beyond the NIZ zone. Only a few years ago the city provided grants to many of these same stores, also for facade work, as reported then on this blog. One could conclude that shopping lacks on Hamilton Street for factors other than facade problems. There was a substantial amount of shopping on Hamilton Street, prior to the wholesale demolition for the arena. However, the Administration found both the merchandise and clientele not to their liking. Although these grants will not improve commerce on Hamilton Street, they will provide cover for the forced expulsion of the underclass.
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Mike it's going to be real interesting to see who gets approved for these grants and who does not.
ReplyDeleteIs this the continuation of Pawlowski's ethnic cleansing of downtown Allentown?
@1:15, in the grants given last time on hamilton street minority merchants were treated very well. some of those merchants never had a viable business plan in the first place, and only lasted as long as the grant held out. this is a facade grants, and will only be applied to the building's appearance. i have been quite complimentary to pete lewnes in regard to 7th street. my attitude toward hamilton street is different, and will elaborate in a future post.
ReplyDeleteActually I just read where Archives/New York Urban are on the list of acceptable places to shop if one wishes to purchase Allentown School District uniforms for the students. Not a bad gig if you can get it? ...
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