One of the headlines in today's paper is that the Allentown Planning Board approved J.B. Reilly's new apartments on the former parking lot next to Symphony Hall. Never mind that Symphony Hall expressed its displeasure at losing the convenience of an adjoining surface lot. The Parking Authority, serving what is masquerading as progress in Allentown, cooperated with the sale. Never mind that the Community Music School, primary tenant of Symphony Hall, said that it would relocate without that lot. Allentown's commissions and authorities are mere bobbleheads.
Not only has the Parking Authority played ball with private developers using progress as an excuse, the Park Department compromised itself to cover Pawlowski's purchase of unnecessary land, at a greatly inflated price. Isn't it wonderful to add a park or two when the department cannot afford to maintain what they already have. While the collapsed portion of the wall was repaired so that Lehigh Parkway could reopen, the rest of the wall was never repointed, and the double stairwell is falling apart.
It's not just Allentown officials compromising themselves, it has become standard procedure in the valley. The South Whitehall Commissioners inflated the price to repair Wehr's Dam by 1000%, to justify a referendum to accommodate the Wildlands Conservancy. Call these things progress, but it's really just excuses for corrupt agendas.
When the government wants something done, it will find a way to do it. If it doesn't it trows a hundred roadblocks in the patch of those who do.
ReplyDeletePrima facial example: Restoration of the Americus Hotel. Reilly would have had had a wrecking ball level it if he could have.