During the glory days of Hamilton Street, when it came to neon, bigger was better. No store had a bigger sign than Hess's, and that was appropriate. When the city planners decided to built the canopy, that was the end of the great neon age for Allentown. That structure bisected the building's facades, and the vertical signs had to go. Since then we have progressed into sign regulations. Shopping is not a primary part of the new Hamilton Street transformation. Let's move this discussion around the corner to Allentown's new Hispanic shopping district on 7th Street. Hispanic Shopping District is my designation, not the city's. I call it that, because that's what it is. The street is being managed by Peter Lewnes, who is doing a good job. He's giving facade grants and sign guidance. The buildings end up with a historic look, and a very professional sign. Although it's neat, clean and presentable, it's not too exciting. Of course the City Fathers don't want too much excitement, as the people from Catasauqua drive in to the new arena. These new subsidized merchants are on a short leash. City inspectors remind them that besides for OPEN signs, no neon is permitted, and it must be inside the store. Now I know that I'm not a paid consultant, and there's no grant involved with this idea, but how about letting our new merchants put up some neon?How about letting them pursue the same dreams as the merchants once did on Hamilton Street. How about lengthening that leash?
It's racism, pure and simple. The NIZ is what matters and the Hispanic businesses on North Seventh Street is where many of the business owners on Hamilton fled to after they were forced out to build the PPL Arena and the other Reilly office buildings. All the businesses on the Arts Walk are there due to White Privilege, aimed for the 20 to 40 something white residents of the expensive rental apartments. They don't want visitors to shop on the North Seventh Street stores where the locals shop.
ReplyDeleteI called the forced departure of the former merchants as classist, not racist. This past weekend the Morning Call promoted the new food market on the Artswalk... The market thus far is inadequate by every measure. Meanwhile up 7th Street, the Supremo Market gets no article, and it is top notch.
ReplyDeleteYou can call it whatever you wish. They wanted the existing businesses on Hamilton Street out and Pawlowski used force to evict them because it was the wrong kind of people and not the kind of businesses he liked. They wanted the high-class white privilege kind of people on Hamilton, just look at how they promote it today. They don't allow people of color or anyone else who can't afford high rents to live there. Whatever they build is not for the people of Allentown, it's for young, hip, whites primarily. If anyone wants to start a business on Hamilton Street now, they have to go to Reilly who clearly is racist by only letting in who he wants there.
DeleteAnonymous, as an independent candidate in 2005, i was accused of racism for my bluntness about Allentown becoming a poverty magnet. It is an overused ugly accusation. The NIZ makes no pretenses about being "inclusive" concerning rentals. However, I believe that anybody who can afford it, regardless of color, is welcome. Reilly even realizes that the high rental segment is limited, and is remodeling the former Hilton Hotel as lower priced apartments. That said, all points of view are welcome here.
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