The NIZ has fostered various injuries on the city and it's citizens. Reilly's dashed hopes for a mega project, encompassing an entire block, 7th to 8th and Hamilton to Walnut, resulted in the displacement of numerous businesses and residents. Furthermore, we lost rich history, such as the Elks Club. Yesterday afternoon the paper ran its second story of the day promoting Reilly's much smaller, substituted office condo project. The article is called Five Things To Know about the new project. There's actually six, and the sixth is that the paper never stops promoting Reilly's interests. This morning the paper continues with its third piece on the new building, within two days. Putting aside this endless cheerleading by The Morning Call, the NIZ has surely peaked. Although a number of tenants were poached from different locations, there was no net gain for the region. A responsible Harrisburg would be analyzing the consequences inflicted on the area. However, responsibility and Harrisburg have never been acquainted.
As I commented yesterday, Talen workers will be isolated down at the river, almost punished, if you will. The surrounding 6th Ward certainly doesn't provide much ambience. Expect our local and state taxes to be expended there, to embellish Jaindl's position. The tearing out of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Old Main tracks through that parcel is another history victim of the NIZ.
photo of former Elks Club on S. 8th St., prepared for demolition, to make way for now cancelled mega-project by J.B. Reilly
above reprinted from May of 2016
UPDATE FEBRUARY 10, 2021: Four years later from writing the above piece, an update is in order. Reilly did build out the square block with more offices and apartments. He also did so at 6th and Walnut. It all looks the same, devoid of architecture and any feeling of community. He also secured Talen as a tenant, slowing down Jaindl's waterfront plans. Jaindl is now just starting his first building. The Morning Call continues their promotion of Reilly's City Center Real Estate, and Reilly now owns the Morning Call building. While resented for it, I continue to speak out against the loss of the town's identity.
UPDATE OCTOBER 26, 2022: Reilly continues to build on Hamilton Street, with his debt obligations serviced with our diverted state taxes. With a Hail Mary pass, departing state senator Pat Browne gives Reilly the State Hospital site, endorsed by State Rep. Mike Schlossberg. The Morning Call continues to promote Reilly, yesterday on cue with a story about new vendors. I remain outspoken.
Let’s remind ourselves about the reality of any new business and its employees opening in a NIZ (taxpayer built) property. Unless that business and its workers are coming in from some other state, not Pennsylvania, there is very little additional revenue coming into our state budget. About the same amount was already being paid here in this state.
ReplyDeleteIt’s the ‘fuzzy’ math behind all of this that concerns me. The tax dollars used to build these structures will never be fully replaced according to my calculation.
Real prosperity for any city is by the leaders creating an environment for people to desire to live and run business's in that city.
ReplyDeleteThey must feel safe and secure that the leaders are going to help them prosper by creating that environment.
It will never prosper, by creating images and attempting to bring weekend business from outside the city.
It also cannot prosper if the government views most business as a pocket to pick and redistribute the money to get them votes.
It takes long term determination and hard work to build such trust.
I doubt that the current crop has idea about such things.
Mike you mention that Browne has given Reiley the state hospital parcel? Now has the NIZ relocated to that parcel too as well as the stolen pa tax revenues.
ReplyDeleteanon@8:38; the NIZ was amended to permit such land swaps. we will find out after the fact, like everything else with the NIZ.
ReplyDelete