I was informed last week that City Line Construction was working in force on the problems at the Hamilton Business Center. When I drove by on Friday, no less than five of their trucks were in front of the building. I told a tenant there that I was sure that with the good faith effort by the building owner, that the city would allow the tenants to remain, but I was wrong. As it turned out the owner had to seek relief through a court injunction against the city order.
Early last week when this situation unfolded, Vicky Kistler was offended by the rumor that the raid and subsequent tags were a political reprisal. With all that work being done rectifying the violations, the city's refusal to allow the tenants to remain appeared to be doubling down by Kistler and the city. As of late yesterday afternoon, both the city and owner announced a settlement, with no further comment.
In my view if the safety issues were being addressed, the city's stubbornness became harassment, against both the owner and the tenants.
ADDENDUM 10:30AM: WFMZ reports that the owner withdrew his injunction request, and that tenants again are ordered to move out. This latest development puzzles me. Was the owner told that if he wins the battle, he will lose the war?
ADDENDUM 3:30PM: The Morning Call reports that the city stated this morning, “due to the seriousness of the life safety issues, we anticipate that it could take several months to bring the property into compliance.”
The fire suppression system reportedly passed inspection as recently as this past October. The iconic property started life as Chrysler First Financial. Over the years I have been in it often, it's way beyond just a substantial building. Perhaps if the out of town owner was more familiar with the reputation of Allentown city hall/ code departments, he would be more defensive about protecting his interests.
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ReplyDeleteanon@7:18, I publish your comment with great hesitation. With such an accusation I prefer some verification. Please send another comment with contact information (which no one will see but me), or I'll have to delete your first comment.
ReplyDeleteIf a rental is tagged unfit, the tenants must be found other places to live until the building is brought up to code. Not sure anymore whose responsible for this.
DeleteMike, Hello! It's been awhile. I remember this same tactic was used by the city during the eminent domain, Pawlowski years.
ReplyDelete7:18 - I’m no fan of City Hall, but I’d be skeptical of anyone who can afford to pay an entire year of rent at one shot asking City Hall for financial help. You infer that paying a year in advance is the norm. I can assure you it’s not.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, this is a matter for your family member to pursue with a magistrate, not City Hall.
Has Allentown become a microcosm for America, a land of elite voters who elect into office fellow elites who cater to their needs, while the poor and working class have become so frustrated in the resulting system that they fail to see the point of voting? If people lose faith in the process why should they participate? This has happened here. Go back several years ago to the election night when Julio was way ahead at midnight then in the morning found out he lost. Of course there was a reason, but perhaps the reason is the problem. As well, locally Latinos ask why their candidates often fail to make the ballot and if they do, they rarely win important races. These questions are rampant in the Latino and from what I have been told the Syrian community as well. When we lose faith in the system we are rule by tyrants, tyrants often have thin skins.
ReplyDeleteI just learned about the UPS truck getting a boot placed on its tire. The city government created the congestion. That's how it is dealt with? The whole citywide government needs a restart.
ReplyDeleteanon@8:33: congestion is a problem Allentown wished it had, Hamilton Street is usually a ghost town. Cars double park on Tilghman Street at 5:00pm out of rudeness, while the APA boots delivery trucks?!?
DeleteRegarding your addendum, that news puzzles me also. The WFMZ report says that the city's attorneys were waiting at the courthouse "...in case the building owner was there...".
ReplyDeleteThat makes me wonder if they were planning on having the owner arrested and sent to jail. I believe that was the tactic used by Pawlowski's administration on the owner of the former Neuweiler Brewery, before the city took that property over.
On that note, I'd keep an eye on what happens to that building in the near future, and if it's somehow transferred or sold to a political donor (or someone who is politically favored). City Hall does have a history of using the force of government to put private property into what they deem are the "correct" hands.
It's funny how this property gets so much attention while other problem properties don't get any scrutiny from the city.
ReplyDeleteAbout a year ago, a twin home caught fire and the property had to be vacated by the owners on both sides. One owner has had their home repaired (it's almost done), but the other has done nothing (and I mean NOTHING). So it's been a year of rain/snow storms, mold growth, and animals getting into that side of the house, which remains an eyesore. You can still even smell the burnt wood when you walk past it.
Now it's been found (not surprisingly) to have gang tags and other evidence of people being inside that half of the structure.
Obviously, this is not a good sign for the people on the other half of the twin who are close to moving back in, and certainly not a positive development for the neighborhood in general.
I have to wonder where code enforcement has been over the last year regarding this property. Maybe if certain members of city council would try to move their business in to that property, the Code Department would be concerned enough to show up and do something.
This is not an anomaly, it is common practice. The government of Allentown does not support the people of Allentown. It exists for elitist special interest groups.
Deleteanon@2:50: you're correct that they did entice the Neuweiler owner to have him arrested. Several years ago I met with him down by the brewery to get the back story. Shenanigans continue(d) with the brewery under the NIZ/ANIZDA. I don't yet know what it is, but there's probably a back story to new development at 11th & Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteYou think they'd go after the adult bookstore across the street from the business center. I think that's still on the NE corner of 11th and Hamilton.
Deleteanon@3:05: I do not believe that Mota having an office at Hamilton Business Center played any part in this story, but I do believe that now there is a "story", if not at the time of the "raid", certainly now.
ReplyDelete