The LVH building(at the arena) is a joke. As an employee, I wasn't allowed to park in that lovely enclosed parking lot underneath the actual building while going through EPIC training-- I had to park BLOCKS away-- It seems that all of the peons of LVH have to park quite a distance away as well from what I could see. While attempting to try to park in that "special" lot under the building, I had some nasty parking lot gestapo make me turn around since I didn't have the correct magical permit affixed to my rear view mirror. Undoubtably that lot is somehow restricted to "special people" . Honestly, they would have to hire a fleet of security officers to escort each and every one of us. I just walked quickly with my keys sticking out between my knuckles. When I work at the Bethlehem site, I wind up parking at the dead mall next door and spend fifteen minutes just walking to the desk where I work, so it made no difference to me. Taking a peak at the restaurants near the entrance, I find it hard to imagine most employees having lunches long enough to dine there, let alone being able to afford to eat there. Granted, I could afford a soft pretzel... As far as the gyn is concerned, I would rather pull out my hair one by one than deal with the traffic to go there in the morning before or after work. I highly doubt any potential patient would want to deal with driving there for a doctor's appointment, unless they live a very short distance away and are very familiar with the area. After driving through the decrepit outlying area filled with blighted/condemned houses and finally parking, the first thought that came to mind as I saw the newly developed area was, "I smell a rat".It's apparent to me that virtually free rent may not be enough to keep these restaurants afloat. Reilly might have to consider actually paying them to stay open.
above reprinted from July of 2015
ADDENDUM MARCH 21, 2024: Although nine years have passed, there has been no progress on the vitality and/or nightlife in downtown. All the restaurants mentioned above have closed, and all the subsequent ones that took their place have closed, and then their replacements failed. Meanwhile, J.B. Reilly has continued to built his empire with our diverted state taxes. The NIZ supposedly wasn't passed to make a $millionaire a $Billionaire, but to elevate Allentown for the citizen taxpayers. Although State Senator Jarrett Coleman has been working on some accountability in regard to the NIZ, I'm afraid roadblocks are in his way. Unfortunately, with Josh Shapiro appointing the NIZ architect as state revenue director, I expect that no satisfaction will come from Harrisburg. I think that if Senator Coleman stays on the mission, eventually he'll have to contact the United States Attorney General's office on behalf of Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Question, couldn't he get the state auditor general involved?
ReplyDeleteBefore becoming governor, Shapiro was attorney general. Considering that he appointed Browne, my fear would be a WhiteWash in Pa. Shapiro was just here citing the success of Allentown, ignoring the reality of the NIZ state tax drain.
DeleteNow in 2024, we have another business-class hotel at 10th and Hamilton under construction, as well as a "Music Hall", a few door east on Hamilton. The Renaissance and Americus must be both at full capacity these days. The arena must not be able to find any room on its schedule for more concerts either. The city is just booming with newness and excitement
ReplyDeleteWe all know Hamilton Street is just teeming with life each evening. The crowds are shoulder to shoulder walking along each sidewalk, going to the restaurants and bars that line the storefronts under the Yuppie apartment buildings, all of which have long waiting lists for prospective tenants. You can just feel the pulse of the city walking down the street at night, unafraid
Allentown is much better off than it was before with these new NIZ buildings. Lord Reilly built for us. yes ?
(/sarcasm off)
My guess is that in 10-15 years, maybe sooner, the vast majority of these apartments will be subsidized low income housing.
ReplyDeleteMy greatest fear is that Reilly eventually sells the whole Strata Flats empire to the City or it's housing authority for use as subsidized low income housing.
ReplyDeleteYou can ignore reality. However, you can not ignore the consequences of ignoring reality - Ayn Rand
ReplyDeleteWe have probably reached the time when the US Attorney General should look into Mr. Browne, who still walks around like he owns the place…oh, yeah, he does.
ReplyDeleteMike most are just comped guests of ass backward protectors of the local stable. There is no real revenue nue or existing except the debt service created that PA's tax base is on the hook for farce. This and all the new local development in the whole of the lehighvalley is just the theft of much need services in pa.
ReplyDeleteSadly while you all recognize what is going on in allentown, this same corruption is far more widespread and dangerous in Washington.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the money that is syphoned off every year by the collusion between insider business and the government, no wonder there is a $34 trillion debt. Every American will suffer due to this disaster.
The entire Allentown NIZ program has not only been a failure and a money pit for years to come, it’s been a travesty for taxpayers all across the state.
ReplyDeleteAny time existing tax revenues are diverted for some brand new purpose, the initiatives originally funded by those same monies are either cut (we know that doesn’t happen) or new tax burdens are placed on citizens to replace what is about to be used differently.
Really, how many public officials and citizens living in places like Altoona, etc. have any knowledge of what’s being done at their expense with no real benefit to them?
Failed experiments like this need to be discontinued after a 5-6 year period, not go on forever as a losing proposition. Everything that’s going on downtown, business functions and citizen employment , were ALREADY going on within the state. This just hasn’t worked.
Thank you, Morning Call, for keeping a blind eye on everything. That hasn’t helped your readers. Shame on you, too.
The Morning Call is part of the problem. It's not the solution.
DeleteIn the beforetime when TMC was actually a local newspaper, it had local reporters and editors and even a local publisher from the area. Sam Miller lived in Allentown and he considered himself a leader of the community. The writers and editors both reported local news and to some extent, held city leadership accountable. Miller, the financial and business leaders worked with the mayor and councilmen to advance the city they all grew up in, lived in and wanted to see it flourish.
Today, none of that exists. TMC is published by some newspaper syndicate -somewhere-, I've forgotten where now, its editor is from somewhere, appointed by the head of the syndicate to run the newspaper, its a lot of wire copy and local news reports from reporters, mostly recent college grads from journalism schools elsewhere reporting on a city they are largely unfamiliar with. The newspaper itself is published in another state, and the only real sources of news it has are the news releases from city call and Reilly. The reporters use their time with the TMC to find a better job somewhere else, as they come and go with some regularity. Actually doing investigative reporting would upset a power broker which could do their career harm by not being able to move to a better market.
MM, there has been no investigative news on the obscounded CHIP monies from the cigarette taxes. There is a offshore phone scam that is being run by the whole of PA to steal this monies from the innocent indigent children imported via rilleyvile expense account.
ReplyDeletePlease file some right to know with the open sunshine act at the PA level and than a calculator like the dearly departed Lou Hershman could give a close estimate as too the obscounded monies from PA's CHIP fund?
I print your comment in tribute to the late great Lou Hershman... you're correct that he would certainly be asking questions, at least at council.
DeleteAs for Right To Know... you and others who make suggestions as to what I should do, are just as entitled to file, ask, go etc. as I am.
Don't worry. It will all get better once they install this new traffic configuration at 7th and Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteVell Naw! I’ve gotta hitch up the buggy and come on into tawn from Maxatawny. Gotta see what all the fuss is about with Dawntawn. Yeah, l hope when I get there… that there is a spot to tie up the horses “Bonnie & Clyde” at Center Square. I can’t wait to get a drink at the bronze fountain at the corner, next to the Merchants Bank Building. The horses can get a drink from that beautiful fountain the City of Allentown built years ago that must have cost them a couple Million Dollars. I remember reading about somebody dumping wash detergent into it and there would be mountains of bubbles covering center square. Also, wanted to check out my brick that has my name on it at the square. That mayor was a pretty smart fella getting people to pay money to have their name put on a brink, so it would be there at the square…FOREVER!!!
ReplyDeleteOn my to do list while I’m dawntawn…
Go to Zion’s Church and visit the Liberty Bell Shrine.
Visit Trout Hall
Catch a Movie at one of the theaters
Pay my electric bill at PP&L
Go to the Brass-Rail or The Look Steak Shop.
Window Shop
Visit the stores that line Hamilton Street.
Then head back to the farm.
Just a Dumb Dutchman