The Art Museum move to the NW corner of 10th & Linden is about as cultureless as it gets. In addition to having no history there, it will be separated from both Baum Art School and the art park. It will most likely be another architectural monstrosity.
If the move was to the post office, an art deco masterpiece, it would have some merit, but 10th & Linden is tasteless.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the Allentown Art Museum as a vibrant cultural hub,” Max Weintraub, the museum’s president and CEO said in the release. “By relocating to 10th and Hamilton, we are not only expanding access to the arts but also contributing to the revitalization of downtown Allentown and creating a legacy for future generations.” City and state officials lauded the museum’s plans to relocate, which will bring the museum to an up-and-coming Allentown neighborhood that developer City Center Group has dubbed Downtown West. The Da Vinci Science Center and Archer Music Hall recently opened in the same area.
The above press release and snippet from the Morning Call, inadvertently reveals Allentown's reality. We learn that Reilly's 10th & Hamilton is up and coming, who the real piper is, and who is following him. I suppose another charter school will take over the former art museum on 5th Street.
shown above is the magnificent post office, left to languish by our cultural elite.
And the 7/11 at 7th and Linden remains. A cash cow for cigarette taxes that fund all of this.
ReplyDeleteThe cash cows are the cigarette wholesalers who pay the stamping tax, not this retailer. Pretty sure City Center has been trying to get rid of the 7/11 for years.
DeleteAt 12:45
DeleteThe 7/11 isn’t even pocket change.
I’m developing a more wait and see attitude. It seems odd that the Art Museum would want to put itself on the same block with the Stonewall. Yes, yes, an ambitious museum director who’s cool enough to unbutton two shirt buttons, but from recent history we know that no Allentown Art Museum expansion had ever been completed by the same director who initiated it. Plus I don’t think such a building could be built with local private funds and I doubt that any federal funds for the arts can be expected in the next 3.5 years. I guess that where the magical NIZ comes in. Federal arts funding is for trump’s wonderful, beautiful, garden of statues.
ReplyDeleteCoincidentally, on the day after the story about the Art Museum moving broke, there was also a DAYTIME (5 pm) shooting on the same block of Hamilton that the museum is moving to.
ReplyDeleteApparently, young marksmen/criminals in Allentown also see the neighborhood as “up and coming”.
But such things are inevitable when you have a Mayor who ignores quality of life issues in the city’s neighborhoods for four years. Somehow, those little things that aren’t viewed as a problem (and are ignored) eventually escalate into something that is.
Fortunately though, Promise Neighborhoods was quickly on the scene to “help”. Had there been different leadership over the last four years, City Hall might have just wasted the money going to Promise Neighborhoods on additional police instead, and Allentown residents would have been deprived of such top-notch service.
And fear not city residents, once the shooter is caught our leaders will once again tell us how safe we are, since criminals avoid the city knowing they will be quickly apprehended.
The beating heart of the Lehigh Valley is on life support. Will the Arts Museum visitors need to escorted by security details? They could have really made a statement by putting the Arts Museum out in Parkland somewhere with a big parking lot and safe community.
Delete@5:07
DeleteYou’re confused. The City of Allentown doesn’t fund Promise Neighborhood, Pool Trust does. Pool also leverages funds from Trexler Trust and others, not the City. Susan Wild bought in spite Federal money. The Reality Show mayor, Allentown’s first Latino mayor, is just on board for the P.R.
Matt has had hands full reimagining the former All American City.
anon@5:07: The crime scene looks very nice. The city had arranged a grant to dress up the buildings across from Reilly's new apartments, and brought in Pete Lewnes from 7th St., to coordinate the facade work.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it’s time to stop being naysayers.
DeleteThe Art Museum can have contests for the neighborhood kids for who can make the best chalk outline, and DaVinci can offer close-to-home college classes in Forensics.
Lemonade from lemons people, lemonade from lemons!
I thought the new cultural district was rebranded “JB West”?!
ReplyDeleteIs it true that Tuerk and JB are sitting down together with a commissioned artist to have a self portrait painting? i am sure it will hang prominently in the entrance for generations to see…or at least as long as it remains in the Art Museum.
Hard to get my hands around moving our wonderful Allentown Art Museum further away from the highly touted Arts Walk. Particularly when the majestic old Post Office Building idly much closer.
ReplyDeleteBoth the present Art Museum and the existing old Post Office have that “certain look” of reverence to everlasting, great design.
More than likely, any new location at 10th Street will have that same bargain basement construction appeal the NIZ has brought to the once respected city I used to live in for more than 40 years.
Maybe the same architect who designed the Da Vinci Science Center to look like a Dunkin Donuts can hired for the Allentown Art Museum.
ReplyDeleteThe new Da Vinci parcel was a badly needed surface lot for Hamilton St.... locals won't bother with a deck for a quick purchase. Of course remaining a surface lot wasn't an option for APA, which sold off the others to accommodate NIZ developer(s). Our "leaders" said that the inner city children would be spending their free time learning at an inner city location. School field trips, the only children in real life visiting, have lost the convenience of easy bus parking by Cedar Crest College. The former Da Vinci is now the most elaborate charter school imaginable, but all the students have to be bused there.
DeleteDunkin Donuts!!! Hahahah! That is EXACTLY what it looks like.
DeleteI wonder if "Beating Heart of the Lehigh Valley" Tuerk and City Center will do a press release after the daytime shooting at City Center West, Lehigh Valley's most hip and up & coming neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteI hear one of the displays in Hogans Alley. Really who is the idiot who decided to move it there? JB or Tuerk. There's no parking. You might get shot. I guess JB couldn't get his parking deck. 🤪 Where are the police going? Not like anyone really cares. Oh and did I mention you might get shot.
ReplyDeleteTurek has nothing to do with any major decisions regarding the future of Allentown.
DeleteNothing!
Enough of this drama. So, who does! Allentown has become the City of Stupid People.
DeleteI LOVE the idea of the Post Office. Was it ever a consideration?!
ReplyDeleteI don't get it. Their website has been apologizing ("acknowledging") that their current site is on land belonging to indigenous people for years. Now they're just going to move to more land owned by indigenous people? Will they at least find some descendants of the Lenape to give their old building to?
ReplyDeleteMichael, I find it ironic that the cigarette WHOLESALER… “REILY”has his name plastered on the side of the building at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest!
ReplyDeleteBut, what’s even more ironic, is his friend… the Cigarette RETAILER “TOPPER” having his name plastered on the CANCER INSTITUTE BUILDING at Lehigh Valley Hospital at Cedar Crest.
Looks like the old adage. “MONEY TALKS”
I’m missing the irony but seeing the clear link. Reily roots include his time on the Board of LV Hospital, where he learned the basics of OPM (Other People’s Money), studying under the master, Charles D. Snelling. Additionally Reily’s brother, left St. Luke’s to practice at LVHC.
DeleteRemember LVHC early tenure as tenants of NIZ space?
Have people entirely lost their capacity to connect the dots?
mj adams
There’s more to this Allentown Art Museum Deal, then what is being reported!
ReplyDeleteSomething STINKS in Downtown Allentown EAST!
And it isn’t Kline’s Island.
I will say this:
ReplyDeleteIf the Art Museum moves to that location, it should be built in the highest form of the architectural style that matches the remaining original buildings on that block. It cannot become another bland Reilly building. Architecture is an art, and the Art Museum needs to lead.
It should be the anchor to that block of Hamilton and down 10th, with curb appeal and a feel of its own. People should know they’re on a special block the moment they cross 10th Street. The block should have a unique look, a unique sound, a unique experience. Think Epcot, only in this case it’s the block that has its own feel.
The city should also be looking at putting community development funds into the residential blocks that surround that area. Facade grants for owner-occupied properties. Code sweeps and police enforcement for problem properties. Any additional parking planned for the museum should also accommodate nearby homeowners, who will surely be impacted by both the museum and the new music hall. The museum move should enhance the residential experience in the area, not degrade it.
Obviously, the elephant in the room is public safety. Hopefully by the time the museum is open and built we have a mayor who takes that seriously.
I just wish people would listen and not vote for Tuerk again. He is truly ruining our city. He is al for profit and trying to make this city what he and the developers want without the care of us, the community. Do not vote for Pongo and Binder those are 2 Tuerk trolls that will further help ruin the city we have.
ReplyDeleteWhat does this mean for Symphony Hall, the Baum School of Art, or the Arts Walk.
ReplyDeleteFor many years (and as late as last year), we’ve been told how the Arts Walk (and the locations along it) are vital to the success of that portion of downtown and interdependent on each other for success.
Now, City Hall is changing their tune.
Were they lying to us then, or lying to us now? Or both?
It’s entirely possible that the Illustrated Man-Child Mayor was kept in the dark. Does anyone believe that this mayor is an actual factor in any significant decisions made in Center City?
DeleteHa! The Morning Call will get to the bottom of this and give us all a full and complete report.
DeleteSomething really doesn’t make sense here. Because the building isn’t perfectly suited to “new approaches” of current management you need a new location?? If The museum were likely to move I think the real improvement would be out of downtown. Out to where it could be a more accessible part of the Lehigh Valley, not just Allentown. Out to where it could have its own campus, its own parking, and room for future expansion. Or out to where it could share some resources as the Michener does with the Doylestown library, or bordering a park. 10th and Hamilton will be deadly for fundraising.
ReplyDeleteIn the late seventies an organization called the LVCPA, the Lehigh Valley Center for the Performing Arts was lobbying heavily for the creation of an Arts Mall out on 22.
DeleteThe Allentown arts community and city residents rejected the idea in favor of supporting and promoting the arts and arts in the urban core.
Celebration 80 was quite deliberately staged in Center City Allentown, a seminal event now nearly forgotten. The vibrant arts scene of the late seventies and early eighties is dead and gone but the new CEO and Director of the AAM is a polished Ivy Leaguer and clearly one groovy fella. He will be looking to leave Allentown at the first better opportunity.
I honestly had to read this post several times, google Allentown Art Museum, then read the post again. I simply couldn’t believe that this was accurate.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely incredible!
Full disclosure: I go back to the pioneer days of the Lehigh Valley Arts Council as
V.P.
What does this mean for any viable future for the Baum School? What’s the plan for the current AAM building?
I’m stunned by this situation, and I am not easily surprised these days.
Barba Del Campbell would be horrified at moving from such an old and beautiful building... is the old building scheduled for the bulldozer like most downtown is?
ReplyDeleteThe “occupant of the Mayor’s office” Tuerk has sold Allentown to JB and his cronies. Maybe when Tuerk is voted out he can raise and lower the flags at JB properties every day? May 20, 2025 is the day to vote him out and end this corruption.
ReplyDeleteanon@3:30: Although Tuerk is on the museum board, I don't hang this decision on him, and consequently won't be hosting any more such comments. I believe that moving the museum does NOT significantly enhance 10th and Linden, but will weaken 5th Street, including the Baum School.
DeleteMatt Turek, as any mayor, is a titular member of the AAM board. Matt has no history of any particular interest in the arts in Allentown.
DeleteNone whatsoever.
mj adams
Mike. I agree. Tuerk is not solely to be blamed. He pushed Council to authorize a sale of a City property to the APA to wash dirty hands. Then Council voted to allow APA to sell 10th St for no less than $750k.
DeleteThe mayor, Council members who voted “yes”, and the know nothing Finance Director are to blame here.
It is unfair to solely blame Tuerk-there is plenty of blame to share.
I'm not sure but the APA bought the 10th St property from Park and Shop for $3,265,000.00 in '91 and sold it to Allentown for 750,000.00 in 2010... some crazy kind of accounting and/or assessment.... maybe a sweetheart deal for the P&S owners??? It will be interesting to see the next sale price if the property is transferred.
DeleteAt 3:30 P.M.
ReplyDeleteYou are delusional if you believe that the current mayor is in any way, shape, or form, a factor in any significant decisions about the design and development of Center City Allentown.
He isn’t in a position to sell anything.
mj adams
Is the current art Museum in the NIZ? If so, I'm assuming it will get torn down for another apartment building. If not, maybe it will get added to the NIZ and then torn down.
ReplyDeleteI recall when they built the addition and did all the landscaping not too long ago... now for naught. Amazing how they can squirrel thru money!
ReplyDeleteThey're going to have to build fairly high to have comparable or more square footage than they currently have. Does this give the Arts Walk and Baum School a future problem???
where are people going to park there is or was a deck behind the police station . is that going to stay or get rebuilt ?? with all this so called improvement downtown even if i drive through the area
ReplyDeleteFabulous comments here! I will add my own. It's my guess the Allentown Art Museum is making a break for it by moving west. Don't be fooled this is merely the first stop. From there they are five blocks closer to the west side Cedar Crest Boulevard and freedom.
ReplyDeleteThe nattering nabobs who armchair quarterback every decision made by Mayor Tuérk should be ashamed, you all should self deport to Easton!
ReplyDeleteAnon. 8:57
DeleteThe mayor had little to nothing to say about the relocation of the AAM.
Wake up.