My post last Friday about the Farmers Market drew the nostalgia crowd on Facebook (Allentown Chronicles), and their wishes that the tradition continues. There are however particulars about that institution not widely known. The Fairgrounds Association is mostly owned by a group of aging stock holders, and traditionally no one family held more than a few shares. That group is rapidly aging out, with the average age 110 years old :).
The Farmers Market is rented to one vendor, who in turn subleases the various spots. That vendor is 105 years old :). Now I'm also old, and this information could likewise be dated. However, knowing the institution fairly well, I doubt that much has changed.
Years ago, the fairgrounds was a highly sought after real estate parcel for a shopping center and/or housing. Although that demand may have subsided, there are institutions, such as the LVHN, Muhlenberg College, etc., who might some day have similar designs. Back then, the old stubborn stock owning families resisted, but old is now the key word. Anywho, for now, we still enjoy our fairgrounds.
Something we can all be proud of.
ReplyDeleteForever i hope!!!
ReplyDeleteSurely the idea of cramming apartments into that enormous parking lot has been discussed. All across the region, institutional uses, churches and decaying shopping centers/malls are trying to solve their financial woes by cramming apartments into the now under-utilized parking lots. A good example would be the building squeezed into the Community Music School parking lot via zoning relief as well as the proposed apartments in the Calvary Temple parking lot being reviewed by the South Whitehall Zoning Board. I could envision the Allentown Zoning Board granting relief for hundreds of apartments at the Farmers Market.
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, no plans have come before the city and there really hasn’t been any legitimate discussion around such a proposal.
DeleteI honestly think it would be a great idea in the old infield area closest to 19th St. A few hundred new neighbors would only help the farmers market and surrounding neighborhood businesses. It’s a great area for young people and seniors alike with so much, including the market and Ag Hall events, within walking distance.
The City tried to force some development there by encating a land value tax, and more recently the "imprevious surfaces fee" for stormwater. I do recall that decades ago there was a proposal to redevelop it, but fortunately it did not go forward.
ReplyDeletePhoebe, LVHN 17th Street, ASD all use large portions of the parking lot for their employee parking.
Maybe they could also relocate the cemetery for a housing project too. There would be a good place under the farm show area for a homeless encampment. The possibilities are limitless with the penciled NIZ propaganda.
ReplyDeleteThis is actually a good idea. The cemetery is already home to a large number of democrat voters, and adding housing above would maximize the return.
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