tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post1845553687355544043..comments2024-03-18T21:53:54.073-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: NIZ News Last WeekBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-75420581250214561032012-04-26T21:51:06.057-04:002012-04-26T21:51:06.057-04:00This is all just a bunch of bull$hit start putting...This is all just a bunch of bull$hit start putting people to work. The third party bull$hit is just that bull. Under the city is a hole subterainian world that has been neglected by palitical parasites past and present. Build the new buildings and when the toilets are overflowing because of the present shit was not made to handle the shit go to the top not the bottom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26682984783030182242012-04-24T00:33:33.173-04:002012-04-24T00:33:33.173-04:00Doc Rock -
Sorry for the misunderstanding. I int...Doc Rock -<br /><br />Sorry for the misunderstanding. I intended to compliment LVIP for their vision. <br /><br />That is an organization that set out to improve the economy of the Lehigh Valley, and didn't worry about which side of the municipal border they were on.<br /><br />My point is that Hanover Township isn't its own self-contained community. The citizens probably work in many different municipalities, and may choose to visit shops or restaurants located in Bethlehem or elsewhere.<br /><br />I look at this as an opportunity to bring new money into the Lehigh Valley (state funding for new construction downtown, and hopefully a few new businesses from outside the area), improve downtown Allentown, and preserve farmland.urban_LVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-60940792622139724582012-04-23T20:11:02.506-04:002012-04-23T20:11:02.506-04:00Yep.Yep.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-5262409486898912452012-04-23T17:32:02.919-04:002012-04-23T17:32:02.919-04:00You mentioned Bushkill Twp's participation a w...You mentioned Bushkill Twp's participation a week or so ago. Are they in?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-80008787998893420542012-04-23T17:30:56.224-04:002012-04-23T17:30:56.224-04:00Outstanding post. Thank you for providing this. ...Outstanding post. Thank you for providing this. Bravo for your work on this story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-60044771448204500992012-04-23T13:02:25.168-04:002012-04-23T13:02:25.168-04:00What defines and "Urban Core" "Core...What defines and "Urban Core" "Core Community"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-32253259124886940172012-04-23T09:48:04.155-04:002012-04-23T09:48:04.155-04:00Urban Genius said,
"What about the LVIP orga...Urban Genius said,<br /><br />"What about the LVIP organization? None of us would say that they 'poached' businesses from Allentown or Bethlehem. We would say that they wanted to build high-quality spaces for the new and existing businesses of the Lehigh Valley."<br /><br />Read a little history, Urban Genius. LVIP was formed to diversify the LV economy at a time when a few, large employers dominated the landscape (since you are too young to remember, they were Beth Steel, Mack Trucks, Western Electric).<br /><br />LVIP succeeded and, as a result, the Lehigh Valley became largely insulated from the massive layoffs of those now dead (or dying) companies.<br /><br />LVIP was a complement, not a competitor.<br /><br />Walt Dealtrey was a visionary.Doc Rockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040918921881197906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-75030162039109480612012-04-23T09:41:31.998-04:002012-04-23T09:41:31.998-04:00The Mayor will come only bc he knows he is in a ba...The Mayor will come only bc he knows he is in a bad position right now, both legally and from a PR standpoint. So he'll come and talk about Jesus and the one or two ministers there will gush. As I've said, CUNA is perhaps the most ineffective organization I've seen in A-town. They have a meeting months after there's a hole in the ground. Wow!Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-84343448872037802022012-04-23T09:23:31.131-04:002012-04-23T09:23:31.131-04:00"perhaps one of the most ineffective organiza..."perhaps one of the most ineffective organizations I've ever seen."<br /><br />Funny that this group managed to pull together a public meeting where the mayor will present. That alone is a huge accomplishment. Since they literally have NO power (no money, no people, no support from developers), this has to count for something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68452873501157223532012-04-23T00:43:30.946-04:002012-04-23T00:43:30.946-04:00These outcomes ARE bad and are the reason why ther...These outcomes ARE bad and are the reason why there are lawsuits by townships and commercial developers. The diversion of EIT, particularly future EIT over 50 years, will have a devastating impact on local municipal budgets. The creation of 1.5 MM sq ft of commercial office space in an already saturated market will cause all the local commercial developers to seek assessment reductions. <br /><br />In the end, there will be tax increases on ALL of us, including Allentonians. <br /><br />This is perhaps the most absurdly fooolish idea to make tit thru the state legislature in recent years. <br /><br />If, as you say, there will be no real impact, then cave on these issues. Agree not to use EIT. Agree not to poach businesses withn a 25-mile radius. <br /><br />If you can't make that agreement, then you know that it will have an impact, and are just spinning.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-34902746440543370772012-04-23T00:36:09.090-04:002012-04-23T00:36:09.090-04:00There shouldn't be competition between Allento...There shouldn't be competition between Allentown and Hanover Township, or Bethlehem Township, or any other part of our community. Most of us live in one municipality and work in another. Let's not let these arbitrary municipal boundaries divide the Lehigh Valley community.<br /><br />We need to look at this from a regional perspective. The NIZ will bring new money into the Lehigh Valley region (state funding for new construction downtown, and hopefully a few new businesses from outside the area). The NIZ may shift around a small amount of EIT, or cause a few businesses to relocate a few miles away. Neither of these outcomes is bad for the Lehigh Valley region.<br /><br />In addition to bringing in new money to our local economy, I think the NIZ will contribute to two goals that the vast majority of local residents wish for: (1) Help revitalize downtown Allentown and (2) discourage the suburban sprawl and preserve farmland.urban_LVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51537670522945401952012-04-23T00:22:54.920-04:002012-04-23T00:22:54.920-04:00So did Dr. Frankensten, as Mr. Roma observed last ...So did Dr. Frankensten, as Mr. Roma observed last week. It is a monster that has created an uneven laying field in which J.B. Reilly is actively poaching existing LV businesses from locations within the LV, even from Allentown itself. This is highly destructive to the tax bases of numerous municipalities, and will result in lower assessments and higher taxes unless it is corrected.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-65526276694666551842012-04-23T00:17:42.424-04:002012-04-23T00:17:42.424-04:00If we keep our previous government policy, new off...If we keep our previous government policy, new office buildings would be built in Upper Saucon Township or Upper Macungie Township. These buildings would still compete with Bethlehem for tenants.<br /><br />The question isn't "Should we build new office buildings", it is "Where should we build new office buildings"<br /><br />I hope everyone involved can keep the discussion civil, and not use language like "poached". <br /><br />What about the LVIP organization? None of us would say that they "poached" businesses from Allentown or Bethlehem. We would say that they wanted to build high-quality spaces for the new and existing businesses of the Lehigh Valley.<br /><br />Just as LVIP had the best intentions for the whole Lehigh Valley, the NIZ legislation also has admirable goals.urban_LVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23923652608811522552012-04-22T23:54:46.765-04:002012-04-22T23:54:46.765-04:00Yeah, it's real smart growth to poach business...Yeah, it's real smart growth to poach businesses from a brownfield in Bethlehem or its south side.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-39275743993341768872012-04-22T23:52:11.816-04:002012-04-22T23:52:11.816-04:00New office space will undoubtedly be built in the ...New office space will undoubtedly be built in the Lehigh Valley over the next few years. The state government voted to strengthen the Lehigh Valley area by using state funding to direct this growth into the urban core rather than greenfield development.<br /><br />This is a positive development for ALL residents of the Lehigh Valley. I hope our leaders can recognize this opportunity to preserve farmland and strengthen our core city using state funds from outside the area.urban_LVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41295749409276684052012-04-22T22:53:20.351-04:002012-04-22T22:53:20.351-04:00CUNA is Congregations United for Neighborhood Acti...CUNA is Congregations United for Neighborhood Action, perhaps one of the most ineffective organizations I've ever seen. Now that bonds are about to be floated, they wake up. They were asleep at the switch as business after business was brushed away, just as they'be been asleep at te switch on every other problem plaguing Allentown. <br /><br />But I'm sure their leaders are very comfortable and "walk the walk."Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-73719096158354076442012-04-22T22:45:07.634-04:002012-04-22T22:45:07.634-04:00What's a CUNA? Is that Canadian profanity?What's a CUNA? Is that Canadian profanity?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com