In this week's edition of The Bethlehem Press, Bethlehem Planning Chair Jim Fiorentino warns City Council that adopting Martin Tower zoning changes now will enable developers Lewis Ronca and Norton Herrick to step forward with a plan to create a third downtown, and no one will be able to stop them.
Another message was sent to Council Prez Willie Reynolds at the Historic District polling location and Lehigh area. A write-in campaign was wagedon behalf of "Martin Tower." Willie Reynolds dropped to 3 out of 4 in total votes. This put him nearly 10% below Olga Negron and only 11 votes from being in dead last place.
Maybe Willie needs to apologize again.
26 comments:
Fiorentino steps up to the plate and hits a long ball that could save Historic Bethlehem.
This guy is against any new development no matter what it is. How did he even get on the planning commission? I guess Bethlehem should just stay with rusted steel plants and let Allentown and Easton continue to grow and prosper. Anyone see the article in the paper the other day about which City (Easton or Bethlehem) is better? Just two years ago no one would have asked such a dumb question.
I have no idea what you are saying here. He and his board passes just about everything. And he happens to be correct. Adoptinmg the ordinance with the intention of changing it later will enable Ronca to submit goofy plans now that will have to be honored. In fact, he can throw together the most ridiculous version of retail he can think of and then have the city beg him to tone it down.
Willie is our next mayor silly!
1:16 are you that dumb or just pretending to be dumb. your statement about Fiorentino is completely off base. This guy and his so called board lets just about everything pass. If you look at the fine print, which we all know , you have not, you will see why the red flag was raised.
Just what this city needs more freebies for millionaire and billionaire developers. We all love paying their mortgage as their bank account grows bigger and bigger on the backs of the tax payers.
If it such a great deal these developers would be all over it with out question. The would assume any and all risk with their cash.
Scams like this harm the state and literally cheats the state out of tax dollars to be used for schools, social services and all the other "things".
Hard for me to see how the Martin Tower acreage can become a third downtown. Looking at an aerial view, the usable space is roughly the same size as the old Durkee property across the street. Assuming there will be some new dwelling units created, and all the required parking for retail and, maybe, office space, there's no way this will provide real competition for Main Street.
I expect to see a large 'big box' general merchandise place, or maybe a big grocer, and big movie theater. The space left will accommodate a limited number of local business start-ups, I think.
Fred Windish
The COB should be the driving force of adopting any zoning changes to meet and enhance the QOL objectives of the city, and developers should respond to that. If a developer/owner of a parcel large enough not to be considered spot zoning, has an idea not contemplated by original ZO, then any discussions should be publicly transparent with the COB driving the process. As reported in various press accounts this has not been very transparent. Just what are the developers plans? Concerns for a "third downtown" make it sound like an upscale "lifestyle center" like the Promenade. Windish makes reference to "big box", and Ronca had tried to build a Super Walmart 10+ years ago at 191 and Brodhead in Bethlehem Township. Upscale, big box, something else totally?? How is that planned Zoning if Council or the Mayor cannot clearly say what they envision there? The City should be the one driving a vision. And the cost to take down the Tower? The developers are looking at still making money (as their right to). Without the transparency, however, it almost looks like the developers just see the candy of the CRIZ, and are saying "we'll come up with something if the taxpayers are helping us make some money," rather than openly having a plan that they'd want to pursue regardless of the CRIZ. Fiorentino is absolutely right. Blank check zoning is dangerous. I find it hard to believe, though, that the city officials don't know behind the scenes what the developers have in mind. Otherwise, why would they be pursuing this? To do so without knowing is just plain inept. I'd believe shadiness before that.
1:16 The problem isn't Fiorentino he is not the problem. I feel he and the board try to make things happen in the city. The problem is Bethlehem has now fallen behind both Easton and Allentown because we have Karner as our CED Director. She has done nothing since her appointment and why should she care she lives in Bangor and couldn't care less about the City or the citizens. She backed door this job and now earns $100,000 per year to do nothing. Another order Donchez had to follow.
Fred, there is enough room there for at least of those promenades where you once treated me to a steak dinner. I spoke to a major developer who told me he would market it that way if it were his. I do think merchant concerns are very real. They can be resolved if concrete plans are produced and the city takes its time. And Willis should consider stepping away from this.
4:46, your anonymous personal attack on Karner doesn't establish much of anything except that you are an asshole. I'm no fan of economic development people in government, but consider Karner one of the best. Of course, no one will ever replace Tony Hanna, but I believe Alicia will leave Zbethlehem in better shape than when she found it.
Allentown is a shithole with a silver plated core.
The plating is thin.
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Anyone who thinks Bethlehem is "behind Allentown" is fucking delusional.
For the love of God, get some help!
You can lay all of this lack of anything happening at donchez's feet. We haven't had a real mayor since JC left. Donchez will do nothing so he can try to secure 4 more years on his pension. AK is a joke and everyone in the city knows it. Bring back Kelly, at least he know how to move forward.
This administration has no vision, no work ethic and is totally out of touch with any reasonable sense of reality. When Easton shows you up you have to know you are a loser. Once again this boy is making the Smith administration look good.
North side, east side
Little Willy, Willy wears the crown, he's the king around town
Dancing, glancing
Willy drives them silly with his star shoe shimmy shuffle down
Way past one, and feeling alright
'Cause with little Willy round they can last all night
Hey down, stay down, stay down down
'Cause little Willy, Willy won't go home
But you can't push Willy round
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Up town, down town
Little Willy, Willy drives them wild with his run-around style
Inside, outside
Willy sends them silly with his star-shine shimmy shuffle smile
Mama done chase Willy down through the hall
But laugh, Willy laugh, he don't care at all
Hey down, stay down, stay down, down
We must hold out as best we can. Bethlehem as well as the rest of the area, needs help. Jim Gregory will soon be back, its only a few more months. The Mediterranean manslab was the mover and shaker of Bethlehem politics. These problems would not have developed with his deft handling.
Soon he will walk out of the political gulag and back into the limelight. He now has not only his Mensa mind and political experience but he has been reborn in the glory of God.
If the Democratic Party is smart they will beg his forgiveness and ask him to save them in both Bethlehem and the counties before the republicans pick his brain,
The bronzed man-god known for his legendary staff of life can and will make a difference the question is for whom will it be?
This pretend administration is slowly stumbling into the land of nothingness.
After reading the accounts in both local papers of this misstep by the asleep at the wheel administration it would appear that Evans might make a better mayor or de&cd than the incumbents of those positions.
The developers are looking at still making money (as their right to). Without the transparency, however, it almost looks like the developers just see the candy of the CRIZ, and are saying "we'll come up with something if the taxpayers are helping us make some money," rather than openly having a plan that they'd want to pursue regardless of the CRIZ.
Utilize the proximity to 378 and the historical connection and build a soccer stadium there for Bethlehem Steel FC, surround it on 8th & Eaton with 2-3 story mix of office, retail and residential.
Common sense would require a specific plot plan on display to determine exactly what is proposed for the site. Does it have any residential units, what type and how many? Where are the entry and exit locations to the complex? Will there be a large anchor tenant and smaller retail shops? Two anchor tenants? All specialty shops? Will there be a theater complex, meaning many cars exiting at the same time?
I don't know why/how zoning should be changed until everyone has a much better idea what will be added there.
Fred Windish
Maggie Mae, Democracy is not a spectator sport. if you wanted to know, you should havebeen there. I was not impressed by Eric at all. He came up with amendments 1 1/2 hours before the meeting that, unlike the ordinance were barely explained and very confusing. All he demonstrated is that he was right the first time. This belongs in a committee. It is nowhere near ready.
Comparing Willie's vote total to Olga's is an apples and oranges. She ran in a race by herself. Willie was in there with 3 others, and he was the top vote getter in that race according the the Lehigh and Northampton County Unofficial Results. Don't believe that rag mcall.com . It also has Sam Murray losing the judicial race.
Reynolds had 5,105 votes to Michael Colón's 5,080 and Shawn Martell's 5,035. Olga Negron, who was the sole candidate for the two-year council term, had 5,277
Willie is a weenie.
Olga.
God help us.
i was confused on some of the numbers but now that i have seen the layout it is pretty clear. i give evans credit for turning a 1-6 council vote to a 5-1 council vote.
low naz scott? i am sure the tax payers would love to see their hard earned cash used to build a soccer stadium for a team that is just above the level of a high school soccer team or a d3 team at best.
Do a little research on soccer teams in this area and you will see , since the 1970's , 1980's 1990's and the 2000's it is not an endeavor that produces good results in regards to financial success. stadiums never help the People. it only helps the teams who don't fork over one penny and the developers who watch their mortgages get paid off by the tax payers.
we have enough empty soccer fields that could be used.
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