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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Has NIZ Fizzed?




Finally, some good news from Downtown Allentown and perhaps the truth, too. According to the latest Morning Call report by multiple reporters (to let you know they're really, really important) developer J. B. Reilly has shelved City Center Five, at least for now.

"For us to build Five City Center Innovation Tower we need a large anchor tenant," City Center CEO J.B. Reilly said Tuesday. "We don't have a large anchor tenant committed."

Here's what J. B. Reilly meant:

"There are just no major office users left in the Lehigh Valley for us to poach and move to Downtown Allentown. We also can't find another major user like National Penn Bank to steal from another Pennsylvania location and relocate them to Allentown using the NIZ subsidy to do it. They just aren't there. We are disappointed and we are hoping that my good friend Pat Browne will come up with a solution to our problem, I know he can do it."

Senator Browne commented that perhaps the NIZ wasn't enough to help a now struggling City Center and Allentown. "We may need to provide Allentown with more subsidies to help them attract the kinds of businesses that don't appear to be interested in Allentown any longer." One option would be to allow Redevelopment Capital Assistance dollars to now be used in the NIZ, said Browne. "We can't let, City Center, I mean, Allentown, down. They are, too big to fail."

This is oh so-so do-so-pa.

(Note: My "quotes" are parody.)

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

That was REPUBLICAN Sate Senator Pat Browne saying that, correct? I mean the REPUBLICAN State Senator saying that we may need to subsidize Allentown even more.

Wanted to be sure I read that correctly Bernie. You know before the Bobby Guber Walsh crowd comes flailing in with their tea party anti-Obama reactions.

Bernie O'Hare said...

He didn't say that at all. I am being sarcastic. But yes, Brown and JB are both Rs.

Anonymous said...

Eventually even crony capitalists need real money.

Anonymous said...

Putting these bigger projects on "hold" is not surprising. The whole thing was pretty outrageous to begin with. As an investment of Pennsylvania tax dollars, a loser, a money pit. Not looking good for the Waterfront, the 32 story "needle," and other visions, either.

The NIZ experiment is essentially OVER.

Fred Windish

Anonymous said...

I suppose the "Innovation Tower" isn't interesting enough for anyone to actually want to be in it.

Anonymous said...

More like do-si-(No)-dough

Anonymous said...

The market was getting overheated.
This is a very healthy correction and bodes well for magnificent projects just over the horrizon.

Anonymous said...

Stay out of this Bernie. It's none of your NIZness!

Bernie O'Hare said...

When state tax dollars that should be going to public schools are diverted for this nonsense, it is very much my Niz-ness.

Anonymous said...

Gee, a pittance of state dollars that fund underperforming schools with indifferent students v. projects that create hundreds of jobs for local families. I'll take the latter.

Bernie O'Hare said...

That's because you're very short-sighted.

Anonymous said...

12:39,

I get it you were just teasing but stop giving him ideas

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
Short sightedness has always been a factor of LVHN formally known as the great Allentown hospital circus!?($ There is one thought that has to be Stated and that being will stretch enco be participating at both sites with there Greeks and geeks show soon set to begin going on the road for the carnie season openers?!($
Just because I State a party now doesn't mean I am a participant of either?!($
Republican redd

Anonymous said...

Still freaking out over the Tea Party, eh?

How did that Hopey Changey stuff work out anyway???

Anonymous said...

1:06, you missed that meme's expiration date by about 5 years. And judging by Obama's current approval ratings, about half of Americans think it worked out pretty well.

Anonymous said...

Yeah. Only 10 million enrolled in Obamacare vs the 35 projected. More than half the exchanges have failed. Huge premium increases next November. The final verdict on Barry won't be pretty by turbine he slinks away. He's like a one man NIZ. His best will take a while to sink in.

Anonymous said...

Half of America would not know which direction the sun rises.

Anonymous said...

2:34,

Whatever you say, Yo.

Anonymous said...

re : meme's expiration dates

Obviously, freaking out about the Tea Party has no expiration date.

I'll be sure to make a note right away.

Unknown said...

What jobs? Fool

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
I believe there is a secret in Nation Penn Bank having a foot hold in this capitol gatherings of said fictitious funny money put to print philphered?!($ Now I am far from being a forensic accountant, but the simple math like water war capitol funds do not equate?!($
What ever happened to trickery Nicki zarcwaskis and mayor humptey dumptey's first developmental advertise mental profiteer propaganda, dig deep as facts just might be buried in hell with hounds from hell now being co-consperitors openly and blatantly CONspiring collectively?!($
Freeks and Geeks, correction as printer prints itself and I do not proof read print
Republican redd

Anonymous said...

Everyone would rather have a high school educated health insurance claim adjuster deciding what medical care you can have as opposed to your Doctor. yYes, please give us that back.

Anonymous said...

Can Don get them some warehouses?