Dr. Thode,
Since we have never met, it stands to reason that you are not aware of my positions about walkability and downtown development. I don’t know where you got incorrect facts.
“Since Councilperson Van Wirt is on record opposing high rise development of any kind in the urban cores of Bethlehem, good luck with that.
"I wonder how many miles Councilperson Van Wirt logs on her car each year. Where does she shop for groceries? Where does she go for medical services? Where does she shop for household items? Where does she go to see a movie, or hear a concert? Does she walk to these places? Does she take LANTA? Or, does she take private transportation?
"Stephen Thode”
I am not on the record opposing high rise development of any kind in urban cores of Bethlehem. Please, show me where I said that? I voted FOR the Benner/Parks project on West Broad Street, which went against HARB recommendations, precisely because I do believe we need increased amounts of downtown residential development. My remarks at the time of the vote reflect this belief. I am for the use of the Boyd for market rate housing. I voted FOR the vacation of 2nd avenue for the Armory project. I have never once said I oppose high rise development in Bethlehem. I have been on council for one year and my voting record is crystal clear for all to see. Please, be sure of your facts before having them published, in a blog or otherwise.
I am a physician for nursing home patients. I take care of patients at over 25 different nursing homes and ALFs in the Valley. You can bet that if they were in one walkable radius, I would be walking there. How inconvenient for my personal transportation beliefs that they are spread from Sellersville to Hometown.
I shop for groceries at the Wegmans. I would be more than happy to shop at a local food market, such as C Town, if there was one in North Bethlehem. But there is not, which is why my husband and I joined the Bethlehem Food Co-op, to help establish a market in a food desert.
I live in the heart of downtown Bethlehem, a choice my husband and I made so we could walk to as many activities as possible. The fact that you cast aspersions on how I live my life without even knowing me gives me great pause. I do not understand why you took your feelings on Bethlehem’s walkability to Bernie, without even bothering to have a conversation with me about this. You are substantively and factually incorrect in your assertions.
Dr. Thode, I am deeply surprised that an educator such as yourself would not do the research before making assertions. The sad thing is, we share the same beliefs about what would make Bethlehem better in terms of walkability. If you ever would like to sit down with me and hear my own beliefs and then come to a conclusion on their validity, I would be more than happy to make the time.
Paige Van Wirt
She’s a thin-skinned softy that doesn’t take criticism well. That’s why she stopped hitting doors to pen this angry response.
ReplyDeleteHe’s the same jagoff that allowed his petulant toddler of a daughter to make international news with her bullshit lawsuit (against his own employer) to change her grade in a class. Perhaps if her Lehigh education wasn’t free.99 she wouldn’t have squandered it.
Anywho, Paige, gotta learn to see the forest for the trees...
Wow!!!! I'm glad she's not mad at me!
ReplyDeleteIsn't c town actually closer to Historic Bethlehem than Wegmans? Probably about 3 or 4 grocery stores in the City limits closer to Historic Bethlehem than Wegmans.
ReplyDeleteShe was against the Benner building and the new parking garage on New Street before she was on Council. How could you be against that project? It's so much better than the empty lot and it adds to the walkability factor she tries to project.
ReplyDeleteThode was owned!
ReplyDeleteThose two should get a room
ReplyDeleteBy the way, The Boyd should be a MOVIE THEATER. Not housing. The type of thing to attract residents down town is a MOVIE THEATER. There is plenty of housing.
ReplyDeleteNice correction of where she stands.
ReplyDeletePretty sure she didn't ever comment on Benner's prison with windows on the corner of Third and New. Of course, people will spread rumors about anyone who poses a real threat to business as usual. Maybe Thode will bother to get information from her rather than cronies with their own agenda next time.
9:31 I assume you don't own the Boyd. How about I tell you that your house should be a half way house? I love people who want to tell others what to do with their property. I loved the Boyd but stand alone theaters don't do well these days and the person who owns the property obviously doesn't want it either. Is Van Wirt against that also?
ReplyDeleteMs. Van Wirt you didn't mention your views on the 3rd and New St. property. Where were you on that? You voted against the enclosed patio seating on the top floor which if you were successful in opposing it would have put the City in a huge legal bind. You have also made several comments at various events about being opposed to the new building.
ReplyDeleteI do not live in Bethlehem. My daughter does. I do not know either Thode or Van Wirt. All I know is that the world would be a much better place if we discussed issues directly instead of through the media, social or otherwise. Both doctors have reasons for their positions on the issues. These doctors should discuss them in person.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Karen Dolan?
ReplyDeleteI award both doctors golden douche nozzles for their Arguments of Merit. A PhD friend of mine regularly reminds that those letters stand for Phony Doctorate, however. Dr. Thode, take note.
ReplyDeletethank you Dr. Van Wirt; walking and biking are essential to quality of life and add beauty and health to a town or city, ideally, a city would be planned around walkways and bikeways.
ReplyDeleteLanta route 105 will get you from Broad & Guetter to 4th & New St.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy it up here in the northeast. I don't need to meddle with the little people.8
ReplyDeleteThe golden douche nozzle award as the man depicted in Bernies article is practicing marching to the tune of those who think they make the learn to code. Marching to a horse of a different colour with rainbows and uniKoRnZ shooting out from there asses as they try too learn to code.
ReplyDeleteBethlehem was doing just fine before these economist's invaded the area with there madoff ponzie schemes of success with public funds. All the studies on there topics get a person laughing as the conflicts are as obvious as the zits on there asses from all them rainbows and uniKoRnZ entrance and exit point.
CODED!!!!!
Apartments in lieu of the Boyd is a positive step forward for a very depressed block of downtown. That use is permitted in that location by city zoning ordinance. Van Wirt is therefore supportive of that development. No issue!
ReplyDeleteA quaint downtown theater would be great for locals and tourists. In todays world it could only run non-new releases, as there is no profit. So I don't think anyone needs top lecture anyone on economics. No doubt it will be used to maximize the owners profits. That in and of itself is not always in the best interest of the community.
ReplyDeleteCapitalism in and of itself has no more inherent morality than any other ism!
3:03 Van Wirt using public transportation? LOL. Not a chance, she wants the other people at Broad and Guetter to use it while she drives by in her $90,000 Range Rover. This from a women who wants the tax payers to pay for a separate $3 million bike bridge over the Lehigh and a new Train/Trolley system.
ReplyDeleteA quaint downtown theater would be great for locals and tourists. In todays world it could only run non-new releases, as there is no profit. So I don't think anyone needs top lecture anyone on economics. No doubt it will be used to maximize the owners profits. That in and of itself is not always in the best interest of the community.
ReplyDeleteCapitalism in and of itself has no more inherent morality than any other ism!
Artsquest theater does just fine showing independent AND first run films.
The point our challenged poster from earlier is missing is that the downtown needs attractions to draw people in the first place. Apartments won't make that block any better. It will remain sad like it is today. No, I don't own the Boyd but I also didn't run it into the ground requiring the entire building to go under including a good burrito joint.
8:56 is basically challenged with how development works. You build a building with 6,7,8,9 or 10 stories of high end apartments with people who live in them, who also have money to spend because they work. On the first floor you have all commercial retail/shops! Then all the people who live in the building equal more people walking on the surrounding streets who then go into all the surrounding businesses and restaurants. All the surrounding businesses and restaurants then have move customers and they make more money and are then more successful. It's a brilliant concept! How that doesn't help the direct area and block that the Boyd is on should be very evident..........I hope!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the commentary asserting that Dr. Wirt would stomp Thode in a debate?
ReplyDeleteIt's the Year Of The Woman, damn it!
Censorship is one thing, but jeez, how can you possibly censor such 'Truth To Power'???
12:36 Perhaps you are challenged in understanding how genuinely positive urban neighborhoods actually function. Look at a few economically successful and socially vibrant blocks in NYC and then look at the Allentown NIZ where planners and developers tried to replicate that urban success on a much different scale. One model seems to work out well and the other is an architecturally sterile area that comes alive on selective arena hockey and concert nights but is cold and empty on the rest. Success in these places involves social and economic relationships that more require longer term neighborhood and area wide complex evolution along with economic sustainability than it does purposeful short term simplistic planning and building and as you say.....hope.
ReplyDelete10:21, I deleted no such comment.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete8:56 is basically challenged with how development works. You build a building with 6,7,8,9 or 10 stories of high end apartments with people who live in them, who also have money to spend because they work. On the first floor you have all commercial retail/shops! Then all the people who live in the building equal more people walking on the surrounding streets who then go into all the surrounding businesses and restaurants. All the surrounding businesses and restaurants then have move customers and they make more money and are then more successful. It's a brilliant concept! How that doesn't help the direct area and block that the Boyd is on should be very evident..........I hope!
A handful of apartments on Broad St isn't going to do a thing.
I always envisioned a functional theater as an economic driver, but alas, not to be.
ReplyDeleteA large residential building (100 units) is the next best thing, putting mid to higher income people in the downtown. It won't hurt.
Agree that large apartment is next best thing to large corporate office building for Broad Street with first floor retail. .
ReplyDelete