ASH Demo Advances in State Senate

Mike Schlossberg

He's moving fast. On Monday, State Senator Pat Browne introduced legislation that repeals one bad idea but substitutes another. Just two days later, his bill has sailed through the State Government Committee with a 10-0 vote. This has all the makings of yet another bipartisan blunder from the land of midnight payraises.

I speak, of course, of the state's sudden rush to bulldoze the buildings on the Allentown State Hospital campus. Never mind that this will cost taxpayers $15 million. Pay no attention to the state's own Historic Preservation Office, which suggested a combination of "adaptive reuse and redevelopment. Listen instead to Mike "Darth Voter" Schlossberg. He has no understanding of real estate but thinks demolition "will allow for somebody to basically have a blank slate."

OK, Mike, the bulldozers are on their way to your house so you can have a blank slate.

The one place a blank slate is really needed is in the State General Assembly.

Here are my issues with this bill:

Demolition Must Take Place Before Proposals Sought

Idiotically, the bill requires that demolition occur before proposals are even sought. Morning Call columnist Paul Mushick had written incorrectly that proposals would be sought with the buildings intact. He has corrected himself, but to remove any doubt, here's the precise language from the bill:

"Condition precedent to property disposition.--Prior to the competitive solicitation process under subsection (a) and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of General Services is authorized and directed to demolish all buildings and structures located on the property, with the exception of a Commonwealth-owned air monitoring station ... ."

From a fiscal viewpoint, this makes no sense. Why do you spend $15 million to make $2 million? The only person who benefits is the buyer.

This is why I think the Bill should be renamed the "Fuck You Nat Hyman" Law. Browne wants to ensure that his own constituent and the only developer in Allentown other than J.B. Reilly, is screwed. That'll fix Hyman for suing and opening his mouth. How dare he exercise his First Amendment rights! Browne and Schlossberg will spend $15 million of your money to stick it to Nat Hyman.

Couldn't they think of better things to do with $15 million of your money?

A Committee With No Real Estate Knowledge

The second flaw in the Fuck You Nat Hyman Law is that it appoints Browne, Schlossberg and one of Allentown's rocket scientists to a committee to evaluate these proposals. This is complete bullshit. Neither Browne nor Schlossberg know a thing about real estate. They've already established their acumen by supporting the sale of the property to a Doylestown tax cheat with absolutely no public input. What changes now?  The way the bill is drafted, he can still submit a proposal.

My guess is they will still try to sell the property to the Doylestown Deadbeat unless Jenn Mann can come up with another client who smells a little less.

After all, this has nothing to do with the best interests of the public.This is all about lining pockets. Legally, of course.

If these jokers were truly interested in local input, they would never have agreed to sell the property to someone from Doylestown. 

Forget About Zoning 

A third flaw in the Fuck You Nat Hyman Law is that zoning, planning and other local laws to protect us are suspended during demolition. They may be suspended for the proposals, too, but that's unclear.

I support the notion of seeking proposals. Making demolition a condition precedent destroys the possibility of some creative suggestions.The Committee evaluating these proposals is made up of connected insiders who have already demonstrated they know nothing about real estate and have no regard for the public.

My guess is that Schlossberg and Browne have no interest in being re-elected.