It certainly was a different time. At that time, city council meetings always started late because city council members would decide everything in the back room before meetings got underway. There was no Sunshine Act. Nobody minded the secrecy. They just hated waiting. Gross insisted that meetings begin on time, This probably made Allentown a little more transparent.
He had a great title but very little power. At that time, under a Home Rule Charter drafted by his father, the mayor was "only one vote of five on Council, which controlled all city affairs." It would be difficult to set any agenda in the "shifting sands of council votes on which the Mayor was required to stand."
Ironically, Gross' chief opposition usually came from another Democratic City Council member, Bill "Bull" Ritter. (I'm told he was a phys ed teacher at Muhlenberg)
Gross became upset when the 1960 census showed that the population had dipped two percent to 104,000. Though that was eventually corrected to show a slight increase, "Jack knew that the long-range picture for population growth remained dark, and he never came to recognize that a declining city population might actually be an advantage if its quality were maintained. As a result he left as part of his legacy a need for population growth at all costs. In an effort to fulfill that legacy, city policy in the next 20 years encouraged conversion of homes to apartments to sustain the impression of population growth even at the expense of breaking up the community that had made up that population."
Gross focused on downtown retail shopping. "Commercial office buildings in the downtown were no longer to be a priority. Neighborhoods in center city were to be sacrificed to retail shopping. Even the upper stories of Hamilton Street stores were allowed to decay. The value of the first-floor retail space would carry 'The Street' by itself. Jack was committed to maintaining The Street at all costs."
Hamilton Street, between 5th and 10th, was called Golden Acres, with Hess Bros as the anchor.
In an ominous sign of things to come, a Two Guys discount store opened in Whitehall. In violation of blue laws, it was open on Sundays, too. Mayor Jack asked DA George Joseph to prosecute this egregious violation. He refused. He noted he was a prosecutor, not a cop. He added that some Allentown shops ignored blue laws as well.
Did the blue law violations really hurt Allentown? Mal disagrees with his father here. He postulates that the decline of Hess Bris,, and increase of one-way streets and parking meters were the real culprits. . "Allentown residents instinctively disliked one-way streets and parking meters. They may have sensed that parking meters and one-way streets for fast traffic killed neighborhoods."
As Mayor Jack pushed apartments, neighborhoods died.
"Apartments had become the mayor's answer to the lack of undeveloped city land for housing. There was, however, a fatal flaw in this hope. Apartments didn't serve the needs of the families who lived in the many blocks of rowhouses that formed the backbone of Allentown. The blue collar workers and their children who lived in these homes wanted larger houses with two-car garages and yards with grass, not apartments with no yards. Jack never grasped Americans' love of green grass. "
Around this time, Michael Gatti started the Ancient Oaks development in Lower Macungie. Blue-collars could move into $12,000 homes with two-car garages and yards. Similar developments followed, leading to an exodus of blue collars.
"The grand apartments Jack hoped for never really materialized and the single-family row homes gradually became crowded apartments as the neighborhoods died. Allentown's population was misleadingly maintained, but not its 'people' as Jack knew them."
Some other tidbits from this bio:
* Mayor Jack was the first Allentown politician to send out a mailer in his campaign for election. During his campaign, the whisper campaign against him was that he was a secret Roman Catholic.
* Mayor Jack would have dinner with the zoning hearing board before every meeting to make sure his wishes were known. He sat in the front row of their meetings as well.
* Mayor Jack gave committeemen a dinner and drink at the Elks along with a box of Gross pretzels before his election. Reporters got dinner and drinks, but no pretzels.
* Mayor Jack introduced JFK when he came to town, but was not a fan. He preferred LBJ or Adlai Stevenson.
* Mayor Jack got statewide news coverage over, of all things, a speeding ticket.
* Mayor Jack suffered from numerous illnesses as a child and even moved to California for a time. He had to drop out of college because of the Depression.
* Mayor Jack coaxed Mack union workers to make wage concessions to prevent the company from moving. It worked, but Mack eventually moved some operations anyway.
* Mayor Jack, like JFK, wore lifts in his shoes so he'd appear taller.
* The ethnic make up of Allentown in 1959 was mostly Pennsylvania Dutch, with some Irish, Jewish and Italians. (I believe the Syrian migration began in the '60s.)
That is what the current Mayor and Council in Bethlehem are doing to the city. They want any and all apartments on every square inch. The neighborhoods don't want it, but they don't hand out cash donations. Bethlehem will make Allentown look like the garden of Eden in a few years with this crew.
ReplyDeleteI've always argued it was SUBURBAN flight related to marketing campaigns and consumerism that caused Allentown residents to begin using their automobiles to move to the suburbs in search of quieter neighborhoods with trees and lawns etc. in the 1960s - 1970s. It seems to me that the WHITE flight component occurred later on as African-Americans and Hispanics made similar movements from the New York metro to Allentown to take advantage of the more available and affordable housing being left behind by suburbanization in the 1980s - 1990s. Then due to cultural incompatibility, full on white flight has occurred since 2000 as the Allentown public schools have become upwards of 95% African-American, Hispanic and mixed race. It is unfortunate that Allentown allowed so many conversions of homes to multi-units, this bad policy has been reversed, but the hundreds upon hundreds of single family dwellings converted into 3, 4, 5, 6 units have really caused problems that accelerated white flight. Here's to hoping that younger whites will be attracted once again to urban living in the future so that Allentown can truly be a diverse community.
ReplyDelete“Cultural incompatibility” lol - call it what it was and still is: RACISM.
DeleteIt’s the inability for white folks to take the time and understand people that look and act differently.
So populations have a significant effect on a city's quality of life? Go figure. Same decisions were made in nearly every American city. Changing your population is racist, but it's key to revival. Allentown tried a heavy handed ethnic cleansing that ultimately failed. Easton has been successful by slowly gentrifying and pushing its undesirables into west ward and Wilson. For decades, Lafayette students called downtown Easton's denizens "syph babies. Change the populace and change your fortunes.
ReplyDeleteYou said that a city’s population has an effect on quality of life, did you really mean to say that if a city’s population is mostly WHITE, then they have a “better” quality of life? By what standards? Do you think that gentrification is a good thing? Is the only way to gauge if a neighborhood is good is to have a high household income base? I can tell you from experience that neighborhoods in NYC have been devastated by gentrification and have lost its unique cultural influence and sense of community because of it. Sorry but, we all know that white people have no culture, they just steal it from everyone else. So the only thing they bring to urban communities is angry Karens and expensive coffee shops.
DeletePlease, you know nothing about what it takes to build true urban communities.
It is no coincidence that de-segregation and urban development coincided with the flight to the suburbs.
ReplyDelete"It is no coincidence that de-segregation and urban development coincided with the flight to the suburbs.
ReplyDeleteThis mini-bio makes pretty clear there were numerous factors.
"Same decisions were made in nearly every American city. "
There was urban redevelopment in A-town and Easton, but Bethlehem put a stop to it under Mayor Mowrer. He believed Bethlehem should instead focus on preserving its history. In Easton, urban re-development probably was needed bc so many homes were right up against the Delaware. But it did displace many Lebanese. I am less familiar with the A-town neighborhoods.
"Changing your population is racist, but it's key to revival."
ReplyDeleteThese days it's called gentrification.
None of the row homes converted from single dwelling units to multiple dwelling units pay the same proportional school tax to cover the cost of additional school-age kids to educate. Look it up! What was once a single family dwelling with 3 kids, in example, has now been converted to a TWO family dwelling covering the same footprint. Now, perhaps, 5-6 kids living there. Yet, the school tax bill and revenue to educate these kids did NOT double.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the role the schools played in the demise of Allentown. Allentown chose not to do the area school district and rejected parkland's attempt to form an area school district. This decision would have unforeseen consequences that furthered Allentown's demise when the white flight started.
ReplyDeleteBethlehem was able to survive in part because of historic preservation, and the fact that the schools remained strong throughout the district. Easton also benefits from an area school district, but not as much since most of the schools are in the townships.
"Allentown tried a heavy handed ethnic cleansing that ultimately failed."
ReplyDeleteWow...how casually and inappropriately you throw around the concept of ethnic cleansing. Think about the victims of real ethnic cleansing such as the 1 million Rwandans who were slaughtered and butchered by machetes in 3 months time. I think your comment is insensitive to those who lived through and/or died in real atrocities.
"None of the row homes converted from single dwelling units to multiple dwelling units pay the same proportional school tax to cover the cost of additional school-age kids to educate. Look it up! What was once a single family dwelling with 3 kids, in example, has now been converted to a TWO family dwelling covering the same footprint. Now, perhaps, 5-6 kids living there. Yet, the school tax bill and revenue to educate these kids did NOT double."
ReplyDeleteOutstanding point!! I pay more property tax as a single family dwelling on a medium density lot than some suburban slumlord pays for a 6 unit townhouse in center city. I really wish Allentown/ASD/PA Legislature would coordinate to create a per unit school tax assessment to replace the ASD property tax component so that the multi-family dwellings that put 20 kids into ASD would pay a tax for each unit. Then owner-occupied single family dwellings could pay 1 fee as well, but they would get a long welcomed and overdue overall reduced school tax payment.
"None of the row homes converted from single dwelling units to multiple dwelling units pay the same proportional school tax to cover the cost of additional school-age kids to educate. Look it up! What was once a single family dwelling with 3 kids, in example, has now been converted to a TWO family dwelling covering the same footprint. Now, perhaps, 5-6 kids living there. Yet, the school tax bill and revenue to educate these kids did NOT double."
ReplyDeleteWhile there are literally thousands of comparisons that can be made, here's a random comp:
1. 6 unit at 436.5 W. Turner owned by an LLC out of suburban New Jersey: 6 units with $4,800 school tax to ASD or $800 per dwelling unit
2. a single family dwelling at 2431 W. Highland Street owned by the occupant with $2,100 school tax to ASD or $2,100 per unit.
The owner of the single family dwelling likely puts no kids in ASD, feels pressured to move to the suburbs and pays nearly triple per unit school tax compared to the wealthy LLC out of NJ who in theory puts 5 - 10 kids in ASD and is driving home owners out of the City.
Some idiot submitted a comment tagging Gross bc he was a Dem. He was one of five votes. Three votes on City Council were R. His blunders, if they were blunders, were bipartisan.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have the official data, but I estimate a great majority of Allentown School District’s currently enrolled population lives in public housing and a wide variety of rental units converted from single dwellings into multiple dwelling units. As a result, ASD does not receive nearly enough revenue from the taxpayers who actually send kids to be educated.
ReplyDeleteUmmm. What caused the white flight from Allentown?
ReplyDeleteIs this a trick question?
What Pawlowski et al did was certainly ethnic cleansing. Rwanda is genocide. The terms are neither mutually exclusive nor interchangeable. Don't be silly.
ReplyDeleteLooks like turkey neck is a hereditary trait
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"Ummm. What caused the white flight from Allentown?
Is this a trick question?"
This was addressed already by a less ignorant and less racist poster above: Cultural Incompatibility caused accelerated white flight. Meaning out-migrating whites were uncomfortable by the cultural norms of the new African-American, Hispanic and Mixed-Race in-migrants.
Never make assumptions about why someone decides to change their place of residence. That’s their personal choice, not yours. Circumstances unique to their life, comfort, happiness, and ability to pay determine what they do. You function as best you can, nothing more.
ReplyDeleteThis ‘white flight,’ racism motive for what someone else decides where to live is possibly true, but not necessarily true. Ever consider someone moves because they need more living space? How about they are sick of fighting for a curbside parking space in an older neighborhood with narrow streets and too many cars, Or, they prefer not to be renters and now have they ability to create equity in their ownership. Maybe, due to a parent passing, they inherited enough funding to make a move possible. How about they don’t believe their current school district can serve their child as well as another school district. Perhaps their current home is in too much disrepair, they want to be closer to where they work, or closer to relatives, they want to get away from city living noise and dirt, Maybe they want to grow a bigger garden, keep their autos inside a garage.
Not everything is about race. That charge has become boring to me, and I suspect many others, too.
"t. Meaning out-migrating whites were uncomfortable by the cultural norms of the new African-American, Hispanic and Mixed-Race in-migrants."
ReplyDeleteAllentown was pretty much lilly white when this started. The whole point of this story is to show that there other factors at play. In other words, the white flight, when it started, was not really based on race.
Parisan rants are off topic here. Go foam at the mouth somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteThe same triboro recreated by one in the same.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post I love learning about the history of the valley.
ReplyDeleteNobody nowadays ever talks about the Allentown “Spur Route” and the damage it did to the corridor from the city’s north border to Hamilton Street between Front and Race streets. Allentown wanted to copy Bethlehem’s Rte. 378, with limited access interchanges, from Rte. 22 to approx. 3rd and Hamilton. My grandfather procured a map of the proposed project, living near 2nd & Linden. The idea began sometime in the late 60’s, and was floated, opposed, revised, in multiple iterations, for decades. It became American Parkway, which was built in stages for about a generation. For those not rooted in Allentown or especially the 1st & 6th Wards, the Spur Route devastated that part of the city. All the grandiose pontifications of the planners, the waffling and indecision, and the fear of possible eminent domain drove lots of good, solid families out, seriously depressed property values (who wants to buy a home near an upcoming highway construction project, let alone have it possibly torn down, because the final layout was in flux?), and resulted in newer residents taking up the cheap housing, without the income or possibly even the awareness of what their new home could be destined for. Maybe Mr Molovinsky could elaborate about what the neighborhood was like before, during, and after Spur Route, There were professionals like doctors and lawyers in what my family called Victorian mansions near Hamilton Street. They were among the first cleared for redevelopment. Years went by until they were traded for donut shops, nightclubs, and nail salons. Is it racist to want to flee before a bulldozer comes to your door with a writ (not a lawyer, but setting condensed image of property surrender for delusional development).
ReplyDeleteThere are a few Mahon or factors not mentioned in the article:
ReplyDelete1. Over the years people simply, and quietly, moved to other parts of the country with greater economic opportunity. California, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, etc. Travel the country and everywhere you go you will hear stories of someone’s parents, uncle, or cousin that used to live here.
2. The cities, state, and regional authorities did everything within their power for decades to literally pave the way for suburban development outside of Allentown (and our other cities) to make sure the move is consistently cheap and easy. This started with the extension of water & sewer to the suburbs by the cities and the building of highways and roads by the state. This continues to this day through the so-called regional authorities such as LVEDC and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission that direct business to the burbs. Visit the LVPC website and take a look at all of the transportation projects they have recommended funding for. A disproportionately low amount of money is being invested in Allentown or the three cities for that matter.
I have lived all my life in the Valley and bought a house in Allentown over 20 years ago. From my own point of view one of the largest factors for the influx of Spanish speaking people was due to the construction of I-78. Those with jobs or relatives in New York or Jersey now had a relatively quick travel corridor to cheaper housing.
ReplyDeleteI'm a life long Democrat but the Allentown Democrats, like Pawlowski, seemed to encourage this new influx realizing many were poorer and Democratic voters. Once the strong foothold of voters was achieved the realization that the city was crumbling under the overcrowding of schools and crime it seems the next step was the gentrification.
Not all white people, such as myself, fled...but I would not recommend moving to Allentown if you are white where you may likely be treated as a second class citizen as I have. I unfortunately discovered this when getting in a minor dispute with my new Dominican neighbor which then resulted in a massive amount of false reports to police. When asked to come down town to speak to a detective about one of the more serious false allegations I asked him if I could show him my video from my security cameras which proved my innocence. I was told there was no need because as from his interviews with my accusers and their constantly changing stories he knew the accusations were false.
So what does this have to do with white flight? It was the continuing conversation with the officer, being told he was being pressured by those above him to "find something" on me even after investigating numerous false allegations. I was told their was "a group" putting pressure on his supervisors to come after me. Seeing my confusion he went on to describe how this "group" surrounds you and pushes you out of your neighborhood. You may think that I am/was being paranoid but his explanation did seem to explain why after constant false charges up, to and including endangering my family with police actions, no charges of false reports were ever given.
I will not flee because I am an obstinate SOB who does not like to be pushed around, but I would not recommend moving here to anyone, especially if you are white.
“I would not recommend moving to Allentown if you are white where you may likely be treated as a second class citizen…”
DeleteSo you don’t want to be treated like a sub-human just because of the color of your skin?
Interesting…
Wow! I am really bothered that this detective claims he's been pressured by superiors to "find something." I would suggest you tell your story to Daryl Hendricks on City Council. He's a former cop and probably could help you. I have little trouble believing that white persons can also be the victims of bigotry. I've seen it in a black member of NorCo Council. We all have bias.
ReplyDeleteBoth Allentown and Bethlehem planned spurs connecting 22 to their inner cities. Bethlehem had theirs built because their line matched and existing bridge, thereby saving many millions of dollars. Allentown had no such fortune. A new bridge made their route untenable.
ReplyDeleteBernie - where did you find a copy of "Jack's Five Years"? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBernieOHare to 9:19, it is at Lehigh County Historical. Very well written.
ReplyDelete