Local Government TV

Monday, March 06, 2023

Allentown's Development Problem

Governor Josh Shapiro recently took aim at the Commonwealth’s licensing, permitting, and certification processes. He's ordered a comprehensive review of how long it takes agencies to process different applications.

“State government’s top priority should be serving the people of our Commonwealth, but for far too long, Pennsylvanians have had to endure long wait times, outdated systems, and bureaucratic delays. They deserve a government that works efficiently and effectively to get them answers,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Under my Administration, Pennsylvanians will have certainty – they will know how long it will take for agencies to respond, and if an agency doesn’t live up to that promise, they deserve their money back. Pennsylvanians work hard to keep our economy moving, and the Commonwealth should work just as hard to process their applications.”

This might be needed even more on a local level, especially in Allentown. 

According to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, nearly 6 million square feet of non-residential development was approved in 2021. It's a booming market. Except for one place. Allentown. 

Allentown has three problems. The first and biggest is a failing school system. You can blame whomever you want, but any school district that goes through six superintendents in 20 years has a problem, I've long maintained it should be divided up among adjoining school districts. 

Its second problem is high crime. This is not just violent crime, but minor crimes like littering, loud music, and illegal race dirt bikes, These petty crimes demonstrate a general disregard for others. others. 

Its third major problem is a city bureaucracy that is intent on stifling, rather than encouraging, development. 

As a result, Allentown really only has two developers - J.B. Reilly and Nat Hyman. The former is relying on a public subsidy. The latter is beginning to invest his money elsewhere. 

Here's the problem. Most municipalities have third-party reviews of development projects. BASE Engineering, Barry Isett or any of a host of other firms can review development plans more quickly and more correctly than a municipality. This means less work for the government and less liability, too. If something goes wrong, it's on the developer and third party review firm. 

Allentown is different. Like most municipalities, it requires third-party review. But in addition, it then conducts its own in-house review as well. It's short-staffed, so the review takes forever. This delay occurs before actual submission of a plan, so timelines are irrelevant. It's like setting a bonfire to a developer's money. If he has a $7 million loan, he's spending $560,000 a year while city officials think about hiring one or two of the 28 bureaucrats they claim they are short. 

As a result, developers stay away. So do architects and engineers.  

Hyman gave me some examples. One of them, believe it or not, was a lengthy delay in his own donation of a subpolice station to Allentown.  

Here's another. 

He's proposed a Nathan's hot dog franchise at 328 W Linden. His plan was submitted 9 months ago for a grand total of 1,300 sq ft. It went through third-party review. Now city planners have come back with 61 comments. What's more, they reserve the right to add even more once plans are re-submitted. 

This absurdity has prompted two City Council members to consider a resolution putting a time limit on internal plan reviews. 

I suspect it will be delayed.

In the meantime, blogger Michael Molovinsky has recommended that Hyman change his last name to Reilly.  


15 comments:

  1. Nashua N. H. About the same size as Allentown was once out of control. Not now! They are civilized, ahead of the rest of the country in so many ways. Almost zero crime relatively ,and they run their own school district and airport. Nashua is a model ,somebody should take a look. For about 20 years.

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  2. Hyman rebuilt this city. If they are so stupid to give him a hard time, then they deserve to be a dump.

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  3. Nashua, NH is 75% while and maintains an outstanding regional public school system, I wouldn't even compare Nashua to Bethlehem, never mind Allentown. As an affluent, mostly white suburb of in the Boston metro, Nashua has way more going for it.

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  4. With all due respect, Pat Browne created the NIZ for his childhood friend JB Reilly. How in God’s name did they escape the FBI? I know Fed Ed was corrupt but Browne created the atmosphere to make him corrupt.

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  5. Voted for Mr. Hyman, was sad to see him lose. Only candidate who put his money and his mouth in the same place. Sadder yet is seeing how easily uninformed and undereducated people in Allentown are influenced by figureheads who make false claims about other candidates who do nothing for them. Voting for candidates who are only interested in their own needs and/or egos.

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  6. HUGE difference between Reilly and Hyman. Reilly used all tax payer money through his good buddy Pat Browne, both in the NIZ and now at the state hospital. Hyman did it all on his own. I have a lot of respect for Hyman and how much he has helped the city of Allentown.

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  7. Of course the city should turn permits around in 2 days. In fact, they should turn them around in 2 hours. If the state can do it , why can't the city? This is a great idea but those yoyo's on city council will find a way to screw this up or will fold under pressure from Tuerck and not pass this resolution. Watch and see.

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  8. Kudos to those 2 city council members who are putting this resolution forward! Who are they? I want to vote for them!

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  9. I loved Allentown I’m the early nineties when I was young. B&G Station. Boca Joes. Rockin Robins. Sterling Hotel.

    Never felt unsafe.

    I take my mother into Allentown twice a year to her geriatric doctor, during the day.

    I get in and out of that city as quickly as possible.

    During the day.

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    1. Wow...find her a doctor in the suburbs.

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  10. Nobody gives a sweet Sh.. about what happens in Allentown (except the Mob), You can see by the numb4r of commenys this article generated. I rest my case

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  11. Hyman was given relief from numerous zoning laws for his hot dog stand months ago.

    There are more than two developers in town. Rumor is Hyman would prefer there were only two and was involved in some very anti-competitive behavior during the O’Connell admin attempting to prevent a new developer from coming into town.

    He’s gotten plenty of help from the city. He is the only one I can think of that was able to plaster large “Allentown Police” signs on his building. Haven’t seen a squad car parked there since the signs went up and the promised police substation was announced.

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  12. 5:15 Who are the other developers? Ive lived downtown for 30 years and, other than a couple of companies trying to do something in the waterfront NIZ and one apartment building in Lehigh Parkway, I have seen no other significant development anywhere in Allentown for many years. I agree with Bernies reporting

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    1. Serfass/Scully Apts in the parkway, new single family homes under construction at the base of south mountain near 78, 4th and Auburn townhomes under construction, A D Pile at Airport Rd and American Pkwy, HDC building apts near 15th & Hamilton, Merchants Sq mall property, … the list goes on. There is a lot of new construction going on throughout the city. With one exception, the entire list above is all unsubsidized.

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  13. Wow, you have a pretty good knowledge of EVERY development in Allentown! You must be Mayor Tuerk trying to promote your city. If I wasn't sure that Reilly and Heiman are the only major developers in Allentown, now I am! I think the "Serfass/Scully" one is the same one I referred to as the apartment building in Lehigh Parkway and that's been done for about a year. I did forget about that big warehouse on Airport Road. Pretty sad when you have to refer to a government HDC property as one of the developers. Finally, when the 3rd largest city in PA has to cite townhouses and single family homes, you know the city has nothing going on. Most importantly Mr. Mayor, your whole statement misses the point, each of those projects are different developers. Bernie said major developers, as in multiple projects. You've confirmed Bernie's point. Reilly and Heiman are the only ones doing "major" development.

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