A decade ago, before the NIZ became reality, Tony Iannelli hosted a Business Matters program to debate its relative merits. It pitted NIZ cheerleaders Sy Traub, realtor Jeff Barber and political goon Mike Fleck (now a convicted felon) against critics that included Lehigh Finance professor and real estate guru Steve Thode as well as Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky. (I had been invited to participate, but Fleck insisted that I be banned or his team would boycott). When Molovinsky complained about the disappearance of Latino merchants on Hamilton Street, Barber called them a "cancer." During that debate, which basically consisted of Fleck yelling for 30 minutes straight, Steve Thode predicted that PPL would eventually be coaxed into moving from its current location and into the NIZ, a few blocks east. Morning Call columnist Bill White dismissed Thode's "wild claims" and "hysteria," but Steve has been proved correct.
What will happen to the PPL building? My prediction is that Allentown developer Nat Hyman will try to purchase it for workforce housing, but he'll be shot down. He refuses to hold his hand out for public money, which makes it very hard for grifters hoping to get a piece of public pie.
11 comments:
FYI, Molovinsky complained of removing “minority” merchants. Most of the impacted on Hamilton were of Asian decent at that time.
I hope Nat gets it. He's done a great job for Allentown. But I'm sure the powers that be (Schlossturd & Browne) will make sure Reilly gets it just like they did with the state hospital.
Hyman tried to save the state hospital and look what happened there...Schlossburg and Browne tore it down and sold it to their buddy Reilly. In the process, they cost the taxpayers $10m! I think they should go to jail for that. Let's hope this beautiful old PPL building doesn't meet the same fate. I say sell it to Hyman.
Steve Thode is really smart, plus he didn't have a political agenda like the Morning Call reporters always had. I have no idea how feasible it would be structurally, but I'd like to see the PPL building be turned into market rate 1 and 2 BR condominiums targeted towards either young remote working millenials and/or older empty nesters who want to live in the City and not at a Traditions of America in the suburbs. Allentown already has nearly all the region's share of affordable apartments and boarding rooms. I think the influx of market rate condominiums would help the City continue to grow economically by supporting the new NIZ businesses and attracting new businesses. If City Center had to get involved and expand the NIZ to the site in order for this happen, it wouldn't be the worst outcome.
10:15 If those were condominiums, they would sell a grand total of zero. No one buys condos in Allentown....and many have tried. They should sell it to Mr. Hyman and let him do the same thing he did with The Livingston. I lived there for a year and it was a grand old building that fell into disrepair and he restored it beautifully.
I agree, no low income housing in the tower. Just not appropriate.
BO, I know you have access to Nat Hyman. Do you think he would make a play for this building given how poorly he was treated on the state hospital?
I hear ray Lahoud wants to buy it.
If Mr Hyman is in the picture, the city will hound him to death since the city seems to despise anyone who is independent and doing his or her own thing... the city must control everything, one way or the other... either by hounding or regulation.
Antisemitism is the elephant in Allentown's room.
According to the Express Times today, it sounds like Allentown is making Hyman jump through hoops for something as simple as a hot dog stand, so it looks doubtful they'll let him touch the PPL Building. Seems like the feds didn't dig deep enough to root out all the corruption in Allentown.
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