According to The Morning Call, Allentown developer Nat Hyman was before Palmer Tp's Zoning Hearing Board last week seeking a use variance that will enable him to convert a Crayola Crayon office building near the Tatamy Trail and Bushkill Creek into 94 one-bedroom apartments for working people. This is similar to what he has already done 40 times. and mostly in the Lehigh Valley, from Allentown to Northampton and Nazareth. He is probably doing more to provide affordable housing than any local government, often without their help and usually with some roadblocks.
Hyman's project is similar to and one mile away from the Dixie Project in Wilson Borough, where an old factory is being converted into luxury apartments at rents that most working people are unable to afford. It will attract transplants from NJ and NY who can commute and afford higher rents. It will do nothing to provide workforce housing for those who need it and will likely just aggravate what everyone claims is a national crisis.
But local government is falling all over itself to help a developer who has never done a single project in the Lehigh Valley or anywhere else, for that matter. He's on track for a $29 million TIF break and a $10 million Rcap.
Does this make sense?
39 comments:
If the Valley had its own Time magazine “person of the year” cover, it’s possible that Hyman would have been chosen for the honor. While he is not without some stain - stories still floating around around about cutting the cable on tenants behind in rent - he’s still taking underused industrial and office spaces and turning them into apartment homes for people.
As you note, he has a track record. The Dixie developer has high quality press backing and no finished projects to show. What local banks are investing in the Dixie project? What local connections is this developer grooming? Or is the grooming more financial, with skids being breached with people in Wilson Borough and Palmer Township whose hands ought to remain clean? A $10 million R-CAP is a ton of money. There’s enough slop in it to turn some kinda good people a little bad. Good work, Wilson. Fingers crossed for a successful completion. And Nat, if you read this, thank you.
I live in Palmer . It’s well know that the powers that be in the township are giving Mr. Hyman a really hard time. That Crayola site is perfect for apartments. You have the creek and the trail. It is very scenic and quiet. I would live there! I hope they approve it. I wish Mr. Hyman good luck and commend his good works
When does government ever make sense? Palmer Township should be doing everything they can to help Hyman because he isn’t asking them for a penny and knows what he is doing. Wilson, on the other hand, shouldn’t give a dime of our tax payer money to that film flam artist who has never done anything. Both townships need new leadership.
1) Nat is Jewish and antisemitism is very popular.
2) He has a terrible reputation as a landlord among renters or former renters, deserved or not.
BO: You wrote Monday that Lamont may not run for county exec . I say Hyman for County Exec!
The proposed Crayola project will actually take place inside the former manufacturing area. All or part of the former Crayola offices have been rented out for sometime to a Charter school. The developer has a proven track record and this would be a quality project. No doubt the snooty figures from Palmer Twsp “upper crust” are afraid this project will attract too many commoners from with in Easton city limits.
John: it came out in a later article that Nat did not cut off anyone’s cable, one of his employees threatened to cut off cable but never did it. Of course, MCall buried the second article because it wasn’t sensational. More to the point, I wish he did cut off cable of people who don’t pay their rent ! That’s what’s wrong with our society today. People don’t pay rent but pay $200 per month to watch cartoons and play video games.
Norco isn’t going to give the Dixie guy the $29m. They may be dumb but they aren’t stupid. Anyone who votes for that will never get reelected.
7:08 is 100% correct about the Jewish aspect. Palmer Township is known to be bigots, especially the board of supervisors. In fact, they are being sued for discrimination right now.
We are not giving up any taxes. We will get the same taxes we get now, but for the 20 year period it will stay the same until the TIF dissolves. Bernie, if you are going to release an inaccurate post then you should correct it. These people are confused.
Anyone who's lived in the area for twenty years or more knows the quality of life in Palmer has steadily deteriorated. I've heard it referred to as the creeping crud from Easton, having moved through Wilson, and then into Palmer. Demographics changed Palmer's politics. Palmer's politics have made a mess of the place. One look at property values in surrounding NorCo townships vs Palmer tells the story. Opposing this development makes zero economic sense.
Didn’t Hyman, during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic send eviction notices to his tenants ?
9:22 It is you who is misinformed. Bernie's post is totally accurate. We as tax payers will LOSE the increase in property values from that property for 20 years! That is a HUGE waste of our dollars! If you had someone like Mr. Hyman develop it, who doesn't take government assistance, Wilson, Township, The School District and Norco would receive $29m MORE in taxes over the next 20 years than this guy who is getting the TIF. They are selling their soul for the next 20 years and getting zero benefit out of it.
9:05 The difference between the discrimination suits Palmer Township is dealing with now and Nat is that Nat is a killer. If you recall, a while back Nat sued Trump and won. If he can tangle with Trump he certainly can tangle with these idiots in Palmer. He is too smart and too rich for them to fight with. They will spend our tax dollars fighting him in court when they should have approved this from the start.
Forget about Hyman running for County Exec, we need him in Allentown as Mayor. We can't have another 4 years of Twerp.
The problem is partly with the Palmer Township Athletic Association. They run all the Little League/JV programs in Palmer Twsp. They are afraid that this proposed development at the former Crayola plant will enable large groups of young black kids to join up for youth sports. One of the Palmer Twsp supervisors is big on Palmer athletics and no doubt is pressuring his fellow supervisors to reject the project.
I wonder how many black people actually work for Palmer Twsp government? It always seemed as though most if not all hires in Palmer government were hired thru the (white) buddy system. The well to do in Palmer Township don’t want minorities ln the township unless their working at a party serving drinks and mopping the floor.
I haves lived in Palmer most of my life and happen to know that the Board of Supervisors in Palmer Township have targeted Mr. Hyman’s project to defeat it. The question is why? Antisemitism as your other readers suggest ? What other plausible explanation could there be that they would fight against millions of dollars being invested in their community into a historic building that is run down? And he is asking nothing from them. I have been inside 2 of Mr. Hyman’s buildings. They were really nice. These aren’t section 8 or subsidized housing like some people think. My friend’s apartment had marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. That’s not section 8 ! I am ashamed of Palmer for pushing out someone who wants to invest in our community and asks nothing in return while Wilson is giving the Dixie factory across the street 39 million dollars. Their motives are questionable at best
If I remember, NH wanted to develop Dixie, but was it a sale price issue? In stead, Wilson backed an unproven entity, who blew clouds of smoke. I am betting Dixie never happens.
Obviously there had to have been a payoff to Lamont and others. That is how things work in NY and NJ. Lamont invited that here with Skyline.
As a Jew, I can tell you that antisemitism is alive and well! And it has only gotten much worse since October 7th. I experience it every day. I am sure Mr. Hyman must contend with it in his daily life as well. Everything is harder for Jewish people so It would not surprise me one bit if the push back he is experiencing with this building is rooted in antisemitism
Follow the money! The Dixie project reminds me of Pektor's project in UMBT. Pektor gave a job to a former supervisor and his son who voted for the project.
Hyman should run, since Twerp is an embarrassment!
I lived in Palmer for 15 yrs. They love to tax and spend. Just look at their buildings. The public works and twp buildings. Now a new police department. They spare no expense. When a resident spoke out at the supervisor’s meeting about a tax increase he was told if he didn’t like it move. Our arrogance. On top of it they are in the EASD which is the worst run school district this side of the Valley. Warehouses are ok. Apartments aren’t I guess. Idiots run that place.
LET'S LEAVE IT SET FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS WITH NO TAXES BEING PAID
WAKE UP PEOPLE . THE COUNTY SHOULD EMBRACE THE DIXIE PROJECT
SINCE IT WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC BUILDINGS (WHEN DONE) OFF ROUTE 22 AND SOMETHING THE COUNTY AND WILSON CAN FINALLY BE PROUD OF
YOU CAN HAVE HIM (HYMAN) PALMER TOWNSHIP. HE WILL BLEND IN WITH ALL YOUR WAREHOUSES
AGAIN , HERE WE GO WITH THE BLACK THING!!! PALMER DOESN'T WANT THERE PRECIOUS ATHLETES BEING CHALLENGED.
LOOK AROUND SUPERVISORS , YOUR NOT IN THE 1960'DS ANYMORE
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES
This is clearly written by the scam artist who is trying to take the municipality for $29m!!!
At an earlier heariing Palmer Twsp brought in their fire commissioner for his opinion. The fire commissioner is a full time paid township employee and is nothng more than a stooge answering to the Palmer Supervisors. Naturally he brought up objections to the plan. Watch for this weasel to again put in his two cents.
These comments show a clear pattern in Palmer Township. I had no idea Palmer Township and their Board of Supervisors are so racist, discriminating, and bigoted. It’s amazing in this day and age they get away with this behavior. I hope Mr. Hyman can overcome this and redevelop this building.
Wait, I want to make sure I understand….on one side of 22 there is Dixie that the Wilson Borough is paying a developer to turn into apartments. On the other side is Crayola that a developer is willing to turn into similar apartments as Dixie for free but Palmer Township is trying to stop him. Am I getting this right ?
Roses are red.
Palmer is blue.
Blue doesn't like you,
If you're a Jew.
Any proof to back up your dingbat accusation?
WAKE UP AND LEARN PROPER GRAMMAR.
Let's face it. If Palmer could find Nat attending a music festival and could put him in a tunnel and hold him hostage there for 15 months or longer, it would.
Vote the bums out! They don’t care what is best for Palmer, they just want to show that they are in charge and want Nat Hyman to kiss their ring
Jealousy is not get you any place At least he put local people to work
At this point most of the landlords are becoming slum lords. They bought everything during the pandemic and started turn this amazing area into NY & NJ junk. Poor maintenance High ass prices.
9:57 great grammar, you idiot
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