The bloom is off the rose at the arena; 2018 showed only twenty three events beside the home hockey games, and most of them were poorly attended. Although the new arena complex manager, and the new police chief, promise to work together to better safeguard the patrons upon departing, suburbanites continue to fear the place, and rightfully so.I have several beefs with this, none of which are his prediction of less events than are needed (I'm a skeptic that they'll have enough events too). My beefs are:
- I have no reason to believe the hockey won't draw good crowds. Hockey is popular in these parts, so if he's implying they won't get good crowds, I think he'll be shocked.
- Whether we're discussing Croc Rock, Allentown BrewWorks, Sangria, or the Brazilian Steakhouse, who does he think goes to these places now? Suburbanites! Me, specifically. I have zero fear for my safety there, nor does it seem do most patrons. Am I calling Allentown a utopia? No, but it's not a war zone, in fact it's not even like it's nearby city, Reading.
- Does he think it's going to get worse in downtown? Why?
Molovinsky is very nostalgic. Like this nostalgic on his site:
I understand he's lived his whole life in Allentown and views it's past favorably, and that's fine. I come from a family that's been in the Valley since they basically got off the boats here, so I get that nostalgia, however I don't recall a single one of my senior relatives, past or present, being this level of nostalgic. Yes, Allentown is undergoing demographic, economic, and visual shifts that are changing the city. Yes, I'll be the first one to say that Allentown's politics suck, in fact I'll go further and say the same of the county, but do I think the city is worse than it was when I was younger? No, no I don't. I also don't see how putting millions and millions of dollars in economic development that is going to drive younger, new people into the downtown is a negative. I don't see how an inner-city area that is rather middle of the pack in violence for a city of it's size, is going to get worse as a result of that economic development. For that matter, I'll just go ahead and say I challenge the basic premise of his piece, which is that Pawlowski's stewardship of the city is sending it to the tank worse than any previous mayor. I can't name you the last mayor of Allentown that I thought was pretty good, and they governed a smaller city.
Change happens. I'm sure that in 30 years I won't like seeing something built in my youth torn down for something new to go in. This is urban economics though, everywhere. Treating Allentown like some village in the countryside, that's not the future. It's a diverse, capable city that has a brighter future, with the right leadership. I completely reject the "doom and gloom" vision of it's future, even if you think the current political leadership lacks.
1 comment:
Mr. Molovinsky does occasionally dip into the over-nostalgic on his posts (though I greatly enjoy the historical posts). But I appreciate his pride in the city and what people in the city accomplished--with some terrific companies and people.
I think Molovinsky exhibits some understandable skepticism of "experts" on economic development who in the past "knew" exactly what needed to be done to attract people downtown. Often, this resulted in the destruction of nice places where people actually lived for ... well, we can see it now. Some of this rhetoric, and confidence, is evident today.
I'm glad people are trying, but there seems to be a lack of "agency" in this whole plan. Somehow, because things are new, and maybe slightly cheaper, businesses and young people are going to flock downtown. I don't see a lot of evidence for that. Original plans are now being scrubbed to account for, perhaps, a more realistic view of the future. I find it odd that the building that was supposed to be a hotel is now going to be apartments, but the old, decrepit building that used to be a hotel has been put in the NIZ to...be a hotel? There's a lot of talk, but little really different. Hockey no doubt will be popular--in an entertainment sense--but the public policy problem is whether that popularity causes the benefits that are being counted on. Evidence is slim.
The Lehigh Valley is better off than it was 20 years ago, but Allentown is unquestionably poorer and in worse financial shape, and the schools have plummeted. That said, unlike many poorer cities, Allentown storefronts are mostly filled, there is business activity, and even "life" in the city. Is it going to be in Home and Garden magazine, maybe not--but compare that to lost towns in other parts of the country and Allentown doesn't look as bad. Molovinsky is right to remind us of that before the next building is knocked down.
Worst case--few businesses move in, the downtown looks better but is still empty, the arena becomes a white elephant, and a more cash-strapped state decides that the money going to pay off construction "counts" as part of the state's contribution to the city.
Post a Comment