Allentown,PA Needs SKYSCRAPERS to improve (Bethlehem, Easton: school, college, to live in)

[PacoMartin]

A developer has proposed a 33 story skyscraper about a block from the PP&L building. It will be a mixed use, retail, office, residential (apartments and condominiums) building with a restaurant and meeting hall on top floor.

New technology is allowing the construction of buildings on smaller and smaller pieces of land. The World Trade Center buildings each fit on an acre of land. The newest building on Park Avenue, will be the tallest residential building in NYC, and taller then all but the 1776' spire on the new WTC1. Yet it only fits on 1/5 acre.

The Allentown proposed building will fit on barely 1/10 acre but will be cantilevered out so that higher floors have more area than the ground level floor.

[Truth777]

Well, I appreciate everyone for their comments.... I agree that rail transit should reach to the Lehigh Valley. But there is a problem! NOT MUCH FUNDING TO SUPPORT IT!.... With the economy the way it is I think we have a long way for this to actually happen. Yet what I stated was to see peoples reactions to what Ed Pawlosky did.... He destroyed bussinesses to make more bussinesses....If that makes any sence to anyone. The hochey arena was created to be built to not only revitallze the downtown district of Allentown but to create a good strategy for more bussinesses and jobs to help the economy in Allentown. It would be nice to have tall nice looking structures and I agree with you all... that that isn't the answer for a better Allentown. But Allentown needs new ideas,strategies and economic growth within the city not the outskirts of it. We need jobs closer to us not far away from us. Allentown needs to find a way to attract bussinesses in the city not outside of its borders. This would help the economy of the City of Allentown. It would probably lower taxes,better our school system, and make a better and safer Allentown to live in..... What do you say? Agree or Disagree?

[Truth777]

Allentown developer plans tallest building in Lehigh Valley
Thirty-three story tower would be built by Bruce Loch.

Allentown developer Bruce Loch is planning the Lehigh Valley's tallest…
http://articles.mcall.com/2013-03-28...provement-zone It looks like what I've been saying for a while is coming to fruition in Allentown! I'm excited to see this happen for the City of Allentown.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by Truth777

Allentown developer plans tallest building in Lehigh Valley. Thirty-three story tower would be built by Bruce Loch.

Developer Joseph Posh planned a $50 million hotel project, with condominiums in Bethlehem in 2006. The building was to be 21 stories and include a penthouse. He opted instead to spend just $17 million to build the six-story Hyatt in downtown Bethlehem.

In Las Vegas particularly you would see plan after plan for massive projects, and most of them would simply vanish.

It's a cruel game sometimes.

W2A Design Group News Mod cut - copyrighted graphic - click link to see.

What would be really cool is if Allentown took a leap of faith and built one of these forest skyscrapers like they are building in Italy. I think people would be really excited about living in a skyscraper like this, and it would be a bit of a tourist attraction.
http://thatsthehookup.com/design/bos...ment-building/ Mod cut - copyrighted graphic - click link to see.

[blazerj]

That project is completely stupid and is simply going to make the developers rich. 50% of the funding will come from taxpayers, and there are no proposed tenets.

Allentown's commercial occupancy rate is 89%, but that means 1.6 million square feet of office space is vacant. Why not fill up that space before building a skyscraper?

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by blazerj

That project is completely stupid and is simply going to make the developers rich. 50% of the funding will come from taxpayers, and there are no proposed tenets.

Allentown's commercial occupancy rate is 89%, but that means 1.6 million square feet of office space is vacant. Why not fill up that space before building a skyscraper?

I think the funding is more like 90% from secured loans by the government. Similarly the Lehigh Valley has roughly 2 million hotel room nights available in a year, and they barely fill over 1 million. Instead of trying to promote activities or conventions to help fill some of the other rooms, they talk about building newer and more expensive hotels.

Federal per diem for Lehigh and Northampton counties is $83 / night without including taxes. That is the maximum the federal government will pay for a room for one of their employees. This GSA per diem is a good guideline as to what most companies want to pay for a hotel room. For the most part they don't want to pay double that amount.

[Truth777]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

It needs Rail connections to NJ and Philly...its very a isolated city but the surrounding areas are nice. A Railway would attract alot of developers catering to the Urban Jersey / NYC bound commuters , just look at White Plains , New Rochelle , Morristown , Stamford and New Brunswick. Corporations are attracted to Rail , many of the suburban parks are next to or near stations , same with the Urban locations. Cities should not be in the Business of building arenas ,or other public venues. Private is better at building and running that. I don't think Allentown needs Skyscrapers or High Rises to receive attention from Corporations , you need a more attractive Downtown Core. Shopping , Restaurants , some Entertainment will start attracting more people to the core , small businesses will follow. Then once the Railway is restored to Allentown , the younger commuter couples will start to move in droves. So in a way if Allentown were to go that route it would be the White Plains of Eastern PA. Improving the Schools would attract the younger Middle Class Families who commute to Urban Jersey / NYC to live in Allentown , this is the case with many small / Medium cities like Hackensack & Stamford. Theres a growing movement towards the smaller / Medium cities and I think with better Connectivity to the rest of the NE , Allentown with explode into the thriving Epi-center of the Lehigh Valley.

Well, I appreciate everyone for their comments.... I agree that rail transit should reach to the Lehigh Valley. But there is a problem! NOT MUCH FUNDING TO SUPPORT IT!.... With the economy the way it is I think we have a long way for this to actually happen. Yet what I stated was to see peoples reactions to what Ed Pawlosky did.... He destroyed bussinesses to make more bussinesses....If that makes any sence to anyone. The hochey arena was created to be built to not only revitallze the downtown district of Allentown but to create a good strategy for more bussinesses and jobs to help the economy in Allentown. It would be nice to have tall nice looking structures and I agree with you all... that that isn't the answer for a better Allentown. But Allentown needs new ideas,strategies and economic growth within the city not the outskirts of it. We need jobs closer to us not far away from us. Allentown needs to find a way to attract bussinesses in the city not outside of its borders. This would help the economy of the City of Allentown. It would probably lower taxes,better our school system, and make a better and safer Allentown to live in..... What do you say? Agree or Disagree?

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by Truth777

It would be nice to have tall nice looking structures and I agree with you all... that that isn't the answer for a better Allentown. But Allentown needs new ideas,strategies and economic growth within the city not the outskirts of it. We need jobs closer to us not far away from us. Allentown needs to find a way to attract businesses in the city not outside of its borders. This would help the economy of the City of Allentown. It would probably lower taxes,better our school system, and make a better and safer Allentown to live in..... What do you say? Agree or Disagree?

Norfolk is a good example of an urban district troubled by crime and white people avoiding the city. They have done a good job of revitalizing the city, to make it seem safer and chic to go there to dine. Projects like the Granby Hotel: built 1906 which is only 58 rooms and renovated for $7 million. Room prices are usually less than $80 while not much higher than a Holiday Inn Express, but a different kind of hotel with competitive rates brings people into the city.

This project reminds me a lot of Mexico. You have a large government funded pot of money which brings in a big project that makes a handful of people rich. But when it is done, it will be a walled off venue in the heart of the city which is irrelevant to the overwhelming majority of the people who live there.

The demographic reality is that there are 38,665 people in center city Allentown of which 8,610 are white non-latinos. That tremendous amount of money could do more to revitalize the economy than a venue that attracts 8000 people for a few hours a week who drive in and then drive out of the city where a very small percentage stay in the city.

[Pennsylvania2cali]

I think Allentown could use some new skyscrapers, however I'm not positive that currently that is what it needs the most. The Lehigh valley is the fastest growing metro area in the state, mainly due to its proximity to Philadelphia and New York City. It is primarily a sleeper community however as of late numerous big name companies have relocated to the area due to again its proximity to more populated markets as well as interstate 78, the northeast extention of th PA turnpike. Route 22 etc. the skyscrapers or taller structures in the area are unusually dispersed, in part due to limestone deposits which can cause a blind issue at any given time.

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by Pennsylvania2cali

the skyscrapers or taller structures in the area are unusually dispersed, in part due to limestone deposits which can cause a blind issue at any given time.

Huh?