Allentown: Potential Growth PPG Article. (Washington, Arlington Heights: real estate, crime, how much)

[Jrn14]

Hey guys, long time Allentown resident here. I know this article might just be a fluff piece, but I think there is a glimmer of hope for my downtrodden neighborhood. Granted we just had one of the worst summer's crime wise in my memorey regarding several shootings in the Allentown/Beltzhoover/Mt. Washington/Knoxville areas, however there seems to be a lot of activity (non criminal ) on Warrington Ave lately. I heard the gentleman who owns the heavily praised Alla Famiglia/Trenta restaraunt has boughten the building that housed "Eaglemart/Schwartzes." (possible restaraunt expansion? parking?) Also I noticed someone has bought the long abondoned bar across the street from Schwartzes and that is currently in the process of being renovated (for what I'm not sure. any info?) Also as the article points out the long empty Laundromat next to the new Zone 3 police station is going to be a coffee shop. There is so much space up here and the proximity to Downtown and the Southside can't be beat. I want to remail hopeful but realistic. Does anyone have any other info on the recent real estate purchases, or any other news developing the possible growth?

Here is the PPG Article.

Boosting Allentown: safety measures, business plans part of larger effort

[SammyKhalifa]

I tried going for a walk in your neighborhood one time, to give it a chance. Some kids threw a pair of shoes at me and told me to get out.

[Jrn14]

Originally Posted by SammyKhalifa

I tried going for a walk in your neighborhood one time, to give it a chance. Some kids threw a pair of shoes at me and told me to get out.

Were you barefoot?

[SammyKhalifa]

Haha, no. It was an odd situation though.

[SammyKhalifa]

I love some of the houses up there, though.

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by Jrn14

Hey guys, long time Allentown resident here. I know this article might just be a fluff piece, but I think there is a glimmer of hope for my downtrodden neighborhood. Granted we just had one of the worst summer's crime wise in my memorey regarding several shootings in the Allentown/Beltzhoover/Mt. Washington/Knoxville areas, however there seems to be a lot of activity (non criminal ) on Warrington Ave lately. I heard the gentleman who owns the heavily praised Alla Famiglia/Trenta restaraunt has boughten the building that housed "Eaglemart/Schwartzes." (possible restaraunt expansion? parking?) Also I noticed someone has bought the long abondoned bar across the street from Schwartzes and that is currently in the process of being renovated (for what I'm not sure. any info?) Also as the article points out the long empty Laundromat next to the new Zone 3 police station is going to be a coffee shop. There is so much space up here and the proximity to Downtown and the Southside can't be beat. I want to remail hopeful but realistic. Does anyone have any other info on the recent real estate purchases, or any other news developing the possible growth?

Here is the PPG Article.

Boosting Allentown: safety measures, business plans part of larger effort

Parking? The last thing that area needs is for anyone to be tearing down buildings for parking. Parking is very easy up there.

[WestLibertyAve]

They need to do something with the surface of Warrington Ave for anyone to take Allentown seriously. Honestly, it feels like I'm driving on some old industrial park thoroughfare every time I go through there. I'd love it if they just paved over the tracks, but the T needs an alternate route for when the tunnel is closed, so that won't happen anytime soon. But look at Beechview, somehow they manage to keep Broadway in semi-decent condition despite the tracks, why can't Allentown get the same treatment?All the street-scaping in the world isn't going to change anyone's opinion of the place if the actual street is still in shambles.

I always though Alla Famiglia looked like a nice place to eat though, glad to see its got a pretty good reputation..might have to try it out one of these days.

[Uptown kid]

Maybe if A-Town gets better than SE Mt Washington can see a change too... It seems like this couldn't have came at a better time (with the Darccide vs Crip & Crip vs Crip violence/shootings in the Southern Hilltop)... I'm not sure how much of a difference it will really make though? The Police Station defiantly made a difference but Idk if A-town can bounce back. Beltzhoover, Knoxville, Mt Oliver Boro, Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights are all often viewed as lost causes while Carrick is on it's way to that level. Though I think Mt Oliver (proper) could be changed from the inside-out.

[Drover]

Allentown is quite ideally situated and has a lot of good "starter-home" potential stock (read: can be renovated/restored without breaking the bank), but IMO PAT struck a huge blow to its revitalization prospects when it shut down the Arlington loop or the 52 or the Brown Line or whatever the hell it was called most recently.

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by WestLibertyAve

They need to do something with the surface of Warrington Ave for anyone to take Allentown seriously. Honestly, it feels like I'm driving on some old industrial park thoroughfare every time I go through there. I'd love it if they just paved over the tracks, but the T needs an alternate route for when the tunnel is closed, so that won't happen anytime soon. But look at Beechview, somehow they manage to keep Broadway in semi-decent condition despite the tracks, why can't Allentown get the same treatment?All the street-scaping in the world isn't going to change anyone's opinion of the place if the actual street is still in shambles.

I always though Alla Famiglia looked like a nice place to eat though, glad to see its got a pretty good reputation..might have to try it out one of these days.

You better bring your wallet. You will drop $100 plus, per head if you eat there. It's a really high end place. As for Warrington Ave., it's been 25 years since they ripped up the Belgian block, and rebuilt the street. They would have done better to use asphalt instead of concrete. If they would close the street, clean out the cracks and holes, and do proper patching with the right type of concrete, they might get 5-10 more years out of the road. Putting asphalt in the holes just isn't cutting it. The street is the responsibility of Port Authority, so don't hold your breath.