Today my blogger friend Michael Molovinsky on Allentown writes about Autozone and makes a good point about the issue of property rights. See http://molovinskyonallentown.blogspot.com/2008/06/autozone-political-victim.html, but I thought since I got so many (65) comments on this issue that I should post an update.
To be honest, I'm a little tired of Autozone, and the MC is now covering it, since they discovered it is a hot topic. I wrote about it because it is in my neighborhood and I have an interest in the stores/restaurants in the area. Apparently the Zoning Hearing Board denied AZ's request for bigger signs. Also I read in the MC article http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_5zoners.6473524jun24,0,5668302.story that it might be against the zoning law to have people repairing cars on-site. So I guess they are starting to find some loopholes here, to keep AZ out, but I still believe the city dropped the ball and should have done something sooner.
Here's a stand-out anonymous comment from last week's post:
"The bottom line? The Mayor and his army of well paid staff gave lip service to the kool-aid drinkers in this area and then did absolutely nothing to prevent this type of use in the district. A zoning amendment could have been adopted easily."
If anyone knows anything about zoning amendments, please let me know. In the MC's coverage they don't deal with the question of possible incompetence by the city and the neighborhood group who put up banners declaring this area an arts and theatre district. How about some accountability? Where's that watchdog reporter?
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14 comments:
ironically the neighborhood was a little nicer a few years ago before the card shop closed, the gift shop was torn down for the bank, and saylors diner closed; this was all before the banners proclaimed the up and coming theater district. it's still a very nice neighborhood, i predict the building's new owner(different party) will be "discouraged" from renting to autozone.
mrs. dottie, i visited the new Hersh's Market and was impressed.
Considering you cannot declare what people should be accountable for, I think that makes you just as accountable as anyone.
Showing up to the meetings and hiring a lawyer says a lot about the folks in that part of town.
MM,
I agree that the neighborhood did look nicer a few years ago. I don't like that underground ugly bank, and I loved Saylor's. There are more banks than theatres in the "theatre district." And now there will be more auto related businesses. The variety of stores has always been good for the community.
I was at Hersh's today and it's great. What I do is spend less at the Weis, and then buy my meats at Hersh's, but I still don't spend more than I usually would per week on groceries. My son loved his 15 cent candy stick I got him at the counter. He chose "cotton candy" flavor.
Anon,
Anon,
I don't understand how I am just as accountable as someone who is in a position to make decisions regarding city planning and development?
I should clarify something I wrote in this post, since I am feeling a bit feisty today. I won't take down or alter my original post. I said I am tired of Autozone, but I still care about the issue. That last post about it wore me out. I'd rather see a restaurant/nightclub there, and I know a lot of people are speaking out to help that happen, and they should be commended.
Ms. Dottie: A zoning amendment isn't a big deal at all. The City certainly has the calibur of professional staff who could easily write a Theater District overlay that would have limited uses to those compatible with a pedestrian scale, theater/arts district. The City staff might have taken a very short period of time to write such an amendment, get the City Solicitor to agree that it would be defensable and have council approve the amendment in a matter of months.
During the Heydt administration, basically the same staff did a great job writing a much more complex Student Residence Overlay district, that has limited the expansion of student housing in the Muhlenberg College area.
I can't explain why no initiative was taken to bolster the Zoning Ordinance, during the Theater District visioning process. Perhaps a lack of leadership during the Afflerbach administration? I wasn't living in this part of Allentown then, and I wasn't involved so I don't know the story.
Trent Sear
Allentown, PA
Trent,
Thanks for the information, that
helps me understand it a little better. I've heard about the Muhlenberg college overlay district, I believe M Molovinsky had brought that up a while back when i first blogged about the theatre district.
So the question still remains, why didn't someone on the city staff write a theatre district overlay amendment, within the last 2 yrs, before the banners? Did they think it was not necessary?
I don't work for the city but would be more than happy to volunteer my services to help write such an overlay ordinance. I can pull a couple examples of overlay districts from other communities if anybody is willing to help me. I would think that city council might be receptive and it is certainly consistent with the new comprehensive plan (draft).
The biggest challenge will be in identifying specific uses and specific boundaries. When drawing lines on a map, somebody is sure to get mad.
If we were to take an example to the city, it shows there is community support.
I don't work for the city but would be more than happy to volunteer my services to help write such an overlay ordinance. I can pull a couple examples of overlay districts from other communities if anybody is willing to help me. I would think that city council might be receptive and it is certainly consistent with the new comprehensive plan (draft).
The biggest challenge will be in identifying specific uses and specific boundaries. When drawing lines on a map, somebody is sure to get mad.
If we were to take an example to the city, it shows there is community support.
gsbrace: I think you are missing the point; The City has qualified professionals to write this stuff, but it's too late now.
Trent Sear
Allentown, PA
It's never too late to think about the future of a neighborhood (something that clearly doesn't happen until we are faced with something we don't like). I do agree that the city has the professionals to do this, but as citizens we certainly have the right to petition our gov't if we feel something isn't right.
Didn't miss your point, which is certainly well taken. Just offering a proactive community driven approach rather than waiting for something to happen for/to us. It may not solve the problem today, but if we think in terms of the next 25 years, it might be more successful.
I believe in the mayor's letter he mentioned that the property would be "grandfathered" under the old zoning code and by state law that cannot be changed. SO could it have been easily amended?
Also I noticed that the banners extend all the way to Volpe's bar on Tilghman, across from American Hairlines. Is this because they wanted to include that salon?
It seems like a variety of businesses, auto dealership, banks, gas stations, etc. are here, so it doesn't really feel like an arts district anyway.
Geoff,
You sound like you care, it's good
to be pro-active, I agree. But Autozone must have researched the area and determined there is a need for that kind of business in the area. Kind of a contrast to how the visionaries see it as becoming more upscale. With the sad news of the Federal Grill closing, I tend to think upscale eateries are not going to fare too well these days. Unless we keep catering to the ultra-rich, which drives prices up for everyone else and makes it even harder for regular folks to afford things. I'm getting off topic.
I think maybe the vision should adjust to the changing times. Maybe they did not see it coming.
In the same light, how about supporting the places that exist, like Mambo,the latino food place at the corner of 19th & Allen. If he doesn't get business, and closes his doors, do you think another restaraunt will follow him, or a tattoo palace? Vote with your dollars. If he is successful, others will move in. That is using community to accomplish things.
Anon, I agree,supporting local existing businesses is important, I try to do that as often as possible. When we eat out we patronize those smaller places rather than the large chains.
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