Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Allenschteddel's Adelaide Silk Mill


The Adelaide Silk Mill, Allentown, PA, circa 1915
I found this photo at Explore Pa. History.com which credits the 'Pennsylvania State Archives' for the photo.

Beneath the photo it says, "In 1929 roughly one quarter of Allentown's workers labored in its more than twenty silk mills. Four years later, factory employment in Allentown was down nearly 50 percent, factory wages had dropped 74 percent, and unemployment had soared from just over 2 percent to close to 40 percent of the work force. Opened in 1881, the Adelaide Silk Mill by the late 1800's was one of the world's largest silk mills."

The reason I brought this up is according to 'The Express-Times' , "Developer Borko Milosev has Adelaide Mills under an agreement of sale and wants to turn it into a residential, commercial and office mixed-use facility. It would include 150 apartments." But he wants to do with the help of having the property declared a 'keystone opportunity expansion zone' (KOEZ) which would exempt them from having to pay real estate taxes on it for 10 years.

At one time this was "one of the world's largest silk mills." Early on in this like the other 20 textile manufacturing locations in Allentown housed workers receiving paychecks from them. These days not only are we left without those jobs, but these same buildings, that once paid out money, are looking to take in money instead. As if that weren't concern enough, these very same buildings hope to sponge off taxpayers to do it. This is all upside-down. Is it any wonder Allentown tax revenues are screwy?

Just about anywhere else but Allentown apartment complexes have been built by commercial developers with their own money. Here in Allentown taxpayers are asked required to financially assist them. Why is that? Is it because w/o cheaper rents these tenants who would have to pay more elsewhere won't come here? EXACTLY MY POINT!

Allentown already has a problem with low/no income wage earners. Why attract more of the same? One must ask why some apartment developer would be interested in Allentown in the first place? There's obviously a more lucrative market outside of the city. Is it because they are patriotic and trying to make Allentown a better place? I doubt it. Common sense dictates otherwise.

No I do not prefer these buildings sit empty, but when it comes to paying taxes nothing from nothing is still nothing. A empty building is still far cheaper then having to provide police, school and other taxpayer supported services for a building full of people who aren't contributing one nickel for them through KOEZ.

I, for one, am tired of hearing this deal will pay off in 10 years, the NIZ in 30 years or in 50 years for leasing the water department. Many of us will never live long enough to see that day, even if these experiments should pay off. Which is questionable.

Homeowners get no such tax breaks. Each year that goes by, those trapped on fixed incomes or those who cannot afford to keep up are driven out or are forced to neglect repairs. Those that can afford it, move out of the city. How's this a good thing for Allentown?

Personally speaking I'm on a fixed income and expect the wife and I to assume room temperature long before any these schemes pay off. The wife and I've paid well over $100,000 in real estate and payroll taxes to this city over the years. About another $10,000 more for water and garbage. Never been arrested or used the courts. Kids have been out of school for over 30 years. I've called the police maybe twice in all these years. Ambulance or fire.. never. My footprint on the city and school services is minimal. Why then am I not afforded some sort of break these investor guys from out of town are getting instead of being forced to pick up an even greater portion for them to enrich themselves? Shouldn't the city encourage couples like us to stay rather then bail or be driven out by taxing us beyond our means?

To those who say 'tough beans', I say this. Someday everyone becomes old or will face a limited income. I never thought it would happen to me either, but IT DOES. To these same people who think they got it all figured out... back in the 60's I never could have imagined how far Allentown could sink over these last 50 years. Anyone who thinks they are immune from suffering the same fate on the path I've traveled are fools.

In the decades ahead it's a sure bet the new arena, offices and restaurants you so admire will look a whole lot like the old Adelaide Silk Mill does today. You can take that to the bank!

"History is nothing more than today's yesterday"
~ LVCI ~


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