Why We Moved To Allentown's West End

Friday, April 18, 2004- Lehigh Valley Live.com-- "Police Capt. Glen Dorney said officers served the arrest warrant at 529 N. New St., between West Allen and Liberty streets, at 9:30 p.m., found evidence of a drug operation and arrested 13 people inside the single family home."

COMMENTARY
This house is located less then two blocks from where we once lived nearly 25 years ago. At that time you could already see drug houses being boarded up on 11th street in this area. Even the hairdresser I went to moved after she saw what was starting to happen to the neighborhood.

Things weren't always that way when we moved in years before. Most of the neighbors, like we, took down their fences and communed freely out back with one another. The homes were occupied by families like ourselves, but mostly occupied by older retirees. One by one as the retirees either left voluntarily or died, homes started to be occupied by questionable characters.

A woman who's husband was in jail at the time moved in two doors down. She had a daughter who constantly would sneak her minority boyfriend into her bedroom on the second floor. Two or three times a week in the morning this jackass would run along the porch roofs like they were his personal sidewalks past our and other neighbor's bedroom windows. He would shimmy up & down a wrought iron pole at the end of the block to come and go

A fella bought a home across the street from a senior through HUD. Within months he ended up in jail and the home was sold once again through HUD.

Please believe me I have nothing against minorities, but these are not the kind of minorities anyone would want to live around. Cars started being broken into (unlike before). Where once we all helped each other shovel the streets so we could get out in snow storms. These new incoming homeowners didn't lift a finger to even shovel their own walks. You name it. Arson, burglary any other crimes started happening where none occurred before.

We sold and risked our financial well being
There's no way in hell I could afford to move to the West End. On the other hand, there was no way in hell I could afford not to. Here's why.

In less then five years after we left, home prices dropped on that street. About a half a dozen of our former neighbors who waited too long couldn't sell them even at half the price we sold ours for. Most of the oldsters were gone by then. Jack (our wonderful mailman) applied for a different route. No longer was old Harry cleaning the sidewalk & curb in front of his house every morning. Even he & his wife left for the safety a high-rise apartment could provide them.

What remains of our old home are rotted and removed window flower boxes that I built. The canvas porch awning and the second & third floor aluminum window awnings are now gone. The new porch post and rails I put in are now rotted and peeled.

Gone are the days we sat out back with the neighbors enjoying a few beers and listening to the Phillies on the radio. It's now been replaced by the loud thumping of bass coming from blaring speakers intermingled with sirens. Gone is the 'New Street Theatre' with it's loyal patrons who'd walk up to see a movie. Gone is the old bakery on New Street. Gone are the Greeks, Italians and the Irish that once made up the neighborhood. Gone is the pride and investment in improvements that we made to our homes which I can see are now deteriorating when I drive past that block.

Think what you will. I'm not trying to get down on other cultures, but the old neighborhood doesn't speak well for the new residents who now occupy that area. Too bad if the truth hurts.