What's New in Old Allentown

Public Meeting Notice - Old Allentown Streetscape

2010-01-04T16:15:00.000-05:00

YOU'RE INVITED - PUBLIC MEETING
When: January 6, 2010; 6:30pm
Where: OAPA office 147 N. 10th Street
Why: Old Allentown Streetscape

This will be a multi-purpose meeting to discuss the design
progress for developing a Standard Streetscape Design for
the entire historic district. Design components include
brick sidewalks, period style street signs, period style
lighting, trash receptacles, tree well surrounds, etc. A
sample prototype can be seen at the corner of Turner and
Fountain Streets which was constructed this year as part of
the park development.

There will also be discussion relative to a Street Tree
Master Plan for the entire district. An inventory of all
the existing trees within the district will be presented and
discussed as well as plans for the future tree plantings.

Finally you will hear about plans to implement a portion of
the Streetscape Improvements using a $444,000 appropriation
that has been obtained from the State.

This is your opportunity to voice opinions, concerns, and
offer ideas that will benefit your neighborhood. Please
forgive the short notice for this meeting. The $444k needs
to be spent by September '10, so we need to move quickly.

The meeting will be hosted by current board president and
streetscape consultant Chris Brown.

PLEASE ATTEND - Your input is extremely valuable.

Tree Trimming

2009-12-15T13:38:00.012-05:00

These hardy souls braved the bitter cold of December to decorate the annual Christmas Tree in the Hazel Stauffer Pocket Park at 8th & Gordon Streets. The stately tree was decorated with bird-friendly pinecones dipped in peanut butter and covered in seed.

The tree lights up our neighborhood with wishes for good will among all

This is a fine example of the ornament "for the birds"

Even Mr. Dog gets in the act of creating an avian delight

Holiday Spirit in Old Allentown!

2009-12-11T16:18:00.008-05:00

Students from TREXLER MIDDLE SCHOOL and MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL painted holiday-inspired scenes at several locations in the Old Allentown Historic District:

Turner St. laundromat, 1120 Linden St. (formerly Grim's Bakery), Las Palmas Restaurant, Neighborhood Housing Services of the LV office and Old Allentown Preservation Association's office. Check out all locations!

A special note of thanks to Ms. Cindy Gunn and Mr. Jason Gordon, Allentown School District faculty, for instructing students on site.

A huge THANK YOU to Susan Weaver for organizing this year's holiday scenes painting with the schools and for overseeing the process as students painted windows throughout the Old Allentown Historic District.

WISHING EVERYONE THE JOYS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

GENARO OPTICS - OPENS TODAY!

2009-11-16T15:59:00.007-05:00

GENARO OPTICS (Eye Exam - Contact Lenses - Designer Frames) is now open!

Located at 347 North 8th St., Allentown - at the corner of 8th & Gordon Streets.

GENARO OPTICS received an ANDA (Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance) grant funded through contributions made by KNBT/National Penn Bank and PPL Utilities. The grant covered the cost of their new business sign.

We also thank Allentown Economic Development Corporation for covering permit and zoning fees for Genaro Optics through a Rider-Pool Foundation marketing grant.

Orange Balloons Everywhere!

2009-11-16T15:23:00.004-05:00

THANK YOU - to members of the DeSales University softball team for distibuting orange balloons throughout the Old Allentown Historic District - on a very early morning October 3rd. The orange balloons designated facade restoration grant properties throughout the Historic District since the beginning of the program in the early 1990's.

It takes a small army of volunteers!

2009-10-16T12:52:00.007-04:00

A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS
to all our 2009 Old Allentown House Tour homeowners and volunteers.

Your willingness to open your homes and on-going committment to your neighborhoods is the reason OAPA can
offer a house tour - for the past 33 years!

We are proud of the fact that the annual Old Allentown House Tour brings many first-time and return visitors to our center city neighborhoods.

And, we couldn't continue to offer our annual House Tour without a very dedicated, hard working House Tour committee, nearly one hundred volunteers and cooperation
among other districts to put together a unique House Tour representing some of the most beautiful architecture in the City of Allentown.

Again, our sincere thanks!

Pumpkin Fun!

2009-10-12T11:21:00.012-04:00

As trees were being planted at the

Turner St. Park Saturday,

October 10th, a group of children from the

neighborhood painted pumpkins

at Old Allentown Preservation Association's office.

Meet some of our pumpkin painters and

their pumpkins all decked out for Halloween!

A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS to:

Anne Schauer and Barbara Resto for guiding the pumpkin painting and decorating process!

Turner Street Park - Trees Are Next!

2009-10-09T16:20:00.005-04:00

2009-09-14T14:40:00.003-04:00

House Tour '09

Saturday, October 3

10-4pm

House Tour Tickets:

$15.00 in advance,
$20.00 the day of the tour*
*OAPA office only

Purchase your tickets at these locations:

Allentown

Allentown Brew Works, 814 W Hamilton St
C Leslie Smith, 3100 W Tilghman St
Harware Variety Plus, 139 N 7th St
Old Allentown Preservation Association Office * 147 N 10th St
Phoebe Floral, 2102 W Hamilton St
Syb's West End Deli, 2151 Liberty St

Bethlehem

Home and Planet, 25 E 3rd St
The Moravian Book Shop, 428 Main St

Emmaus

Spotted Dog Barkery, 338 Main St

2009-08-27T14:00:00.002-04:00

Tree Well Surrounds in Sight!

2009-08-20T15:23:00.004-04:00

As of today, seven tree well surrounds have been installed. Several more will be in within a few days.

New Restaurant Opens in Old Allentown

2009-08-20T15:11:00.009-04:00

Morton's Restaurant, "With a Southern Flair," opened this week at the former location of LoBaido's on the corner of Liberty and 8th Sts. The restaurant offers dine in or carry out service, as well as catering and delivery services. Hours are Monday - Saturday 11am - 10pm, closed Sundays. Morton's Restaurants has a new sign and customized front door awning thanks to an ANDA grant. A special note of thanks to KNBT and PPL for their support of this program - a program of the Allentown Neighborhood Alliance (ANDA).

Closing Remarks

2009-08-20T14:39:00.002-04:00

The fact that ten weeks have come and gone in and of itself is quite a surprise to me. It feels like only a few days ago that I was reading an email from my Professor encouraging me to apply for this internship. In these ten weeks I have had the privilege of observing and being a part of a very unique organization in a neighborhood that is as diverse as they come. From the facade renovations to the mural project and the youth arts programs, OAPA has found a way to touch the lives of almost everyone who lives in Old Allentown. One of the mixed blessings of a neighborhood with so many people from so many walks of life is that very rarely, if ever, will everyone see eye to eye on much of anything. Although many consider this a stumbling block, to me this is one of the greatest things about the neighborhood. Very few places, especially in Pennsylvania, will you find a neighborhood with so many cultures, personalities and opinions. One of my tasks in my time here was to disperse, collect and tabulate the Elm Street Survey. One of the things that stood out to me was how people who live so close to each other could have such differing perceptions of the neighborhood that they live in. Almost every question received responses that were all across the board. The only exception being that almost everyone seemed to want a bakery, so it seems there is something that everyone can agree on.
I will definitely miss the unique personality of this neighborhood. From the Victorian architecture, to the culture influence of the Latino community, the mix is not one that I have found anywhere else that I've been.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said "The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well." After being a part of Old Allentown for ten weeks I think my final observation is there is a good thing going on here. Keep doing what you are doing, and this historic district will continue to prosper as a unique and diverse neighborhood. I am grateful for the time that I have had here and the lessons that I have learned.

-Adam Labs

2009-08-20T10:58:00.002-04:00

Wow! Tree well surround sure looks good! 411 N 9th St

Tree Well Surround Project begins in Old Allentown

2009-08-18T15:24:00.003-04:00

Today, the anxiously awaited tree well surround project is underway. The first one is being installed on the 200 block of North 9th st with the others to follow. The installer, Andrew, had dug the post holes and was just beginning cut the legs to height so that they could be installed level to the ground when Marie and I stopped by to see how things were going. With the exception of a few roots getting in the way things seemed to be going along quite smoothly. As this one and the others to follow become completed we will post pictures to document the progress.

More Summer Arts in the City

2009-08-06T20:18:00.010-04:00

Another huge Thank You to ANDA (Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance)’s Neighborhood Partnership Program, funded by KNBT and PPL, for another day of Summer Arts in the City. On Wednesday, August 5, 2009, through ANDA arts programming, Old Allentown Preservation Association treated 27 local teenagers to a day of arts in the city, the second such session. The teens enjoyed a two hour visit to the Allentown Art Museum, featuring the exhibit, Fashion in Film. After viewing and learning a bit about the many portraits downstairs, the teens explored the thirty two costumes on display upstairs. The period costumes captured their imaginations, all the while absorbing valuable historical information, and connecting the past with today. The teens had a chance to put their creativity to use by learning how to insert dyed wool into felt in the museum’s Crayola Learning Center. This project became the cover of a journal they put together for themselves to take with them back home. But it wasn’t time to go just yet! Just outside the museum, across the street at the Arts Park, the teenagers had a delicious lunch of gourmet deli wraps from Plaza Deli waiting for them. And, after eating, Alfonso Todd (BLURB Media/Promotions), presented “Hip Hop Interactive.” Alfonso and the teens had fun taking turns dancing and learning new steps from each other while discussing their surroundings and how the ‘hip hop’ lifestyle affects themselves, their family and friends, and schools. There were many smiles to be seen.

Joshua Jones

2009-08-06T12:11:00.004-04:00

Hello my name is Joshua Jones and I’m a rising senior at Lafayette College. I’m interning with the Old Allentown Preservation for the summer. Receiving this internship has meant a lot to me and I enjoy every minute I’m working with the organization. Last week Carmen (who is another associate of the Old Allentown Preservation) and I took a group of kids ages 8-11 to the art museum in Allentown and spent the day there doing projects teaching them a little about art. Then we came back to the office and did activities with kids such as hula hooping and playing the drums. This was a lot of fun and the kids seemed to be having a lot of fun also. Events and activities like this are great for kids because they are learning and having fun all at the same time. More events like these are needed in communities and do nothing but help push them in the right way starting with the kids. I just hope with my little time at Old Allentown Preservation I can help their cause in bringing Allentown back to its old self.

OAPA Takes Local Children to the Art Museum

2009-07-30T11:45:00.023-04:00

OAPA takes local youth on a trip the Allentown Art Museum. Thanks to funding from ANDA (Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance, Neighborhood Partnership Program youth projects, funded by KNBT & PPL) 13 children ages 8 to 11 had a wonderful day of Arts in the City. The weather held up for the children's walk from OAPA's office to the Allentown Art Museum. Luckily they did not need to use umbrellas! They spent the morning at the museum exploring the exhibit Fashion in Film. The children were amazed with the costumes and spent some time among the clothing sketching their own rendition of a fabulous costume. They all got to use fabrics and trims to make their mini costumes for their paper doll in the museum studio. After the museum the children walked back to OAPA for a delicious lunch of fresh fruit and wraps from Plaza Deli. The children also had some live entertainment and participated in hooping with Tina from Spirit Hoops and drumming with Snow Star Raven Hawk.

Another trip to the museum is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5th. This trip will be for local teens. Check out the blog next week for pictures and more fun..

An Outsiders Perspective

2009-07-23T12:32:00.006-04:00

As I sit here half way through my sixth week of this 10 week internship, I reflect upon the things that I've learned from so far. My first lesson came my second week here when I found out just how strict the Allentown parking authority is. I missed my meter by less than 5 min and they had already ticketed me. I guess you haven't had the Old Allentown experience until you've experienced the promptness of the ticketing agents. All that aside though, I have learned quite a bit about a city that I grew up quite close to but never had the opportunity to get to know. I grew up in Lancaster, only about an hour away from Allentown, but other than driving through it on my way somewhere else, I had never before really spent any time here. I found the parts that I have experienced to be diversely culturally rich, as well as aesthetically impressive. For me, Allentown has turned out to be a combination of rich culture, impressive architecture, and historic presence.

One of my favorite travel destinations is Washington Heights, New York City. Washington Heights is a predominantly Dominican neighborhood with influences from many other Latin American cultures. "The Heights," as the neighborhood is referred to by locals is so rich with culture that all five senses are saturated. I have found the historic district of Allentown to be much the same. Everywhere that you look there are people proud of their history with Puerto Rican or Dominican flags hanging on a porch or in a car. The smell of "arroz con habichuelas" (or rice and beans) is present on almost every sidewalk due to such a high presence of Latin American Restaurants. On many sidewalks either Spanish conversation or music (or both) can be heard. Anyone adventurous enough to venture into any of the cultural restaurants will be greatly rewarded by some of the greatest flavors of any cuisine worldwide. Upon close examination of any building, especially one constructed of brick, the feel of the antiquity of the neighborhood is so obvious, yet it is equally obvious that most of the buildings are still in great condition.

It is the architectural beauty of the neighborhood that sets it apart from any New York City Borough. Old Allentown is as richly filled with architecture as it is with culture. Through walking around the neighborhood distributing the Elm Street Community Survey (please fill one out and return by September 1st) and working on a PowerPoint Presentation documenting all of the completed facade restorations to date, I have seen some really unique architecture. The detail put into the lentils, and the porches, the dedication to the historical accuracy of the shutters is something for any resident of the Historic District to be proud of.

With the resources and manpower available, OAPA has done a great job taking the time and attention to detail to pursue a dedication to historical architectural accuracy. Not only do they have an understanding of what the Historic District should look like, OAPA has also created literature to communicate that idea to the residents to help spread their mission to maintain a historic presence in the city of Allentown.

I have so far enjoyed the things that I've learned and the people that I have had the opportunity to meet. Each person has been able to offer me a unique perspective of the district, and each building that I have observed has shown me a different style of historic renovation. If you are a resident of the Allentown Historic District, be proud of the neighborhood you live in! As an outsider it has certainly impressed me.
Ciao,
Adam

Ice Cream For Us

2009-07-20T17:15:00.012-04:00

Fellow residents and members of Old Allentown, Cheryl Moritz and her husband, Joshua Neth had a great treat for all their neighbors. Cheryl entered an online contest by writing an essay on what a wonderful neighborhood she lives in. In Edy's Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute, Cheryl saluted her neighbors and Edy's saluted her. Cheryl had wonderful news to share with us: she won "Edy's Slow Churned" ice cream for about 150 of her neighbors!! Her essay:"I live in a neighborhood that is a mix of well-preserved historic row homes and lower-income rental units. Unfortunately, the two groups that live in each of the aforementioned types of housing rarely have the opportunity to interact. An ice cream block party would be a perfect way to bring together the various social and economic groups that live in my neighborhood, and it would also be a perfect way for the community to celebrate and do something positive in an area that is often portrayed negatively in the media for being crime filled. Many people in my neighborhoodare trying hard to change the community for the better, and an Edy's Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute ice cream block party would be the perfect reward for our efforts and a wonderful impetus to encourage more positive change." So Sunday, July 12th the pocket park at Turner and Fountain Streets was filled with neighbors having an awesome time in the great weather. There were many delicious flavors to choose from. There was also an art table for our youth.

Plaza Grower's Market

2009-07-17T15:24:00.018-04:00

Downtown Allentown has a wonderful farmer's market every wednesday through October from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. The Plaza Grower's Market is held at the PPL Plaza on 9th and Hamilton Streets. The official ribbon cutting ceremony took place Wednesday, July 8th, 2009. The Plaza was filled with people enjoying the beautiful weather and the bountiful array of selections. Locals and tourists alike were marveling at the quality of the fresh produce, flowers and food available. Young and old gathered to participate in a large drum circle led by local artist Yodi from the Street Theater Alliance. The delicious scents of the foods, the live entertainment and the sounds of our youth running through the splash fountain almost made one stop to think, "Wait, are we downtown? Is this a Wednesday afternoon?"
A popular stop at the market is Tassot Apiaries of Milford, NJ. Not only do they have the best honey, they also bring an amazing beehive honeycomb with queen bee and all!! You can watch the busy bees through the glass working on the production of honey.

Other tables include Balasia, where Wendy makes vegan delights; Riegel's Produce of Kempton; Fresh Coffee Scoop of Pipersville, PA, offering organic, free trade, locally roasted coffee; Allentown's own Vicky's Sweet Spot, featuring delicious baked goods; LC's Farm Alastar of Riegelsville, PA, with home grown produce, fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, and herbs; Woodsong Hollow Farm of Boyertown, PA with chicken and eggs; Little Peace Farm of Schuylkill Haven, PA with vegetables; Keepsake Farm of Northampton, PA with eggs and meat; and Highland Gourmet of Stockertown, NJ with all natural beef products. Among these you will find community tables offering information, services, or products. You may find sunlv.org for community gardens, Community Bikeworks, Local Artists, Blurb Media Productions, Chen Arts Group, plus many more!!

Be a witness to the sights, sounds, and smells: Come one and all to the Plaza Grower's Market next wednesday!

Union West End Cemetery Rehab Volunteers

2009-06-24T12:21:00.000-04:00

The Union West End Cemetery’s wrought iron fence has been in need of a paint job for some time, but because of its extensive length of over a mile, there was no one to take on the massive job, or at least there wasn’t until the youth group from Westover Church from Greensboro, North Carolina showed up ready, able and willing to take on the challenge. The group of about 200 youth and 45 adults arrived in Allentown on Saturday, June 20th. Each year the church picks a destination for the trip, dubbed “Project Serve” because of its service oriented theme. One of the adult leaders, Kaz, told me how the group had originally planned to go down south to do flood and hurricane relief, but after a series of attempts fell through, the leaders felt that they needed to search for a different location, and after much searching, the leaders felt called to PA.

After getting in contact with the mayor’s office, whom Kaz told me was a great resource to work with, the group found a place to stay and projects that needed to be done. The group divided themselves into smaller “work teams,” each with 1 adult leader and the rest eager workers, each at various points in their high school career. All of the youth that I spoke with seemed very excited to be in Allentown working. Many of them had given up opportunities to work, be part of swim team, or time to lounge around and enjoy summer vacation, to come out and work in the hot sun. Olivia, one of the youth, told me as she was preparing the fence with a wire brush, in preparation for a paint crew that she really enjoys the opportunity to get out into an unfamiliar community and have the chance to talk to people one on one about their lives, and to help them in any way possible.

This theme was echoed by Matt and Julie, also high school youth, who conveyed their enthusiasm for being able to talk to people about why they were there and what they were doing. For Julie, this is just an extension of her service at home where she frequently spends time feeding and talking to the homeless. Jon, the youth pastor and fearless leader of the team summed things up well as he explained to me that the youth on this trip are simply looking for a way to get alongside and help people who are unable to, or can’t afford to things themselves. Whatever their motivation, we at OAPA are extremely grateful for all of the sacrifice and hard work that they have given to Allentown. To all of the team, thank you very much, hope you have lots of fun at Hersheypark!!

Join Us for the 6th Annual Street Festival!

2009-06-18T12:29:00.000-04:00

Safe, Clean & Green at the Flower & Flea Market

2009-05-07T11:11:00.000-04:00

PLANT SWAP!
Spring is here and it’s time to garden! A great way to
clean up the garden is to separate overgrown plants—
hence the plant swap. Too many hostas? Dig up a few
and trade them for some daisies. It’s easy, bring a plant
and swap it for another.

SPRUCE UP YOUR STOOP!
Safe, Clean & Green invites you to bring a recycled
container and we’ll plant it for you for free!
Be creative...perhaps an old boot, or a funky bowl.
Peruse the Flower & Flea Market for some great finds.
Then, stop on by, and we’ll plant your unique container
with some dazzling annuals that will add color to your
stoop and the neighborhood all summer long!

Spring Clean Up In Old Allentown!

2009-04-15T09:36:00.000-04:00

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

to have some
FUN & HELP US
clean up OUR neighborhood -

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009

Pick up garbage bags & gloves at the OAPA office
147 N. 10th St., Allentown
9AM and throughout the day.

Surprise appearances from
the Wildlands Conservancy
Noon - 2PM

Refreshments.

Gloves, brooms, bags provided by
City of Allentown Recycling.

**********************************
Tire Processors & Recyclers in our area:

Carbon Service, Lehighton, PA................610-377-3120
Lafarge Cement, Whitehall, PA.................610-261-3450
Northampton Generating, Northampton, PA.........610-261-3070

Time to Celebrate Spring!

2009-04-08T09:53:00.000-04:00

Hello OAPA MEMBERS,

A special note of THANKS to homeowners,

WILLIAM GREEN & MARTY MAHONEY

at 212-214 NORTH 8th STREET

for hosting

Old Allentown Preservation Association's

ANNUAL SPRING THAW

SATURDAY, - APRIL 18, 2009

We will have a potluck meal –
(everyone brings a dish to share)

Plus, we will start promptly at 6PM and please
enter William and Marty's home using the door on the right.

There will be a review of the progress
and new initiatives for 2009.

RSVP so we can plan for enough
seating and soft drinks for the event.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you all!

Sharon Smith
sharon.smith@platform-a.com

ANTIQUES, ART WORK, GIFT CERTIFICATES and more....

2009-03-06T14:51:00.000-05:00

A popular addition to the Annual Old Allentown House Tour has been the Silent Auction located at Old Allentown's headquarters -147 North 10th St. , running the same time as the House Tour, 10AM-4PM.

Once again, we are looking for some truly unique or one-of-a-kind items from antiques to gift certificates for this year's auction.

Any questions, or to donate an item for the silent auction, please contact Kelly at kelminton@yahoo.com

Many thanks!

WANTED - BEAUTIFUL HOMES!

2009-03-06T14:42:00.000-05:00

Consider showing off your beautiful home improvements by opening your home for this year's annual House Tour (HT), Saturday, October 3, 2009, 10 AM to 4 PM. Our HT visitors love seeing what can be done to homes over 100 years old and really do appreciate and respect the homes they tour!

We need at least six (6) more homes for this year's tour.

Any questions or to add your home to this year's tour, please contact Sue (snfuller@msn.com) or Kim (kceccatti@msn.com)

Thank you in advance!

CALL 1-800-426-TIPS Graffiti Is A Crime!!!

2009-03-05T17:47:00.000-05:00

Check out the "Graffiti Is A Crime" billboard in our neighborhood at the corner of 11th & Linden Sts. The City of Allentown is offering up to $500 reward for information leading to the arrest/conviction of taggers.

Call anonymously to Lehigh Valley Crime Stoppers - 1-800-426-TIPS.

Facade Restoration Grants

2009-02-24T10:32:00.000-05:00

Hurry, hurry, hurry!
It's facade application time again.

If you're interested in either a residential or commercial
facade restoration grant for 2009, now is the time to get
your application in because we will be reviewing
applications at the next Elm Street Neighbors & Economy
Committee meeting on Thursday, March 5th.

And funding, as usual, is limited, so it's likely that no
applications received after that date will be reviewed again
until next year.

If you need an application form, please contact the
OAPA office at (610)740-9919 or e-mail oldallentown@enter.net
and request one.

If you submitted an application prior to April, 2008, but
were not awarded a grant, you will need to reapply.
Applications received after that date will be reviewed as part of the
current round of review.

No need to include a photo, as we will take care of that.

Oscar Party at Allentown BrewWorks

2009-02-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

GayMatter Magazine and The Allentown BrewWorks
are partnering together to host the 2009 Oscar Party to
benefit Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley. What a great
way to watch the Oscars with your friends while helping
Pride of the Greater Lehigh Valley raise the funds to
produce Pride in the Park 2009 and its other programs and
events.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Allentown BrewWorks

821 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown

7pm - 10pm

$20 ADMISSION INCLUDES:
hors d' oeuvres, pasta bar, dessert,
1 complimentary Oscar's choice cocktail
(compliments of Southern Wine & Spirits),
ballot voting & prizes,
silentauction, and more!

Tickets can be purchased in advance via
pay pal.

Online ticket purchases through www.prideglv.org
will be held the door the night of the event.

The Jewelry Designers' Show

2009-02-04T11:16:00.000-05:00

You are cordially invited on February 7, 2009, 11 AM to 4 PM, 147 N. 10th St., as the Old Allentown Preservation Association shines for the day with a collection from world jewelry designers. Find the ideal gift or special something of your dreams!

2008-12-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

HOLIDAY MAGIC!

2008-12-05T14:32:00.000-05:00

ALLENTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE

2008-12-05T12:19:00.000-05:00

Thursday, December 4, 2008, Old Allentown Preservation Association's office was the site for a press conference announcing the new Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance - ANDA. ANDA is a partnership to strengthen Elm Street and 7th Street Main St. programs.

OAPA deeply appreciates the vote of confidence from our generous funders - National Penn Bancshares/KNBT and PPL. Fueled in part by tax credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, National Penn/KNBT has committed a total of $1,050,000 and PPL has committed $450,000 over six years to support the newly-established Allentown Neighborhood Development Alliance. This program will enhance the Elm Street community program managed by OAPA and the Main Street program operated by the Community Action Development Corporation.

Stay tuned as we confirm our 2009 initiatives.

AGAIN - A HUGE THANK YOU TO NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES/KNBT AND PPL!

GIFT SHOPPING OPPORTUNITY!

2008-12-05T12:06:00.000-05:00

JOIN US!

2008-12-05T11:51:00.000-05:00

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED To Paint Holiday Scenes on Windows

2008-12-03T09:02:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of partnership with the Main St. program on
7th St., Elm St. - Old Allentown would like to continue
the "Sparkle on Main St." program by painting storefront
windows with fun holiday scenes - three in our
Elm St. community/Old Allentown Historic District.

We have permission from the Turner St. Laundromat (near 11th
St. on Turner), Las Palmas Restaurant (across from the OAPA
office) and Neighborhood for Housing Lehigh Valley office on
10th St. (about a half a block from the OAPA office).

As you can see all locations are close to each another and
the plan is to paint the windows starting 9AM, Saturday,
12/6/08. OAPA will provide the paints. According to Dick
Blick staff, regular tempera paint is what they use for
their own store window painting. OAPA will provide paint
and brushes.

As of today, OAPA has only one artist signed up for
this project. We need at least one or two more
artists to make this happen!

Please contact Marie Sincavage (610.740.9919 or oldallentown@enter.net) ASAP if you can help us 9-11AM, Saturday,
12/6/08.
If Friday, 12/5/08, is better for your schedule, that works
too.

Holiday Fun!

2008-11-14T13:37:00.000-05:00

Volunteer Opportunities in Old Allentown

2008-09-12T16:05:00.000-04:00

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES (2 events)
Old Allentown Preservation Association

1st Opportunity:
CELEBRATE ALLENTOWN

Two (2) volunteers needed to work at OAPA information table,
promote and sell House Tour tickets at "Celebrate Allentown"
on the 800-900 blocks of Hamilton Street, Saturday,
September 13th:

1 person from 12-2PM
&
1 person from 2-4PM.

*******************************************************************************
2nd Opportunity:
OLD ALLENTOWN HOUSE TOUR - TROLLEY GUIDES

To ride the trolley the day of the tour, Saturday, October
4th, and point out architectural and neighborhood highlights
of the Old Allentown Historic District and beyond to House
Tour visitors. This is a great opportunity to tell everyone
on the tour what you love about our neighborhoods:

One (1) person needed for the 10AM - 1PM shift
&
Two (2) people needed for the 1-4 PM shift.

******************************************************************************
To volunteer and for more information, please contact Kim
Ceccatti at kceccatti@e-mail.msn.com or Sue Fuller at
snfuller@msn.com

Trip to the Library

2008-09-10T14:46:00.000-04:00

Having grown up in a house where my parents took us to the library once a week to select a new round of books, I've always had a library card. Today, when I needed a particular book for work, I was surprised to learn the amazing collection the Allentown Library had of a relatively obscure subject. Interestingly, I tried to go to a couple of area bookstores to buy the book but had no success. The Allentown Library, however came through and with some amazing service from the library staff to make my hunt a little bit easier.

The Library is one of those community assets that doesn't get enough proper attention. From newspapers to online catalogues and little-used reference materials to historical resources, the Allentown Library may very well be one of the finest public libraries in the state. All within a short walk from the Old Allentown neighborhood.

Old Allentown Homeowners are Smart

2008-08-26T18:29:00.000-04:00

It looks like homeowners in Old Allentown did more than buy attractive homes: they made smart investments.

Some good news for people who own historic buildings, be it a home or a commercial property. I've stumbled across economic impact studies focusing on how historic districts improve property values and sales prices in South Carolina, Texas, Georgia and New York City. Some of the impact is small, with increases coming in around 10%. Others are dramatic, with increases that exceeded 50%.

According to a study of South Carolina historic districts, "Local historic districts create a win-win situation for homeowners and the community:
--Current owners can sell their houses for higher prices or make use of their increased equity
--New homeowners can protect their investments in their houses and enjoy greaer prices gains, and
--The community strengthens its tax base

For more information on the economic impact of historic districts and property values, visit the http://www.achp.gov/economic-propertyvalues.html Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

The Benefits and Challenges of Urban Living

2008-08-06T15:08:00.000-04:00

Mercedes Tonne may have become a resident of the Allentown Historic District only a year ago, but she is certainly no stranger to urban environments. She and her husband Michael Fegley lived in midtown Manhattan for nine years, then moved to the West End of Allentown for two years before finally settling in the Historic District.

"In Manhattan, everything was easily accessible," says Tonne. "There was no need to drive. Buses and subway trains were within walking distance and could take you to work or wherever you needed to go. " Unfortunately, Tonne believes that the choices of stores and activities within walking distance, a clear benefit of urban living, are largely missing from the Historic District. "Ideally, if you lived in the Historic District, you would be able to walk to work, walk to a thriving downtown, and have access to a lot of different kinds of stores. Currently Mike walks to work at the Brew Works,we can walk to Church at Grace Episcopal, and we walk with the kids to Grace Montessori School--all within a few blocks of our home. But we need more restaurants, stores, coffee shops and bakeries, as well as a walkable grocery market."

Life in the Historic District definitely has unique benefits. "The weekly Growers' Market on Wednesdays on Hamilton is fabulous. The history of the region is also fantastic." Tonne cites the district's two cemeteries as contributing to the rich history of the area. "Events, such as flea markets and cleanup day, have been successful and show that efforts are being made and create a sense of community."

Tonne laments the fairly weak sense of community in the Historic District. One of the great things about Manhattan, she says, was that "an ethnically and economically diverse group was living together harmoniously. There was an attitude that we all live in the city, so we need to get along. There was an urban understanding, a type of unwritten code that doesn't exist here so much. In the Historic District, many folks own homes and are committed to changing where they live for the better; certainly the mayor and other organizations strive to help, but other residents in the Historic District really have no concern."

So how do we bring urban understanding and a sense of community to the Historic District? "We need more physical signs of neighborhood pride," says Tonne. "If you live in a place where people clean up the streets, other residents will notice and join in. If you look around you, you can tell how you are expected to behave in your community. Nice street lights, prettier trash cans, and small gates around trees all make people think, 'Wow, the Historic District is really nice. I would want to live here.' We chose 8th Street because of the commitments that people around us are making. We want to be part of that and drive the neighborhood in the right direction."

Tonne and Fegley have two children: a seven-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. The couple decided that, overall, raising their children in an urban setting would best for their family. "We don't want our kids to live in a bubble. We want the diversity of an urban environment because we don't want our kids to grow up only with kids that are just like them. The West End is not as diverse as the Historic District." Still, the couple certainly recognizes that there are difficulties in this environment. "Safety is an issue. Kids can ride bikes and roller skates, but it's not ideal." Tonne has witnessed five accidents at the intersection near her house, including one where a car drove onto the sidewalk and hit a pole. "It can be dangerous, but I don't think it's really possible to have a 'Slow -Children at Play' sign because it's a major thruway. Mike and I are hoping to see traffic-calming plans put forth by the [Mayor] Pawlowski administration that could make this better."

Tonne says that her family likes living in the Historic District for three main reasons. First, she likes the diversity of the region, especially compared to other areas of Allentown. Second, she sees the Historic District as an area where change is happening that is not happening elsewhere. "Unlike other areas of the city, there is regentrification and encouraged economic development happening in the downtown area. We wanted to be part of this effort to improve the city." Third, if people started moving back into the inner-cities, our society could save a lot of resources. "If you focus on what's already here rather than expanding," Tonne explains, "we can save on our resources. Also, because everything is close, there is no need to drive, and we can save on energy. Of course, I'm not an economist." Tonne laughs. "But 'suburban sprawl' has gone too far, and I think the economic benefits of that kind of expansion are running out."

With effort and with concerned residents like Tonne, the Allentown Historic District can reach its full potential in the near future, providing the best that urban living has to offer.

Neighborhood Housing Services of the Lehigh Valley

2008-07-30T14:23:00.000-04:00

Neighborhood Housing Services of the Lehigh Valley (NHS) has been providing help to homeowners in Lehigh and Northampton Counties since 1981, and its offices are located right in the Allentown Historic District! NHS is one of more than 240 Congressional Chartered members of NeighborWorks America, a national organization committed to community development. Because every community is unique, each NeighborWorks America member provides services unique to its region, so NHS's programs are custom-tailored to the needs of the Lehigh Valley. This also means that NHS's programs have changed as the community has changed. Carol Ann Jurchenko, Executive Director of NHS, reports that, when NHS began twenty-seven years ago, rehabilitation of houses in the Historic District was NHS's top priority. In fact, NHS used to partner with OAPA in its facade program. Since 1992, however, NHS has focused mainly on assisting first-time home buyers through financial assistance and through financial fitness classes.

Financial assistance for first-time home buyers can come in the form of either loans or grants, depending on the income of the buyer and the location of house. Susan Gottwald, Program/Resource Development Manager of NHS, says that, in order to prepare for home ownership, NHS might recommend that a potential buyer take one of NHS's financial fitness classes, which cover such important issues as mortgage readiness, spending plans, going over credit reports, budgeting, and finding a lender/avoiding predatory lenders. According to Jurchenko, "We see a lot of people in this region purchasing homes before they are ready." Gottwald adds, "It's not just this region. It's a national issue."

Jurchenko notes that one fascinating feature of the Lehigh Valley is that home-ownership organizations try to avoid duplicating each other's services. Cooperation, not competition, is the name of the game when it comes to supporting homeowners in the Lehigh Valley. Although organizations like NHS and OAPA exist to help homeowners in the Historic District and surrounding areas, Jurchenko and Gottwald agree that more help is needed. Gottwald would like to see "more funding for [housing] rehab. With the current economy, many people have no money for major repair." Jurchenko adds that such assistance would ideally be in the form of grants, not loans. NHS funds rehabilitation projects for residents of Northampton County in the form of forgivable grants. For Allentown and other parts of Lehigh County, such funding is currently available only in the form of loans (maximum amount $15,000 with a 5% interest rate).

Individuals seriously considering home ownership in Lehigh or Northampton County will find the services offered by NHS to be of great assistance. Whether one needs funding, counseling, and/or financial fitness classes, NHS has just about everything a potential homeowner could want.

Neighborhood Housing Services of the Lehigh Valley: http://www.nhslv.org/

Carol Ann Jurchenko: carol@nhslv.org

Phone: (610) 437-3571

Union and West End Cemetery

2008-07-16T13:07:00.000-04:00

Tom Schleicher's latest project is proof that great things are happening in the Allentown Historic District.

Schleicher, who has lived in the district for more than twenty-five years, is heading an initiative to fix up the perimeter around the Union and West End Cemetery. The upkeep of this area is dear to Schleicher's heart: Schleicher owns three houses that face the cemetery, and he used to live in a house that faces the cemetery.

Every Tuesday at 6 p.m. for the past four weeks, Schleicher and his crew have been pulling weeds and edging the sidewalk between the iron fence and the curbside around the cemetery. Schleicher says that, when he started, there was a lot of sod and ugly weeds near the sidewalk, but you would not know that from looking at it now; the grass along the sidewalk is neatly trimmed.

The Union and West End Cemetery covers most of the area bordered by Chew Street, 12th Street, Liberty Street, and 10th Street. Cleaning up the perimeter, therefore, is no mean feat. According to Schleicher, some skeptics doubted that he would be able to gather enough people for this project, but his group has grown quickly from two people in its first week to eight people in its fourth week. Schleicher's group contains a diverse array of people, including both renters and owners. In just its fourth week, the group has already fixed about half of the perimeter!

Schleicher's group is not the only one lending helpings hands to the Union and West End Cemetery. For instance, Elm Street is planting trees, and Properties of Merit is repainting the cemetery's fence. Check out those silver spires!

Special mention must also be made of Candida's, a local club that provided free refreshments and hospitality to Schleicher's group in its beautiful courtyard! The efforts to restore the Union and West End Cemetery represent the Historic District at its best: individuals, local businesses, and organizations working together to ensure a brighter future for the district.

Union and West End Cemetery: http://www.uandwecemetery.org/

Union and West End Blog: http://union-westend-cemetery.blogspot.com/

Tom Schleicher's E-mail: coolapt@msn.com

Meet the Interns!

2008-07-02T10:53:00.000-04:00

Hi! My name is Patrick; I am an Economics and Business Major at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. In interning at Old Allentown Preservation Association, I have had the opportunity to meet local home owners and help local school children in the production of a community musical. I have found that my time at OAPA has been very rewarding and has opened my eyes to some of the issues that effect a urban community.

Hello! My name is Frank, and I am an English major and Spanish minor at Lafayette College. As an intern at Old Allentown Preservation Association, I have helped to establish this blog and have been out talking with home and business owners in the Historic District. The Old Allentown Preservation Association interests me because I enjoy working in the public sector. (For instance, I volunteered with the Easton Main Street Initiative this past academic year.) My favorite part about being an intern for OAPA is that I get to see how organizations like OAPA interact with both everyday people and local/state government.

First Tales of Tenacity Performance a Resounding Success!

2008-07-02T09:36:00.000-04:00

In an earlier post we mentioned that local children are currently participating in a performing arts camp run by Circle of Stones Ritual Theater Ensemble. The first performance occured on June 28 and was a great success! Here are some photos from the performance.

Plaza Growers' Market

2008-07-02T09:24:00.000-04:00

Are you looking to buy some delicious foodstuffs from local small farms? Every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., from now through October, the Plaza Growers' Market at PPL Plaza, features fresh produce, poultry, eggs, baked goods, culinary demonstrations, and much more! Paking is available in Hess Deck, Linden Street between 8th and 9th Streets.

Circle of Stones

2008-06-25T13:31:00.001-04:00

Circle of Stones Ritual Theater Ensemble, an Allentown-based theater company, is running a summer performing arts program for children living in the Old Allentown Historic District. The children will perform Tales of Tenacity: A Trilogy of Joyous Hip-Hop Operettas by Pana Columbus, Artistic Director of Circle of Stones, with music by Scott Eggert, choreography by Anisa George, and set design by Mary Ann Columbus. The first part of the trilogy, Girl's Gotta Dream, is being run in partnership with Old Allentown Preservation Association and will be performed on Satuday, June 28. The second and third parts will be performed on Saturday, July 19, and Saturday, August 9, respectively.

Flower and Flea Market

2008-06-03T12:58:00.000-04:00

Every spring, OAPA hosts a Flower and Flea market street festival. This year, naturally, it was cold, damp and miserable. But as this video shows, there were still people having a good time.

Thanks to Peter for linking this from 7th Street and to John Schlaff for making the video.

Welcome to Old Allentown Blogging

2008-05-28T08:41:00.000-04:00

With so much New in Old Allentown, it is only fitting that we take the time to provide the community with periodic updates, commentary from residents and insights to living in the neighborhood.

For more information about Old Allentown, visit www.oldallentown.org.