As a resident of Center City , I can tell you why gentrification won't work. People aren't willing to move because even if they raise the rent it's still cheaper and more convenient to live in Center City Allentown, PA than NYC, NJ, and Philly. Period. Also, take a look at the average income in the A.B.E. area. Luxury and semi-luxury locations aren't even in many individual's vocabulary. Do I want the Arena plans to fail, NO! But I would love to hear about a PLAN B or C.
As far as gentrification is concerned: Gentrification is for locations that have options and transit systems that work well for the residents which the Lehigh Valley does not. Of course this is not what many want to hear, but the "powers that be" knew this already and like many have mentioned prior, they have no real investment in the area. So,whether it works or not, oh well. (Projects fail all the time, but the rich can move on and write it off as a loss, unfortunately we residents aren't that lucky)
The only way we can prevent getting "snake eyes" with this roll of the dice, is if WE residents and businesses take our future in our OWN hands and not DEPEND on THEIR hopes but build on what they are doing and CREATE our own reality with events, national/international PR, and creating true investment from the outside world.
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