UPDATE, August 26th
On August 26th, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski struck a blow with a sledge hammer to begin the task of demolishing the blighted building at 1613 Page St. Demolition crews from Penmar Systems Inc. of Northampton will complete the job. Building owner Charles J. Miller, Jr. had been inducted in the city’s Landlord Hall of Shame in April.
The Page Street property was included on the Allentown Redevelopment Authority Blighted Property List initiated in June 2008. Following a roughly year-long administrative process, the ARA filed a Declaration of Taking against the property in June 2009. The authority has had no response from Mr. Miller other than receiving confirmation that he has accepted its various notices.
A recent inspection of the property found that vandals had punched holes in exterior walls, making the building unsafe and resulting in the order to demolish the building. Inspectors also determined that a common wall existed with an attached building requiring delicate hand demolition. The building is also located on a narrow alleyway making it difficult to get heavy equipment into the area.
Before and After Pictures:
April 2009
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski today announced the induction of a third member into the city’s Landlord Hall of Shame. The mayor awarded the dubious distinction to Charles J. Miller, Jr. during a news conference at a Miller-owned property at
1613 Page St. (photos below), which is on the city’s Blighted Property List.
The committee reviewed all city properties owned by Miller and examined all current offenses against the city. They include delinquent fees, violations of the Property Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code; registration or licensing warnings or revocations; and health and building code issues.
“Mr. Miller is not being a good neighbor nor is he meeting his financial obligations to the city,” said Pawlowski. “At last check, he owes water and sewer bills on three properties in the city totaling more than $32,000. He owes more than $4,000 in fines for code violation cases. He owes more than $1600 in SWEEP violations on his three properties. He does not have an active rental license.”
A Miller-owned property at 393 Allen Street is also on the Blighted Property List. The Page and Allen Street properties and 532 Law Street have all been tagged Unfit for Human Habitation. Utility services have been turned-off at all three structures.
The properties have numerous fire code, electrical code and mechanical code violations. They are posted as being in violation of Allentown City Ordinance 12199, the city’s Property Maintenance and Rehabilitation Code. Miller is also in violation of Allentown City Ordinance 1759.03 of the Property Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code requiring him to provide a valid address and telephone number.
“We deserve better from our landlords in this city and we are going to do what we can to get it,” Pawlowski said.