Does that sound familiar?
Lancaster County/City MAY be looking good but it is due to a lot of private investment money. Lancaster City will survive with a future of wealth and poor. The Middle Class will be forced as they are now to leave the city due to taxes and location of their homes. The conservatism of this County was sold a bill of goods by PSP (High). He was smart, get the newspaper as a partner.
The Steinman sisters were well intended as they are a very good employer of the area, very family oriented. BUT look at Fulton, they bailed out when there was any sign of trouble.
Back to the beginning, this project did not and does not have the neighborhood infrastructure to succeed, let alone make money. Putting that monster on that corner is going to affect the total historical, cultural and economic future of center city. The Mayor can clean up all he wants and promote the West Side BUT you will always have the rest of the city there.
The 140-plus* properties that Senator Gib Armstrong is part of will start to deteriorate which will cause more blight. I feel for Annie Bailey’s and Yorgo’s who invested dearly on the pretense of lots of business. It ain’t gonna come.
The Brickyard is supposedly suffering since the new brewery opened on College Row. The students do not have to find parking and can just cross the street.
The Trolley may be a winner in Portland, Nashville, etc, but this is Lancaster County. We do not have enough room for two cars going down Prince Street let alone one car and a Trolley. Where is the common sense?
Look at the economic times we are in. Sure Lancaster County is pretty recession proof due to our diversification BUT we are a part of the whole picture, no man is an island. Who is going to come to this hotel and convention center? Maybe the first year because it is NEW like anything else; but long term, I bet in 5 years that High Industries will own it!!!!
*Editors note: Newslanc is unaware of the extent of real estate holdings by Senator Armstrong, we have no information concerning how they are maintained, and we have no reason to criticize the Senator for investing in downtown real estate.
