Borough needs to think
carefully about condemnation
A decision by Allentown’s Borough Council to order its attorney to authorize an appraisal of lot 37.01, which the borough has its eye on to expand the municipal parking lot, has the owner of the property and some of his neighbors up in arms.
Borough Mayor Stuart Fierstein said that more parking would be good for the businesses downtown, which by extension will benefit the entire town.
According to the mayor, it would be against the best interest of the town to see the lot sold to one individual business owner, since it would then be used privately instead of becoming a general parking lot.
Fierstein also said that condemnation of the property would be a last resort, but that the borough was not going to rule out taking the property through eminent domain proceedings.
Allentown needs to tread carefully here. Despite the fact that downtown businesses may need more off-street parking, the owner of the property is adamant that he has no desire to sell it — to anyone at any price.
He claims to have turned down several offers over the years after people sought him out and expressed their desire to purchase the lot.
Although it can be argued that more parking is in fact for the public good, it should not trump the rights of a resident who wants to see the trees and flowers he has planted on his property, next to his own back yard, remain exactly where they are.
When it comes down to it, Calvin Mayle is the one who has paid taxes on his property all these years and spent the money to maintain it. He should get to decide when and if he wants to sell what is his.