ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown Police Department’s patrol station will not yet hit the market, after officials tabled a measure to start a process to sell the building.
Mayor Matt Tuerk’s administration wants to sell the aging station at 10th and Hamilton streets to Allentown Parking Authority, which then would bundle the property with its own adjacent lot to sell to a developer.
Vicky Kistler, Allentown’s director of community and economic development, has said the deal to combine both properties gives the city “a much better chance” at successful redevelopment at the property.
The “very antiquated” building’s value is “extremely limited,” Kistler said. She urged council members to approve the deal, which could see the city turn a hefty profit.
Allentown paid about $750,000 for the property, but the parking authority has agreed to give the city the first $1.5 million from any sale.
The two entities would split any proceeds above that figure.
“I don't know why we're talking about this — selling the police station — when we don't have anything in place."Officer Dave Benner, police union president
But Allentown City Council paused the deal Wednesday before it started; members unanimously voted to table the measure.
'Temporary space' worries union
Allentown Police Officer Dave Benner, president of the police force's union, urged council to wait until “a proper transition” plan is set for officers who work at the patrol station.
“I don't know why we're talking about this — selling the police station — when we don't have anything in place,” Benner said.
Tuerk said his staff and police department officials are working with a Realtor to find a “temporary space” to house officers until a project to expand the department’s Fourth Street headquarters is complete.
“The men and women I represent are very concerned about this because we’re used to certain … amenities that are in our" collective bargaining agreement, Benner said.
“I don't think they’re going to be followed” at a temporary location.
“It's insulting, frankly, to suggest that there's some kind of backdoor deal in place."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
Benner threatened legal action if council let Tuerk’s administration initiate the sale process.
“If we move forward with this, I'll have to file an emergency injunction and [an Unfair Labor Practices complaint] to try to stop this," he said.
"Because I know you're not going to give us apples for apples.”
Benner speculated there could be a "backdoor deal" for the city's property, a suggestion Tuerk called “totally ridiculous.”
“It's insulting, frankly, to suggest that there's some kind of backdoor deal in place,” he said.
The mayor said his administration was simply asking council for authorization to start the process to sell.
The city could be stuck “with a vacant building at 10th and Hamilton for some time” if council waits to start that process, he said.
But crews won’t “roll the wrecking balls up to 10th and Hamilton” as soon as council passes the resolution, Tuerk said.
“It’s preposterous to suggest that this administration — or any administration — would leave some of our most critically needed employees hanging in the lurch,” Tuerk said.
