Two more stores in Steamtown Mall closing (Scranton: live, design)

[Summering]

I still say if they can take bare land that was an Air Base.....and in no time at all.......make a Market commons( Myrtle Beach and Greenville) ( homes, townhomes, stores,movie center, restaurants) It can be done. It take someone with a grand view and some vision.
It could be done........
It just probably will not be done.

I am one who adores Dickson City and Montage Mt. Ideal, lovely places to shop......
Thats not saying I wouldn't use Scranton if it was revitalized.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

That is like comparing New York City to Sandwich New Hampshire..

Not at all.......I didn't mention New York City in any way.

I have lived in towns that still thrive after Malls and big box stores enter their area.

They can make it fine.......With the right plan and design.

Why let a good town die?

It would be like my hometown of Denville, NJ dying because of the Rockaway Mall, 2-Guys, or Grants, or Walmart showing up.....
It didn't ever die......

So why does one well run town make it, and another does not?

[johnqpublic]

You have answered your own question in your very last sentence..Scranton leaders, historically the same circus, different clowns...

Originally Posted by Summering

Not at all.......I didn't mention New York City in any way.

I have lived in towns that still thrive after Malls and big box stores enter their area.

They can make it fine.......With the right plan and design.

Why let a good town die?

It would be like my hometown of Denville, NJ dying because of the Rockaway Mall, 2-Guys, or Grants, or Walmart showing up.....
It didn't ever die......

So why does one well run town make it, and another does not?

[bloominscranton]

Since the city is in such horrible of a situation and has been in "distressed" status for approximately 24 years....I say what the heck, bite the bullet lower the taxes for businesses and end up bankrupt! The infrastructure is destroyed now, the roads, services etc are all in the crapper already. Like a drunk...this city needs to hit complete rock bottom to build it self up! Radically change is what is needed to change the course for this city; bankruptcy is as radical as we can go from where we are at! Maybe I am totally wrong and not knowledgeable enough about bankruptcy...but it works for individuals...why not a city!?

[johnqpublic]

It wont happen, the courts will just raise taxes to cover expenses... Scranton being a class 2 A city is unique to itself , and that should help pass legislation to fix it, but no leaders have given it even a glance... I firmly believe the powers that be do not want distressed lifted, because if it is they will have to deal with the realities of self sufficiency and dealing fairly with its employees.

[bloominscranton]

Originally Posted by johnqpublic

It wont happen, the courts will just raise taxes to cover expenses... Scranton being a class 2 A city is unique to itself , and that should help pass legislation to fix it, but no leaders have given it even a glance... I firmly believe the powers that be do not want distressed lifted, because if it is they will have to deal with the realities of self sufficiency and dealing fairly with its employees.

Please excuse my ignorance, but what does being a class 2A city mean? I tried looking it up but had a hard time finding the definition. ty

[johnqpublic]

A class 2 A city is designated by population among some other criteria, Scranton is the only Class 2 A city in the state, so legislation could theoretically be passed for a class 2A city only to help it with its problems and finances ,, the rest of the municipalities wouldnt have to worry about such legislation affecting them because it wouldnt pertain to them..

[Mr Yuk]

The Class 2 A status was created for Scranton only, probably a push by the politicians to have that designation so they can keep the distressed status and for other reasons to suit their political needs. Scranton SHOULD have the same classification as cities like Reading and Bethlehem, seeing that they're just about the exact same population.

[johnqpublic]

Scranton was class 2 A long before distressed status.. let me research the date, and why it was designated such..

Originally Posted by go phillies

The Class 2 A status was created for Scranton only, probably a push by the politicians to have that designation so they can keep the distressed status and for other reasons to suit their political needs. Scranton SHOULD have the same classification as cities like Reading and Bethlehem, seeing that they're just about the exact same population.

[theatergypsy]

I moved to Scranton in 1968 and Scranton carried a Class 2A designation then. I think it has always been thus. Philadelphia is the only Class 1 city and Pittsburgh is Class 2. Aside from those three, all of the other cities are Class 3.