Police substation proposed in nightlife-heavy area

Allentown developer Nat Hyman wants to donate floor of building at Court and Race

Allentown developer Nat Hyman wants to donate a floor of his Adelaide building apartment complex to the Allentown police as a substation because he thinks more of a police presence is needed in that neighborhood.

The proposed 2,000-square-foot substation on the corner of Court and Race streets would come at no cost to Allentown, Hyman said. Allentown’s zoning board needs to give approval before construction can begin.

Hyman said a substation is needed near that stretch of Hamilton Street. The neighborhood, which is home to some popular nightlife spots like Deja Vu and Catch 22 nightclubs, has also historically been a hot spot for crime, Hyman said.

“This is putting the police front and center right in the midst of an area that has been the source of problems for the police,” Hyman said.

One of Allentown’s worst mass shootings happened outside of those nightclubs in 2019 when members of the Latin

Kings gang and the Bloods gang opened fire on each other, injuring 10.

The substation, if approved, would be on the third floor of the Adelaide, allowing police a “bird’s-eye view” of the neighborhood. Hyman operates two other apartment complexes — The Tribeca and The Bindery — nearby.

Hyman said he first approached the city a few years ago with an offer to donate a substation, but officials weren’t interested. When he approached newly appointed Chief Charles Roca last month however, the chief was on board.

Roca would not say how many officers he anticipates would be stationed in the new substation, but he said he hopes the substation, if approved, would help establish trust and a constructive relationship with the community.

“Officers can go in there and use the restroom, do some paperwork quickly, interact with people in the area,” Roca said. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s about making connections, building bridges and making sure we’re aware of what’s happening.”

Tito Guzman, owner of Deja Vu Nightclub across the street from the Adelaide building, said he would welcome more police officers in the area. But, he added, only if the cops are working with him, not against him.

Guzman said he previously met with Mayor Ray O’Connell and former police Chief Glenn Granitz to raise concerns about crime in the area, but did not receive an adequate response. He said he’s faced blame and judgment from Allentown officers in the past, rather than willingness to help curb crime.

“We’re talking about almost 1,500 on a night that could be walking around that area, there’s not even one police present,” Guzman said. “They expect the business owners to do their job.”

Hyman plans to present his proposal for a substation to the city’s Zoning Hearing Board in the next few weeks.

He hopes to hand the substation over to the Allentown police within six months. He said constructing the substation would cost him around $250,000.