I was a "transient" in Allentown for 2 years because of work. Allentown has a profound sadness about it that I've seen in other rust-belt cities. Gentrification is very much a positive reaction to the vacuum that was created after years of dis-investment. The city has good bones, housing stock that can be restored to stunning with a little love, and a location and infrastructure that is excellent for business. People are only starting realize this now after moving to the exburbs and finding that they don't like driving 10 - 50 miles for virtually all excursions. Hope that Allentown makes it, it never deserved to be abandoned.