ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown officials could be set to redraw the zoning map on Allentown’s East Side to enable a massive redevelopment project at the former Allentown State Hospital site.
Allentown City Council on Wednesday night introduced an ordinance to establish a “mixed-use overlay district” that would let Allentown-based developer City Center build a wide range of housing, medical offices, stores, educational buildings and more on the site.
- Allentown City Council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance to establish a “mixed-use overlay district” that would let developer City Center put dozens of structures on former Allentown State Hospital site
- The project would include a wide range of housing, medical offices, stores, educational buildings and more
- The developer is calling the project the Northridge development
The developer is calling its project, which would put dozens of other structures on its sprawling property, the Northridge development.
The almost-200-acre property now is zoned as an institutional and government district.
City Center Allentown Director of Planning & Construction Robert DiLorenzo described the rezoning as the "first step in the process of redeveloping the site.”
Allentown State Hospital was built in the early 1900s and served as a psychiatric hospital until its closure in 2010.
Northridge Plans Zoning 080323B by LVNewsdotcom on Scribd
City Council reaction Allentown
Allentown Councilwoman Cecelia “Ce-Ce” Gerlach asked if the council would need to wait until a housing study was conducted to make the zoning amendment.
City Department of Community and Economic Development Director Vicky Kistler said the zoning rewrite needs to happen before the council can discuss what the development should look like.
“I think you may want to incorporate some of the housing study results into what actually ends up there,” Kristler said.
“But the first thing we need to do is establish that we don't want this to be an institutional site, and this is the first step.”
DiLorenzo said this is the same process that was used for the redevelopment project along the Lehigh River.
“This is a great opportunity on what could be the last developable piece of land in Allentown.”Allentown Council President Daryl Hendricks
There was no other discussion of the amendment at the meeting.
Allentown Council President Daryl Hendricks said in an interview that he “doesn’t have a problem” with the proposed zoning changes.
“I am very much in favor of this development,” Hendricks said. “This is a great opportunity on what could be the last developable piece of land in Allentown.”
What would the mixed-use overlay allow?
DiLorenzo said his company has worked with Allentown Planning & Zoning Director Jennifer Gomez to write the text for the new overlay district.
If approved, newly allowed uses in the district would include apartments, single-family homes and townhomes; art galleries, craft shops and bed-and-breakfasts; theaters, nightclubs and shopping centers; and much more.
Restaurants also would be allowed, though they couldn't have drive-thru lanes under the proposed ordinance.
The measure also would require at least 35% of the mixed-use overlay district not be developed.
City Center has said it plans to keep more than 40% of the site as open space. Much of that open space would be along the riverfront, according to the developer’s plans.
Establishing an overlay on the former state hospital site would “widen housing opportunities” in Allentown and ensure that open spaces and trails are preserved, attorney Dennis McCarthy said on behalf of City Center in a letter to Allentown officials.
The developer has said the development could create 385 permanent jobs and generate more than $9 million in additional tax revenue each year.
The construction project could create jobs for more than 2,000 people, City Center said.
The developer filed its rezoning petition — and a $1,000 application fee — to city officials Aug. 3, two days before an open house at the property.
What’s next for the project?
City Council could pass the measure as early as October.
The amendment first needs to go before the Allentown Economic Development Committee, Allentown Planning Commission and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
If the council passes the zoning amendment, City Center would then put together a “tentative plan” for the entire site that would go before the Planning Commission for approval, DiLorenzo said.
After that, the project would be split into phases, which would need to receive land development approval.
Other business
Also Wednesday, council voted to accept a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address housing-related hazards including radon remediation, asbestos abatement and electrical and plumbing repairs.
Council Vice Chairwoman Cynthia Mota spoke about her visit to Puerto Rico as part of a Lehigh Valley delegation with Mayor Matt Tuerk and Congresswoman Susan Wild.
Mota said Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Pierluisi and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro plan to visit Allentown. In an interview, she said they will visit in May “to see the city’s connection to Puerto Rico.”
