ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An Allentown developer must start work on a set of East Side apartment buildings or request another extension by mid-2025 after city planning officials on Tuesday granted him more time.
Joe Colasuonno sought five more years, but Allentown City Planning Commission granted a two-year extension that’s similar to what it's done for other projects.
Colasuonno’s project — Central Park Apartments — would include 126 apartments across 12 structures at 605 Wahneta St.
It first was approved by the planning commission in June 2021; that approval expired last summer.
Attorney Dennis McCarthy said the developer needs time to coordinate his plans with City Center’s ambitious Northridge development just south of the project.
“There’s a lot of upside to [the extension]. It’s just … complicated, and it’s going to take some time.”Attorney Dennis McCarthy
City Center has proposed extending Wahneta Street, which currently ends a few blocks south of Hanover Street, through its massive development proposed on the site of the former Allentown State Hospital.
That would give Northridge another “major access point” and alleviate traffic issues at the development’s main entrance, McCarthy said Tuesday.
But the Wahneta Street extension could cut through the property where the Central Park Apartments are proposed.
Colasuonno and City Center representatives are talking about “realigning and utilizing Wahneta Street for the benefit of both this property and the Northridge property,” McCarthy said.
“There’s a lot of upside to it,” he said. “It’s just … complicated, and it’s going to take some time.”
“I like to do my best to treat developers alike."Jeff Glazier, Allentown City Planning Commission member
Planning commission member Jeff Glazier said he would “gladly grant” an extension in line with those they’ve given for the several proposals, including 1 Center Square and a warehouse at the former Mack Trucks plant.
“I like to do my best to treat developers alike,” Glazier said.
The planning commission approved the extension in a 4-0 vote.
Tuesday’s meeting started several minutes late as members worked out technical difficulties and waited to see if they’d have a quorum.
Several were unable to attend and others joined remotely because of the storm. But the meeting went forward after new member Erich Hornung made the trek on foot from his home to City Hall with his alley still unplowed.
