- Ripple Community Incorporated bought Emmanuel United Church of Christ with plans to turn it into a dozen apartments
- The project calls for more than a dozen stained-glass windows to be removed, though a “character-defining” three-piece window would remain
- Historic preservation officials appear poised to approve the plan at their next meeting
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A century-old Allentown church could lose some of its signature stained-glass windows as a nonprofit works to turn it into housing, according to plans presented this week.
Ripple Community Inc. wants to convert Emmanuel United Church of Christ at 1547 W. Chew St. into a dozen “deeply affordable” apartments, according to Ripple Executive Director Sherri Binder.
Binder and representatives of two companies working on the project recently provided details about their plans to Allentown’s Historic Architectural Review Board on Monday.
Those plans show the “character-defining” three-piece stained-glass window over the church’s Chew Street entrance would be kept in place, which city planning employees called a “significant and commendable preservation effort.”
But more than a dozen ornate windows along the sides of the building would be replaced.
Somewhat unexpectedly, HARB members are poised to accept that as the cost of putting apartments in the church.
In a report on the property, planning employees encouraged the board to prioritize the conversion project over ensuring historic-preservation guidelines are fully met.
“I do not like the idea of ever getting rid of stained-glass windows. However, I also agree that continuing to use the property and maintain it, rather than letting it crumble to a pile of rocks, is more important.”An Allentown Historical Architectural Review Board member
“I do not like the idea of ever getting rid of stained-glass windows,” one member said.
“However, I also agree that continuing to use the property and maintain it, rather than letting it crumble to a pile of rocks, is more important.”
Another member said he thought RCI’s project was “the best [outcome] for the future of the church.”
Apartments for 'extremely low incomes'
Ripple bought the building, opened in 1920, after Emmanuel United Church of Christ held its final service there in November 2022.
Kathy Heckman, president of Emmanuel’s church council, handed over the key to the church on Aug. 24 to Ripple Executive Director Sherri Binder.
The nonprofit plans to build a three-story structure inside the church’s sanctuary and divide that space into 12 apartments.
Those units will house families with “very low” and “extremely low” incomes, Binder has said. Rents at Ripple’s other properties average about $875 per month for a two-bedroom apartment, she said.
The main floor is expected to have a community space for social services, while the top floor would have offices.
HARB members spent about a half-hour talking about the project before tabling the proposal until the board’s November meeting, which has not been scheduled.
