ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Downtown Allentown is on the brink of a breakthrough, but it needs strong management to ensure that chapter is written, according to a consultant.
Dozens of people on Tuesday night packed into a room at Baum School of Art, where urban planner Philip Barash of Public Sphere Projects led an event to solicit input and build support for a downtown revitalization initiative.
Barash said his company has worked in the city for about six months to “understand its assets” and its goals — and what must be done to make those possible.
Developers have invested more than $1 billion in downtown Allentown since the launch of the Neighborhood Improvement Zone more than a decade ago.
Completed projects in the NIZ, a special taxing district meant to incentivize development in the city’s urban core, include the PPL Center, the Da Vinci Science Center and several large mixed-use buildings.
“I think what we’ve created — kind of intentionally or not — is an empty vessel."Public Sphere Projects partner Philip Barash on $1 billion in investments in downtown Allentown's NIZ
Downtown Allentown is “safe, statistically,” has great infrastructure, and offers some top-notch amenities, Barash said Tuesday.
But it doesn’t give visitors enough reasons to stay for a long time.
A “strong downtown management organization” that coordinates and “curates” retail and other businesses could provide a major shot in the arm for the city, Barash said.
“I think what we’ve created — kind of intentionally or not — is an empty vessel,” Barash told LehighValleyNews.com.
“We built a vessel; this organization’s going to fill it.”
From aspirations to operations
Barash told the roomful of officials, business owners and residents that the city is working to transition from aspirations to operations in downtown.
He called Tuesday’s event — which featured guests salsa dancing and voting with Mike & Ike’s candy — a “pivotal point” in that process, one that will require significant financial support.
Barash highlighted the Easton Main Street Initiative as a local example of the power of coordination in downtown business sectors.
Officials "will stand this organization up next year. ... That’s a guarantee from them.”Public Sphere Projects partner Philip Barash
Allentown’s downtown organization likely will cost several million dollars, with the city and private donors to kick in funding, he said.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and state Sen. Nick Miller ordered Public Sphere Projects to deliver them a “full organizational model” by the end of the month, Barash said.
“They will stand this organization up next year,” he told LehighValleyNews.com.
“That’s a guarantee from them.”
