Will Oliver
            
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             LehighValleyNews.com
The city Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday approved two special exceptions and a variance to let the church convert its two rowhomes at 230 and 232 W. Third St.
        
        
    Donna S. Fisher 
            
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            For LehighValleyNews.com
Donna Fisher
            
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            For LehighValleyNews.com
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                        The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board on Monday night approved Ryan Abdouche’s plans to convert a vacant warehouse in the 1900 block of South Fifth Street into a dozen apartments.
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                        Developers shared ways to bring project cost down without changing the look, feel and rhythm of the Tempo by Hilton hotel to go up at 14-36 W. Third St.
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                        The proposed union hall at 530 Pembroke Road would “support Bethlehem police officers through wellness, training and community service,” FOP President Robert Nichelson said.
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                        A seven-story condo project set for Easton's Downtown secured several variances regarding the size and design of the building at the city's zoning hearing board meeting Monday.
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                        A public hearing for Tax Increment Financing — a tax break for the Dixie Cup plant developers to pump money back into the project — drew substantial support at Northampton County Council even though one of the commissioners characterized it as "a payoff."
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                        Sketch plans for an athletic complex for Allentown Central Catholic High School were reviewed by the Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Wednesday night.
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                        Easton's Historic District Commission approved concepts for the Residences at Lynden, a 73-unit condominium project planned for South Third and Ferry streets Downtown.
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                        Bethlehem City Council unanimously approved a $12,000 contract with the Center for Public Enterprise of Brooklyn, New York, to help with designing and implementing such a fund in Bethlehem.
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                        Among the free food, candy and raffles was quite a spread of information available, both in English and Spanish, for families related to a major neighborhood redesign in the works.
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                        The Gateway on Fourth, a 120-unit affordable housing project, expected to cost $29 million, just received $16 million in highly competitive tax credits awarded by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency board. It's one of two affordable housing projects out of six total applicants in the Lehigh Valley to receive the credits.
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                        The Lehigh Valley’s position among the top three small rental markets highlights how much pressure local renters are feeling, but that’s just one side of the housing market continuing to squeeze budgets.
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                        Those parties now will be able to call witnesses and make arguments of their own, as is the case with the original appellee, North Whitehall Township. Argument for the appeal is planned to begin at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at Lehigh County Courthouse.
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                        Officials held a grand opening for 1528 West Apartments on Friday, which is World Down Syndrome Day. Ten of its 49 apartments are reserved for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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                        The almost four-acre property is near the intersection of Easton Avenue and Farmersville Road, across from Blue Grillhouse and just down from Notre Dame High School.
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                        Easton Housing Authority obtained a set of variances that will allow for development of a 45-unit affordable senior housing project and dedicated parking in the West Ward.
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                        Several planning commission members questioned the use of a gate to regulate traffic and suggested developer Manny Makhoul instead extend Turner Street across his property.
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                        Plans call for buildings of 50-plus feet, but they won’t seem that tall to neighbors, according to the developer.
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                        The project, named Emerson Village, calls for the construction of 57 townhomes and 59 single-unit homes on 35 acres at 3626 Rural Road.
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                        On Wednesday, HARB, the recommending body to City Council that weighs proposed changes to the exterior of buildings in Historic Bethlehem, said it wanted to see revised plans for the former 555 Main St. five-and-dime at its next meeting on April 2.
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                        The Northampton County General Purpose Authority voted Tuesday to transfer a small lot along 25th St. to Skyline Investment Group, the developer working to turn the old Dixie Cup factory into more than 400 apartments.
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                        The board’s unanimous vote brought an end to Monday's meeting just before it entered its fourth hour.
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                        The work is supported by a $1 million reimbursement grant through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, for “the design acquisition, and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.”
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                        Just around the corner from Main and Broad streets, Darto's has operated at the same 46 W. North St. location for more than 40 years. It will be replaced by another restaurant of some sort.
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                        The North Whitehall Township Planning Commission reviewed updated plans Tuesday for a 110-home subdivision along Rising Sun Road.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
