NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A long-abandoned industrial building in the township may turn into apartments.
North Whitehall Planning Commission on Tuesday considered a plan to build a three-story, 40-unit apartment building at 3948 Portland St.
“This is going to be a big improvement to the neighborhood."Board Vice Chairman Robert Korp
The building on the property, which would be demolished, was built in the 1930s as part of Lehigh Portland Cement Company. It has been abandoned since the 1970s.
Board Vice Chairman Robert Korp said he had hoped the property could be used for industrial purposes again, but he is glad to see something happening with the site.
“This is going to be a big improvement to the neighborhood,” Korp said.
The township zoning ordinance typically would not allow an apartment building on the property, as it is in the Mineral Extraction/General Industrial zoning district.
In June of last year, the Zoning Hearing Board voted to allow it because there are other residential uses in the area, such as the houses across the street.
After discussing various issues including parking and water runoff, the planning commission tabled the plan, meaning it will be discussed at a future meeting.
‘It’s a difficult project’
Owner Dano Guerrieri also has developed various commercial buildings and Saucon Pointe, an apartment complex in Hellertown.
But the new plan has had more setbacks than usual, he said.
“It’s a difficult project,” Guerrieri said. “The toughest one of my career so far.”
One example of those difficulties is that his engineers discovered eight feet of slag — a type of waste from smelting or refining ore — on the property.
Guerrieri said the plan is to “cap” the waste by paving over it and having a managed release system.
“It's gonna make it safer,” Guerrieri said.
The apartments will range from 500-square-foot studios to 1,000-square-foot two-bedrooms, Guerrieri said. He is considering a range of $800 to $2,000 per month for rent.
Guerrieri said he plans to create a walking path on the property for residents to get to the nearby Ironton Rail Trail.
