ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown School District officially has bought 16.7 acres of land at the former Allentown State Hospital property for nearly $15 million to build a new school for kindergarten through eighth-grade students.
Allentown School Board on Thursday approved the agreement of sale for the land off of Hanover Avenue.
“We are thrilled to take the next step in the process in order to address the growing needs of our learning community on the East Side of Allentown, and provide students, educators and families with a state-of-the-art learning environment," Superintendent Carol Birks said in a news release sent out after the meeting.
“As we prioritize creating pathways for tomorrow and empowering families as outlined in our Strategic Plan, investing in modern, innovative learning environments, ensures that every student has the space, resources, and support to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally."
The board approved the schematic design of the new $100 million K-8 school in November.
The 195,000-square-foot school will accommodate about 1,200 students and include a library, multipurpose room, playing fields and green space.
Terms of agreement
The district bought the land for the new school from developer City Center Group for $14,950,000.
The school campus will be part of the Northridge development project, which includes plans for housing, as well as commercial and health care facilities, such as assisted-living centers and a “micro-hospital," according to a September presentation from the developer.
As part of its agreement with the school district, City Center Group will be responsible for several on-site improvements at the school campus.
They include construction of a signalized intersection and traffic pattern modifications at Hanover Avenue and Northridge Drive, according to ASD’s news release.
City Center also will assist ASD with the extension of utilities, including electric conduit, telecommunication conduit, water lines, a sanitary sewer line and trenching for natural gas.
Additionally, City Center agreed to help secure the design, engineering and legal services needed to get approvals and permits for zoning and land use regulations.
Critique of land price tag
Bob Smith, a former Allentown school director who’s running for a seat on the board this election cycle, criticized the district for agreeing to pay City Center Group for the land.
“They should have gave us that land for free,” Smith said during public comment at Thursday's meeting, adding he still supports a new school for the East Side.
“They should have gave us that land for free."Bob Smith, former Allentown School Board President who is running this election cycle to rejoin the board
Smith told LehighValleyNews.com last month that former state Sen. Pat Browne told him and other school directors about six years ago that ASD could get land at the East Side site for free.
Browne denied this claim when LehighValleyNews.com reached out last month, saying he only agreed to work with the school district to help transition the former state hospital land for redevelopment.
Still, at Thursday’s school board meeting, Smith said it’s “not right” for the district to pay City Center millions of dollars for the land.
Smith criticized ASD for agreeing to pay almost $1 million an acre — more than double the price City Center paid for the property.
“When they look at the Allentown School District, they think we’re a gold mine here because we’ve got the students,” Smith said.
“They’re coming to the school district for money. I think it’s a bad deal.”
Construction management pushback
Also at Thursday's board meeting, school directors voted to appoint SitelogIQ Construction Management from King of Prussia, Montgomery County, to serve as the construction firm for the new school project at a cost of $978,873.
School Director Phoebe Harris opposed working with the company, arguing the district should have opted for the local Alvin H. Butz Inc. that it has worked with in the past.
“I’m very disappointed. I don’t think this is the best thing for Allentown.”Phoebe Harris, Allentown School Board Director
Harris pointed to the Butz family’s involvement in the district, saying they donated $20 million to the district over the last five years. Just this month, Allen High School unveiled a new media studio that Lee Butz, chairman of his family’s company, helped create.
Alvin H. Butz Inc. was among three construction management companies interested in the East Side school project.
The company’s fee was $5 million more than the King of Prussia company, Harris said. But Alvin H. Butz Inc. has “a track record of saving us money” during the building process, Harris added.
The district initially planned to work with Alvin H. Butz Inc. in 2017 when it was considering a middle school on the East Side. On Thursday, the school board voted to terminate that contract.
“I’m very disappointed,” Harris said. “I don’t think this is the best thing for Allentown.”
