Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Allentown public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
42 issues in development
Possible Settlement Agreement
After a private executive session on legal matters, the board may approve a settlement agreement. Settlements can resolve disputes over properties or contracts the Authority is involved in.
Milosev Family Foundation SPP Grant Award
The board is scheduled to act on awarding the Milosev Family Foundation SPP Grant, bringing grant funds into a redevelopment project.
Workforce Housing Mandates for Publicly Funded Projects
Bill 82 would require large multifamily rental projects that get city tax abatements, big Housing Trust Fund grants, or public land to include affordable units. An amended version focusing on the LERTA process moved forward for a full council debate on November 18.
Affordable Housing Bill (Bill 82) Continued
A new ordinance would require rental developments of 10+ units that get LERTA tax abatements, $250,000+ in Housing Trust Fund money, or city-owned land to include affordable workforce housing units. It's sponsored by Gerlach and Mota and already has letters of support from AARP and a resident.
Maintenance of Authority-Owned Properties
The Authority owns several properties around the city, and it's considering a roof quote for 1238-1240 19th Street and a repaint bid for 323 N 9th Street. Keeping these buildings in good shape protects neighboring property values.
Proposed data center at 1024 N. Bradford Street
The owner of an approved flex warehouse is suing the city to use the site as a data center instead, and sought an extension to keep the warehouse approval alive as a fallback. Speakers from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Lehigh County, and the public warned a data center brings generators, noise, and grid risks next to a school and Coca-Cola Park.
Peregrine Tower Mixed-Use Development & Sight Triangle
A 37-story, 208-unit tower at 9th and Walnut would be Allentown's skyline-defining building, but commissioners tabled it over confusing elevation sets and off-street loading questions. Members pushed for design that better reflects the traditional neighborhood fabric, bird-friendly glass, lighting, and affordability.
Thomas Jefferson University medical school downtown
Thomas Jefferson University is bringing its Sydney Kimmel Medical College to 702 Hamilton Street with about 180 students growing to 240, plus 150-170 faculty. Some commissioners worry about lost street-level retail on Hamilton, but others see a major downtown anchor that will drive student housing demand.
W. Emaus Avenue Data Center Conversion
Quantm Group wants to convert a warehouse into a data center with 32 diesel backup generators, a substation, and 50-foot sound walls. Residents near Camelot for Children warned of noise, diesel exhaust, air quality, and rising electricity costs; the applicant offered many voluntary conditions but the application remained without a visible vote.
Mixed-Use Redevelopment at 300 Hamilton Street
Thomas Jefferson University is leasing 70,000 square feet downtown for its Lehigh Valley medical school campus — up to 240 students and 175 faculty, in a 24/7 building. The variance lets anatomy labs reach the Hamilton Street facade, with restaurant space kept on the 7th Street corner.
West Residences Mixed-Use Development at 2 Allen Street
A vacant former social hall would reopen for private parties, weddings, and community events with 116-person capacity, closing by 10 or 11 p.m. Neighbors worry about parking for large gatherings and a return of past noise and litter problems near an elementary school.
Penn State Ground-Floor Business Training Use on Hamilton Street
Penn State is leasing 9,000 square feet of long-vacant ground-floor space at 829-845 W. Hamilton St for a business accelerator, AI innovation lab and veterans business outreach center — right at the street, a variance the board granted to revive a stubbornly empty building.
Residential Conversion of Vacant Hamilton Street Office Building
Two appeals sought to turn dead commercial space into apartments. The Walnut Street conversion passed easily; the Linden Street two-unit conversion failed on density and minimum-relief grounds, with a neighbor citing brutal street parking.
Planning Commission Appointment and Ethics Review
Council tabled a mayoral appointment to the Planning Commission after raising questions about potential conflicts of interest and the appointment process.
Direct Property Sale to Allentown Art Museum
The Allentown Art Museum requested permission to demolish the vacant former police station on Hamilton Street to build a modern facility. The board found the building lacked architectural significance and that the public benefit of the museum outweighed the loss.
Nuisance Abatement and Problem Properties
Allentown established a new vacant property registry requiring registration for properties empty over 90 days. The goal is to help police and fire crews track empty buildings and prevent them from turning into blighted properties.
Medical Office Building Development on Tilghman Street
Jaindl Land Company is proposing to replace an old restaurant with a two-story medical office building, bringing new healthcare services to the western edge of the city.
Housing Trust Fund Implementation and Pilot Programs
Allentown is planning how to spend over $1 million collected from a recent deed transfer tax hike. Officials discussed four major housing programs, including homebuyer rehabs, home repairs for seniors, tax abatements, and daycare facility upgrades.
Allentown Works Recompete Program Implementation
City officials and partners are rolling out eight core component projects under a $20 million federal grant designed to remove employment barriers for residents in center-city neighborhoods through resource navigation, job training, child care upgrades, and industrial site redevelopment.
Allentown Housing Authority Programs and Homeownership Initiatives
The Allentown Housing Authority is working to provide safe, affordable housing and help low-income renters transition into first-time homeowners. Council members discussed the challenges of limited housing inventory, federal funding constraints, and ensuring residents know about home-buying assistance programs.
Slope Disturbance Relief for New Home at 510-524 W Normandy St
Alec and Allison Puketza are asking for permission to build a single-family home on steeply sloped land exceeding local limits.
Disposition and Rehabilitation of 532 N. Law St.
Council transferred a troubled, city-owned property to the Redevelopment Authority to be repaired and turned into affordable housing.
Little Lehigh Phase 2 Affordable Housing Development
Elon Affordable Housing presented plans for Phase 2 of the Little Lehigh project, bringing 35 new affordable apartments and community space. The board easily approved minor height and roof design variances so the new buildings match Phase 1.
Vacant and At-Risk Property Registry
The city is considering a new ordinance to track vacant residential and commercial properties, requiring registration fees, lighting, and inspections to curb blight and improve first responder safety.
Adaptive Reuse Housing on North 7th Street
A property owner is converting an old vacant warehouse space into six affordable apartments with dedicated parking across the street. The board approved it with minor conditions like bike racks and lighting.
Joint Multifamily Development at 2300 Hanover Ave
Developers are pushing forward with a 307-unit apartment complex spanning Allentown and Bethlehem, needing variances for roof styles and street access. Neighbors are furious over potential traffic gridlock at Hanover and Broad, building height, and neighborhood character.
Establishment of Group Child Care Home at 767 E. Washington St.
An application was scheduled to establish a group childcare facility, addressing community needs for childcare while evaluating potential impacts from limited drop-off zones and parking.
Comprehensive Review of Authorities, Boards, and Commissions
The administration announced plans to undertake a thorough review of all city boards, authorities, and commissions to clean up inactive bodies and consolidate underperforming groups.
Southside Homes Townhouse Development & Flood Concerns
Residents pushed back hard against a new six-townhome project at 401 Harrison Street, warning that the site is prone to severe flooding and that the narrow alleyway cannot handle extra vehicles. Commissioners sympathized with the neighbors but ultimately approved the project with conditions, noting it met the city's technical zoning rules.
Ripple Church Conversion Window Dispute
Board members debated whether an earlier approval for the Ripple Church project allowed all 14 windows to be replaced or only a few. Officials clarified that the previous unanimous approval stands, despite differing member recollections.
Public Works Staffing Reorganization
The city is converting several hard-to-fill part-time compliance and custodial positions into full-time roles to retain workers and properly clean city buildings without raising taxes.
New Seven-Story Apartment Building at 405 Walnut St.
Developers are moving forward with a seven-story, 44-unit apartment building on a vacant corner lot at 405 Walnut St., bringing new housing units and enhanced pedestrian signals to downtown Allentown.
Redevelopment and Density on North 8th Street
Developers want to replace two rundown storefronts with a seven-story, 23-unit apartment building to boost walkability and housing supply. While neighbors complained about crime and blight on the block, the board ultimately backed the project because the current buildings lack historic value and the new design fits the area's transition zone.
Establishment of a Year-Round Emergency Low-Barrier Shelter
Participants addressed the impending closure of winter sheltering options, encampment coordination ahead of summer, and the need for a regional homelessness coordinator.
Managing Director Appointment and Administrative Leadership
Allentown City Council swore in its new members and elected Santo Napoli as president and Cynthia Mota as vice president to guide local policy for 2026.
Lehigh Riverfront High-Density Redevelopment and Architectural Integration
The commission reviewed four major high-rise residential and mixed-use developments along North Front Street and Riverside Drive. Commissioners and residents debated whether the modern design aesthetic adequately connects to the riverfront, preserves historic context, and addresses cumulative parking and infrastructure challenges.
Intermunicipal Liquor License Transfer for The Felix Restaurant
A developer wants to move a liquor license from South Whitehall Township to the former TGI Fridays at 395 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard to open a new sit-down restaurant. The project promises to bring 60 to 70 jobs and revitalize a vacant commercial space.
Child Care Facility Expansion
The board evaluated childcare availability and off-street parking standards, establishing that photographic evidence of property layout can satisfy municipal space requirements for group childcare expansion.
Residential Conversion at 943-951 W. Chew St.
A developer plans to turn an old commercial building and print shop into 18 new apartments. The historic board reviewed the exterior changes, requiring them to keep historic touches like the loading dock bumper and metal window styling.
Senior LIFE Adult Daycare Facility on Lehigh Street
A new 15,100-square-foot senior care facility is coming to South Allentown, replacing an old bank. It will provide daytime care, meals, and medical services for up to 70 seniors while creating about 30 jobs.
Live-Work Unit Conversion on Linden Street
Allowing a commercial office space that struggles to find tenants to become a live/work unit provides a flexible option for small business owners and artists while filling a vacant space.
Urban Redevelopment and State Intervention
State cash and intervention are breathing new life into downtown Allentown, pushing fresh growth and development. It's a major facelift that's changing the face of the city center.