Seven-story apartment building could come to Allentown’s 6th Ward
With planning commission approval, two Allentown developers hope to build a “big sister” to an adjacent apartment complex in Allentown’s sixth ward neighborhood.
Developers John Palumbo and Alex Wright of Urban Residential Properties won approval Tuesday for a seven story, 61-unit apartment complex on North Railroad Street. They named the new building Riverview Lofts II, a nod to the developers’ adjacent apartment building, Riverview Lofts I, which completed construction in early 2021.
It’s yet another push forward in the flurry of development coming to Allentown’s Lehigh riverfront: the first of 12 buildings that will make up Jaindl Enterprises’ Waterfront project will open later this year.
Architect Carlos Tovar said the new Riverview Lofts II will be a “Big sister” to the existing 22-unit Riverview lofts, which is right next door on Allen Street.
Riverview Lofts II features ten three bedroom, 29 two bedroom and 22 one-bedroom apartments, a gym and indoor pool open year round and retail space on the first floor.
The new apartment building will provide 71 new parking spots in an underground lot, some of which could be available to the public. But the sixth ward is a dense neighborhood with limited places to park, and some residents worry that the new building will make parking even more scarce.
Developers plan to consolidate eight parcels of land into one One of those parcels is home to an Allentown parking authority-owned lot with 22 spaces, at least some of which are occupied. Developers will work with the city and parking authority to create a temporary parking plan before construction begins, they said.
Beth Sipos runs Egypt Star Bakery which has four locations across the Lehigh Valley, including one in the sixth ward close to the development. She rents 5 parking spaces in the lot for bakery employees, and said that the lack of parking in the neighborhood makes it hard to work there.
“Parking in that area is non-existent now, so what are people supposed to do?” Sipos said. “I can’t imagine living there, it’s bad enough working there with the parking.”
“Parking is going to be an issue,” said James Spang, a neighborhood resident and president of the Riverfront Civic Association.
Despite the concerns, the plans have the legally required number of parking spots for a development of its size. Commission members validated the parking concerns, but said the project can still move forward.
“While I would certainly encourage … the developer to make as much public parking available as possible in the facility, that to me is absolutely not a dealbreaker,” commission member and city controller Jeff Glazier said.
Commission members also asked developers if they looped in the Immaculate Conception Church, which operates a cemetery right next to the new development. Developers said that Church leaders have been involved in the planning process.
Developers need to submit detailed design and construction plans to the city’s zoning staff, which will review them before construction can begin.