Allentown's Planning Commission has given conditional approval to three major mixed-use apartment projects along the Lehigh River waterfront, including a 16-story, 360-unit tower that would be the tallest structure in the waterfront district, as the city works to address a housing shortfall estimated at more than 1,900 units.
The Projects That Cleared
The commission gave conditional preliminary and final land development plan approval to a 16-story, 360-unit apartment and mixed-use building planned for North Front Street. The tower would include more than 21,000 square feet of office space and more than 23,000 square feet of retail space alongside its residential floors.
A second project, known as Park Lofts, received conditional approval for a seven-story, 242-unit building with approximately 13,300 square feet of retail at 115 Riverside Drive. A third project at 2 Allen Street, a seven-story, 200-unit mixed-use building with 18,000 square feet of retail, also received approval at a recent commission meeting. All three are connected to Urban Residential Properties, operating through entities under the Lehigh River Development Corp. name.
Concerns Raised at the Commission
Commission members spent hours reviewing the proposals, raising questions about parking ratios, public pedestrian and cycling access to the riverfront, and the visual design of several buildings. One project drew criticism for a flat-roofed, “squarish” appearance and for being separated from the Lehigh River by a PPL electric substation, limiting its waterfront connection. The conditional approvals require the developer to resolve specified engineering and design items before construction permitting can begin.
Context: Allentown's Housing Gap
City planners have estimated Allentown's housing shortage at more than 1,900 units, according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's regional housing study released this summer found the broader two-county region is short by more than 9,100 units today, a gap that could reach 54,000 by 2050 without significant policy changes.
The waterfront corridor has emerged as the primary target for large-scale residential investment in Allentown, drawing developers with a combination of riverfront location, Interstate 78 access, and the financial incentives available through the city's Neighborhood Improvement Zone. If all projects in the current pipeline advance, the North Front Street area could add more than 1,000 apartments to the Lehigh River waterfront within the next several years.
At a Glance
- Conditional approvals: 16-story, 360-unit tower on North Front Street; 7-story, 242-unit Park Lofts at 115 Riverside Drive; 7-story, 200-unit building at 2 Allen Street.
- A fourth proposal, RS Residences (210 units at 51 N. Front St.), is still pending review.
- Developer: Urban Residential Properties / Lehigh River Development Corp.
- The approvals require engineering and design revisions before construction permitting can proceed.
- Together, the pipeline represents more than 1,000 new apartments aimed at closing Allentown's housing gap.
