ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Allentown Planning Commission granted preliminary/final land development plan approval for a downtown project Tuesday afternoon at city hall.

The project, offered by City Center Investment Corp., called 1 Center Square, is slated for 702 W. Hamilton St., the former Merchants National Bank building. The proposal involves a partial demolition for construction of two new floors above the existing building and a four-story addition behind the building.

The proposal involves 87,000 square feet of space utilized for Class A office space with first-floor retail and restaurant.

City Center has scaled back plans on the development over the years, which were first presented in 2017 as an 18-story building and later reduced to 16 stories two years later in 2019.

Robert DiLorenzo, director of planning and construction for City Center, said previously the original structure was built in 1903, with an addition coming in 1969 and a four-story annex later added.

The building has been vacant for about three years.

The plan calls for the demolition of the building’s annex and an increase of ground floor retail from 6,000 square feet originally to 13,000 square feet.

New entrances will be added along Hamilton Street, DiLorenzo said. The project will extend the current window height on the building’s Seventh Street side.

Demolition is expected in August, with construction set for October. The building is scheduled to open in January 2027.

“I would have liked to see more floors, but I understand this is market-driven,” Chairman Christian Brown said. “…I think it will be very well received once it is built.”

Planner Kelli Holzman echoed the statement, saying she “was surprised” at the building’s scale.

DiLorenzo offered this explanation as to why.

“We don’t have an anchor tenant,” DiLorenzo said. “That’s a little bit of the reason for the size being proposed.”

“It’s a little disappointing to see the parking,” Planner Craig Beavers said. “…Other than that, everything else is fantastic.”

“I’m really excited for this,” Planner Leslie Hartzell said.

Former Mack Trucks Site

The commission reviewed a sketch plan for the former Mack Trucks assembly plant at its meeting.

The site, located at 1401 S. 12th St., calls for a 54,000-square-foot building as part of the Allentown Commerce Park. The project has received extensions and has undergone revisions. Originally the plan was introduced “about six years ago,” according to ADP attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick.

“We’re back here to jump start,” Fitzpatrick said.

The attorney added the project was “not married” to the 54,000-square-foot size and could be smaller. The building would be designed like other facilities in the ACP project, according to officials. A loading dock in the building’s rear would accommodate 10 trucks. The facility will be considered a Class A industrial building.

“It’s a nice project, it will clean up a blighted site,” Beavers said.

The building could be used for manufacturing or warehousing, Fitzpatrick said.

As a sketch plan, the planning commission did not provide a formal decision.

Riverside Drive

A preliminary/final plan review for a portion of the Riverside Drive project was continued.

The entire project will extend Riverside Drive south from Hamilton Street to Union Street in the city of Allentown, and north from Furnace Street to East Wood Street in Allentown and Whitehall Township. Tuesday afternoon’s review would have involved the construction portion from Furnace Street to City Line.

Riverside Drive is a significant component of the ongoing $425 million waterfront project. The project spans 29 acres on the Lehigh River’s western side.

No continuation date was provided.