Easton continues to see development, with at least three housing projects and a hotel scheduled for completion during 2026.

At least 19 commercial units totaling more than $385.3 million have been completed or are in the works over the next couple of years, according to officials’ estimates. That’s up from 16 projects and about $289 million in project costs at the beginning of last year. The figures do not include all the building investment throughout the city.

“The development activity in the city, many of us believed, was going to start to curtail … ” said John Kingsley, Easton’s community and economic development director. “But we’re not seeing it.”

Kingsley said several other projects are in discussion stages in the Northampton County seat that are not listed among the 19 projects provided to The Morning Call. “And they’re sizable projects,” he said, declining to give specifics.

“You do wonder at some point where you hit that kind of, like, ceiling of activity, but people are still learning about what’s happening here, even 20 years into the renaissance that’s happened in the three cities,” Kingsley said. “So it’s kind of weird, but it’s the truth.”

The city’s next biggest project, also downtown, is the Confluence at South Third and Larry Holmes Drive. The $80 million project, with 278 apartments and four commercial spaces, is on track to open by mid-2026, according to the city. The development is part of a partnership between Allentown’s City Center Group and Bethlehem’s Peron Development, that was also behind the Marquis, a 275-apartment project that opened in 2025. 

City Center Chief Operating Officer Zack Sienicki said in an email the Confluence will open for residents in May. Anyone interested can join a leasing waiting list now or get updates at moveupdowntown.com/Easton, Sienicki said.

The Marquis, which opened this past May, is a few apartments shy of being fully leased, he said.

Mick Gjevukaj, another longtime Easton developer, is behind the Great Square Hotel on Centre Square, which is scheduled to be completed during next year’s fourth quarter. It will have a restaurant on the first floor, a banquet facility above the first floor, about 40 guest rooms above that, and a rooftop lounge.

“I think Easton is on a really great path,” said Gjevukaj, who said he opened the first of his several downtown restaurants, River Grille, in 2002. His company, Gusto Hospitality Group, has opened a smaller hotel, the Townley House on North Third Street, as well as several other dining establishments.

Besides the Great Square Hotel and The Confluence, two other multimillion-dollar development projects are slated to open in 2026. They are:

Dutchtown Pointe

Developer: ANR Development
What it is: a 34-apartment and mixed-use building in the first block of South Sixth Street
Total estimated project cost: $9 million
Completion: first quarter

Jacob’s Produce

The former Jacob’s Produce building at Seventh and Northampton streets is becoming apartments.

Developer: VMR Realty
What it is: VMR has preserved the Jacob’s Produce facade while adding three stories with approximately 40 residential units, and possible commercial space.
Total estimated project cost: $9 million
Completion: second quarter

Other projects that aren’t likely to be completed in 2026 include an expansion of the Nurture Nature Center in the 500 block of Northampton Street with an “Earth and Sky Dome” theater. That work is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

A demolition and rebuild is scheduled during 2026 of the McDonald’s restaurant at 201 S. Third St., across from The Confluence.

Contact Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone at asalamone@mcall.com.