The only sign of life at the old industrial site along the Lehigh River in Catasauqua was hoofprints left by deer. On Friday morning, a herd was hanging out along a chain-link fence that surrounds the brownfield along North Front Street.
If longtime development plans for the former Crane Iron Works site continue moving forward, the 12.5-acre parcel that currently has a series of abandoned buildings and piles of rubble will eventually become a mixed-use community with more than 300 residential units and new commercial space. More importantly, it will become an anchor that will transform the borough’s downtown.
“It’s going to be a brand new town because it’s a complete game changer,” said Borough Manager Glenn Eckhart. “It’s truly going to be a main street we can all be proud of, and it’s just going to take us time to get there.”
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
A historical marker shows the location of the former Crane Iron Works on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large property has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3,683,000 to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
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The former Crane Iron Works property is seen Friday, March 20, 2026, in Catasauqua. The large site has been at the center of the borough’s hopes for the redevelopment of Front Street. As part of a recently passed federal appropriations package, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, has secured $3.7 million to support those redevelopment efforts. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Chris Gulotta, director of the Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority, said Catasauqua’s economy will be “repositioned for the next 100 years.”
Officials gathered at borough hall Friday to announce a $3.7 million grant from U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie for the project. The funds come from the recently passed Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations package.
“We need more housing at every level, so that people, wherever they are at that phase of their life or socioeconomically, they’re going to find the housing that meets their needs,” said Mackenzie, R-7th District.
The project, which has been on a redevelopment track since 2013, has received $7.3 million in government funding and has $70 million in private investment.
A rendering of the future Iron Works mixed-use development in Catasauqua. (Courtesy of VM Development Group)
Two phases
The forward momentum comes a few years after it appeared the project was in trouble. A $42 million plan to transform the land fell through in 2022, sparking community outrage and accusations of wasteful spending and lack of government transparency.
Since then, Easton-based VM Development Group has taken it over. The Redevelopment Authority sold the land to Iron Works Development LLC — formed by VM to develop the site — for $320,000 last year.
VM has a history of working with historical properties around Easton, and is known for converting the former Simon Silk Mill into a mixed-use development.
“These projects — brownfield projects — I’ve had the opportunity to work on a bunch of them here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Chad Helmer, who has served as the project’s consultant for more than a decade. “They are never easy, and they are never fast.”
Eckhart credited borough officials for working through the difficult times.
“When you’re trying to do a water plan, a sewer plan, and you’re trying to do the land development plan, it’s pretty tough for one person, and I couldn’t do it without all of you,” he said.
Ground could be broken for the project’s first phase, which includes about a dozen townhomes and 60 apartments, later this year. This part of the plan includes the land behind borough hall — which was opened in 2017 as part of the redevelopment — and the area around the former depot building next to the Pine Street bridge.
“Our vision is to transform this historic industrial property into a modern business development that brings new businesses, housing, and commercial activity to the community while honoring the historic integrity of the site,” said Gretchen Rice, a partner with VM.
The second phase will include the bulk of the property that includes a former research and development building when it was owned by FLSmidth, and the site of the plate shop building that was demolished in 2021.
Before construction can start there, a retaining wall that holds back the ground below Front Street must be rebuilt. The borough has already brought in several tons of stone for the project.
This area will include the remainder of the housing and include the retail space. When that area is worked on, Front Street will be widened to allow parking on both sides of the street and encourage new businesses to move in.
Another key part of the project will give Catasauqua residents easier access to the D&L Trail. A footbridge is planned from the Iron Works site to the trail.
A long history
The property was once home to the historic Crane Iron Works, which opened in 1840 and had the world’s first commercially successful anthracite iron furnaces that helped launch America’s industrial revolution. It operated for about 90 years before it was taken over by the Fuller Co., which makes equipment for the cement industry.
It continued to operate after Fuller was absorbed by FLSmidth, but was shut down in the early 2000s.
Catasauqua purchased the land in 2013 to be redeveloped.
Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com.