ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Allentown’s Zoning Hearing Board, on Monday, approved measures that will allow for the conversion of a vacant warehouse into 12 dwelling units at 1935 -1949 S. 5th St.

The Applicant, Abdouche Properties LLC, was granted relief from parking and square footage requirements for units.

Specifically, the applicant was seeking relief from a 1,800 square foot requirement per unit, with 1,049 square feet proposed, and off-street parking, 44 spaces required, with 29 proposed.

Landscaping and buffer strips were not included in the plans; however, the applicant agreed to include landscaping aspects upon discussion with the board.

Zoning Hearing Board member Scott Unger said the variances related to square footage and parking were reasonable and didn’t represent overuse of the property.

Indeed, the board agreed that the project represented adaptive reuse.

Abdouche Properties manages Mountain View Apartments, a residential apartment complex located at 1949 S. 5th St.

The approval was given subject to reasonable conditions relative to comments made during the hearing and recommendations by the planning commission. Additionally, the planning body stipulated that any construction work needs to be completed in compliance with applicable city codes. The applicant will also be providing plantings in accordance with the zoning hearing board’s recommendations. All conditions must be met prior to certificates of occupancy being issued.

In other news, the Zoning Hearing Board approved a special use application for 245 N. 8th St. Owner Ramon Evangelista plans to convert a vacant cell phone sales and repair shop to an eight-washer, five-dryer laundromat, with personal service. Evangelista said the laundry facility would be used primarily by tenants who live in the building above and by neighborhood traffic. The facility would operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday with one attendant.

Zoning hearing board members were supportive of the project and did not see negative impacts to the community, and provided relief to the applicant.