ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A new outdoor café could be coming to downtown Allentown.
Plans for One Center Square include a café connected to the building at 702 W. Hamilton St.
City Center Group, the property owner, has requested the outdoor café as part of its development of the former Merchants National Bank, which is planned as a commercial building with businesses on the upper floors. The developer believes the café will be a major selling point in getting new business into the building.
Allentown City Council voted Wednesday to approve a resolution to authorize the encroachment of the proposed outdoor café into the public right-of-way by 35 feet at the widest point.
The café is intended to span the full length of the building along South Seventh Street and will be 39 feet from the building at its widest at the south building corner.
Because sidewalks on the side of the property are 55 feet wide, the café will be 15 feet from the public right-of-way.
City Clerk Michael Hanlon said the resolution came before council because of a city ordinance that says if anything encroaches more than one-third into the public right-of-way, it needs the approval of council.