ALLENTOWN, Pa. \u2014 City planning officials oversaw a significant uptick in development proposals last year.<\/p>\n
Allentown Planning Commission reviewed development proposals that included more than 1,300 total residential units, a 58% jump from 2024, according to the commission\u2019s annual report to City Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were more applications overall, a greater number of major projects, higher total unit counts and a substantially larger percentage increase in non-residential development.”<\/p>\n
Allentown Planning Commission annual report<\/p>\n
And members evaluated plans that proposed almost 900,000 square feet of non-residential space throughout the city. <\/p>\n
That represents a jump of almost 180% since the prior year, the report states.<\/p>\n
The commission\u2019s activity was up \u201cacross nearly every measure,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were more applications overall, a greater number of major projects, higher total unit counts and a substantially larger percentage increase in non-residential development,” the report states. <\/p>\n
Shrinking the shortage?<\/p>\n
The planning commission last year approved eight projects that are projected to bring more than 850 housing units.<\/p>\n
Among those were plans for a 16-story mixed-use complex<\/a> at the former American Atelier furniture factory buildings along North Front Street. <\/p>\n It\u2019s expected to feature 267 apartment units, more than 21,000 square feet of office space and a similar amount of retail\/commercial space.<\/p>\n City Center Group, Allentown\u2019s most prominent developer, is set to bring 257 apartments<\/a> to the former site of The Morning Call in the 100 block of North Turner Street.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were more applications overall, a greater number of major projects, higher total unit counts and a substantially larger percentage increase in non-residential development.”<\/p>\n Allentown City Planning Commission 2025 annual report<\/p>\n Planning officials last year approved two other large-scale housing projects.<\/p>\n Manny Makhoul is working to add 180 apartments across seven buildings<\/a> on an East Side property where he played as a kid, and a developer plans to add 50 apartments above The Literacy Center on Hamilton Street.<\/p>\n Opening all of the units approved last year would make a sizable dent in the city\u2019s housing shortage but not erase it, according to local statistics.<\/p>\n