Community and Economic Development

The Department of Community & Economic Development plays a comprehensive role in the ongoing revitalization of our city. DCED offers assistance to small business, large business and housing developers. DCED works with businesses to determine the right location, what paperwork and permits are necessary and what financial assistance may be available.

DCED places a strong emphasis on Allentown's growth. Some of the revitalization projects include:

• America on Wheels- The keystone of the Lehigh Landing riverfront project, the transportation museum opened in April of 2008. It highlights the evolution of the vehicles and systems that moved people and products across this great nation of ours. America on Wheels offers a glimpse of the past, present, and future of our nation's over-the-road transportation system and preserves our transportation history by looking back in time, collecting valuable artifacts and vehicles and illustrating the tremendous impact transportation has had on our daily lives.

• Coca-Cola Park Baseball Stadium- This state of the art facility opened in April 2008. Coca-Cola Park serves as the home field for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies' AAA-level Minor League baseball team. The stadium holds 7,000 people and was constructed at a cost of $50 million. Naming rights to the stadium were awarded to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the Lehigh Valley

• Allentown Arts Park - Allentown Arts Park is the centerpiece for the city's Arts District. Governor Ed Rendell helped finance construction of the 0.6 acre park with approximately $1.8 million in state grants. Mayor Pawlowski said, "This park will provide a base for entertainment and celebrations throughout the year and serve as an anchor for art and music programs that will bring people to our downtown and give them a reason to stay"

• Allentown Transportation Center- The 550-space garage and the public parking deck at Linden and North Sixth streets and new 600-space garage at Fourth and Hamilton streets are open to the general public. Together, the two garages owned and operated by the Allentown Parking Authority cost about $28 million.

• The Townes at Trexler Square- Lehigh Valley Builder/Developer Nic Zawarski and Sons broke ground this summer on Phase II of its Center City Allentown project the Townes at Trexler Square. Phase I, which sold out in July 2006, consisting of 14 units, was completed in the Fall of 2007. Phase II which is currently under construction, is located on 8th and Walnut Street, adjacent to Phase I. Phase II will consist of a total of 18 units and will be priced from the low to mid $200,000. Located in a Keystone Opportunity Zone, residents will have the same tax abatement as in Phase I, no real estate taxes nor state and local income tax until 2011. Phase III will consist of 30 units. Construction for Phase III will begin in 2008. For more information please call Luis E. Campos 610-865-1441.

• Allentown Brew Works- The Allentown Brew Works is housed inside the historic Harold's Furniture Building at 812 West Hamilton Street. The 400 seat restaurant is a testament to the vibrant heartbeat that thrives in this "Queen City". Offering two and a half levels of dining, plus state of the art banquet facilities in the Hamilton Room, and multiple bars offering different atmospheres as well as an outdoor casual Biergarten, and a new seductive lower level lounge-Silk.

• Overlook Park - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the Allentown Housing Authority a $20 million HOPE VI Revitalization grant to demolish and rebuild Hanover Acres and Riverview Terrace public housing developments and introduce a new mix-income model of affordable housing and community revitalization. The $87 million development when completed will include 269 rental town homes and twins for public housing and 53 for sale homes. The first 159 rental homes were  completed in the fall of 2007.

• Bridgeworks by the Creek - An estimated $5.4 million investment to help develop and revitalize a core industrial site at what will be 610 South 10th Street in Allentown that will attract new business and bring approximately 100 new jobs to the area. The Allentown Redevelopment Authority and the Allentown Economic Development Corporation will turn the facility into a 90,000-square-foot industrial flex space aimed at revitalizing the city's industrial markets.