ALLENTOWN | Peregrine Tower | FT | 37 FLOORS

[Urbannizer]

Landmark Tower project developer in Allentown asks for another year-long extension

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The developer behind what would be the Lehigh Valley's tallest building appears set to ask the Allentown Planning Commission for another year-long extension for approval of the project.

A land development extension has been requested for the Landmark Tower Project at 90 South 9th Street and Penn Square Section 6, according to the planning commission agenda.

Developers are seeking to extend the final approval for the 33-story building until July 2, 2020.

The Allentown Planning Commission in June 2018 unanimously approved a year-long extension that expires on July 2, 2019.

[Urbannizer]

Another year, another extension..

https://www.ctbuh.org/news/proposed-slender-tower-in-allentown-receives-planning-extension

It’s been 75 months since the Allentown Planning Commission blessed Bruce Loch’s plan to build the 33-story Landmark Tower on a small South Ninth Street lot downtown.

Standing 420 feet (128 meters) above a 5,200-square-foot lot, the skinny skyscraper would eclipse the 322-foot (98-meter) PPL Tower.

But reality hasn’t yet caught up with Loch’s lofty ambitions. The northwest corner of the South Ninth and Walnut street intersection remains a tidy grassy square near a slew of other construction sites.

The planning commission on Tuesday reluctantly granted Ascot Circle Realty a fourth, and apparently final, extension of its plan approval. Commissioners vowed to reject a request for another extension if they haven’t seen progress by June 2023.

“There is an end to everything,” planner Oldrich Foucek said. “At a certain point, you know whether or not you’re going to do it. ... At a certain point, we get the feeling we are being strung along.”

Reached after the meeting, Loch, president of Ascot Circle, remained unperturbed and optimistic.

“We know it will happen,” he said. “You just need persistence, and I have lots of that.”

Loch is trying to lock in a tenant to occupy at least 20 of 24 office floors in the skinny, pencil-like structure. New opportunities emerge on an almost weekly basis, he said.

[Busy Bee]

You'd think with all this extra time they could redesign it.

[KevinFromTexas]

It reminds me of the Plaza Tower in New Orleans. I know a lot of people hate that building, but I've always sort of liked it.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Or...85e22d3b4!8m2!3d29.9510658!4d-90.0715323

[Busy Bee]

I was thinking it resembled Plaza Tower as well... and I'll just.leave it at that.

[chris08876]

Since I work in Allentown there will be no shortage of u/c pics once this is rising.

Allentown is also building (almost wrapped up) a big Airgas HQ complex. One high-rise and one mid rise. More on the outer rim of the city when you get off of I-78 (near Dorney Park).

The whole Lehigh Valley is ripe for development. A lot of potential since New Yorkers and vile NJ folks like myself are placing our flags in the area.

[Urbannizer]

Recent article, new owner and now proposed at 37-floors:

https://www.mcall.com/2024/01/09/pencil-...r-and-new-plans-its-now-up-to-37-floors/

[Busy Bee]

Hopefully redesigned as well. Nice height boost.

[NYguy]

People starting to get it…


https://www.mcall.com/2025/06/10/allento...project-receives-mostly-positive-review/

New plans for 37-story ‘pencil tower’ in Allentown revealed to positive reviews, despite concerns over shadow it may cast


By EVAN JONES
June 10, 2025

After a dozen years, the proposed “pencil tower” in downtown Allentown got some good news.

Revised plans for the 37-story Peregrine Tower were brought back to city planners Tuesday for the first time in almost a year.

And unlike many previous looks at the project, which has received its share of criticism from both city and regional planners, board members were mostly complimentary — despite some minor concerns such as the shadow it may cast on the neighborhood.

Board Chair Christian Brown said the slender design at 90 S. Ninth St. may block the sun for “15 minutes” but it will “do a lot of interesting things to our skyline.”

“I’d rather see a bunch of these than a few big, wide, medium-sized towers,” Brown said. “I really think that there’s something unique about this, that you’re starting to see these as infill towers in Philadelphia and New York City. I think instead of being an infill tower, this could be the sort of the model moving forward.”

[ssh]

The Lehigh Valley is the fastest growing region in Pennsylvania, both economically and population wise, it was just a matter of time.

[srahman75]

In that article shown, one nearby resident shared his approval of the plans as well. The board decided to table, but that is to allow the developer to do some minor redesigning.

[ssh]

https://www.mcall.com/2025/12/08/allento...-former-merchants-square-mall-warehouse/

Allentown to review plans for 37-story ‘pencil tower’


By EVAN JONES
December 8th, 2025

After receiving mostly positive feedback from the Allentown Planning Commission in June, the developer of a proposed 37-story “pencil tower” is scheduled to make a return appearance before the board Tuesday.

The agenda for the meeting, which is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. in City Council chambers, includes the Peregrine Tower, the current name of the project at 90 S. Ninth St. that has been through several delays since it was proposed in 2013.

Brian Ring, who is representing owner Umran Global Investment LLC of Hanover Township, Northampton County, is listed to give a presentation for preliminary/final approval from the board.

If built, the Peregrine Tower would become the Lehigh Valley’s tallest building, eclipsing the nearby PPL Building. The mixed-use building would have 250,140 square feet of space with 208 apartments. Umran’s original plan to have a restaurant on the 37th floor was changed; it will have apartments instead. The first through fifth floors have retail and office space.

At June’s meeting, commissioners had some minor concerns about the project and voted to table it until the developer returned with some revisions.

“I’d rather see a bunch of these than a few big, wide, medium-sized towers,” Board Chair Christian Brown said at that meeting. “I really think that there’s something unique about this, that you’re starting to see these as infill towers in Philadelphia and New York City. I think instead of being an infill tower, this could be sort of the model moving forward.”

First proposed by developer Bruce Loch as a 33-story structure in 2013, and given the go-ahead in 2015, it received five extensions by city planners. The 5,200-square-foot plot was purchased by Umran from Ascot Circle Realty in December 2023 for $1.2 million, according to Lehigh County property records.

[ssh]

Title needs to be updated to 'Peregrine Tower'

[Johnland]

Love what Christian Brown said here:

“I’d rather see a bunch of these than a few big, wide, medium-sized towers,” Board Chair Christian Brown said at that meeting. “I really think that there’s something unique about this, that you’re starting to see these as infill towers in Philadelphia and New York City. I think instead of being an infill tower, this could be sort of the model moving forward.”

What I'm not loving is the building design. Tall and slender, great. But the blah, featureless, brown facade is awful. Also, that ridiculous gazebo-like roof perched 33 stories up is so bad.