General Pennsylvania Cities P&C

[mville1]

Here is the link to the thread for the latest highrise proposal in Lancaster simply called Queen Street Apartments

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=243585

After looking at the developer's website, Berger Rental Communities, I am a bit skeptical this proposal will become a reality. It looks like this is their first foray into urban highrise development. I could easily see Berger gaining approvals for this project and trying to flip this lot to another developer for more money. Alternatively, Berger could possibly bring in a more experienced partner to get this project off the ground. I hope they prove my skepticism wrong though!

Additionally, it looks like Landis Homes' 7-story midrise proposal for the 200 block of West King Street is full steam ahead. City Council approved Landis Homes' request to demolish the two structures on the north side of the 200 block of West King Street including the old Rendezvous Steak Shop earlier this week. Here is the link to the article.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/reg...9b4f41af6.html

[deja vu]

Potential good news... the city has been trying to sell this prominent building on its public square for years...

Wilkes-Barre finds buyer for First National Bank building
Steve Mocarsky | The Citizens' Voice
December 21, 2020

The City of Wilkes-Barre has finally found a buyer for the long-vacant First National Bank building. The city council on Thursday authorized Mayor George Brown’s administration to sell the structure at 59-63 Public Square to local developer George Albert, who owns an engineering firm in Pittston, for $400,000. The council also authorized the administration to apply for a $250,000 Keystone Communities Program grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for a renovation project inside the building. Brown said the project would include “a fine dining component and collaborative meeting rooms,” but had no other information about the proposed use of the building. He said Albert plans to invest about $1.2 million into the building...

Source: The Citizens' Voice | Sean McKeag

[mville1]

Gorgeous building and I am glad it is being reused. Too bad the article did not have any pictures of the interior.

I came across this project from Easton, PA. Sounds like it will really transform downtown. Fingers crossed this one will come to fruition.

Easton to change skyline with modern 11-story building

By: Justin Backover | WFMZ News

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehig...00ced0ae9.html

And here is a link to Willow Valley's downtown Lancaster high-rise proposal.

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=245193

[deja vu]

Wow. I think that is what we call a "game changer". Really decent design and looks like a great catalyst for Easton. 15 months construction time for 11 stories? That's ambitious!

[SouthCentralPA]

Five City Center - Allentown, PA
Taken on my phone on 01/09/2021. (Not sure when this was complete, but I know it's fairly new.)

[deja vu]

Nice!

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Originally Posted by deja vu

Nice!

Agreed! Does anyone here have eyes on the goings on of the Lehigh Valley? Allentown in particular seems to have alot happening. From the restoration of the Americus Hotel to all the City Center projects there is some information online but it is awesome when someone shares their own experience with photos.

[SouthCentralPA]

Originally Posted by Pulkvedis Pods

Agreed! Does anyone here have eyes on the goings on of the Lehigh Valley? Allentown in particular seems to have alot happening. From the restoration of the Americus Hotel to all the City Center projects there is some information online but it is awesome when someone shares their own experience with photos.

I just was there for the first time in years and was very surprised by the amount of new buildings/development! Wasn't able to take any other photos though.

[TheGoatRodeo]

The City Center Investment Corp. is the main driver of development in Allentown. Their website is pretty extensive with the construction they've done and plan to do. Also, they're good about having webcams of their current projects.

https://www.citycenterallentown.com/...uction-cameras

[mville1]

The amount of development in the past 10 years along Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown is truly remarkable. Hopefully the pandemic does not stop the positive momentum.

[SouthCentralPA]

Originally Posted by TheGoatRodeo

The City Center Investment Corp. is the main driver of development in Allentown. Their website is pretty extensive with the construction they've done and plan to do. Also, they're good about having webcams of their current projects.

https://www.citycenterallentown.com/...uction-cameras

Didn't know this website existed, so thanks for sharing! Great source of information for all the new construction in Allentown. I love the construction cams too!

[TheGoatRodeo]

Hoping to start to give this page a little more love!

The proposal below outlines a new ambitious plan for the Allentown Lehigh River waterfront. Manhattan Building Co "hopes to redevelop two dilapidated industrial buildings between North Front Street and Buck Boyle Park into a mixed-use apartment complex known as the Riverfront Lofts, and wants to work with the city to turn the 8-acre recreation area into 'one of the best waterfront parks in the entire country,' said John Palumbo, MBC’s vice president of real estate development." For a city of 100k people, the leadership is still hesitant of modern urbanism best practices so to hear a developer push for denser development with less parking is no small thing.


https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-lehigh-riverfront-development-ambitious-plan-20210210-sjztczmpabdmfeeqqtxcvtvf2i-story.html

[SouthCentralPA]

Originally Posted by TheGoatRodeo

Hoping to start to give this page a little more love!

That's great to hear! Would love to see what development is happening in some of PA's smaller cities.

[summersm343]

For those of you who don't know, we've created a "South Central, PA" thread now. We took the Harrisburg thread, and made it the "Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York" thread. Therefore, any future Lancaster development news can be posted there.

Link to thread:
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43038

[summersm343]

Should we make a "Lehigh Valley" thread too? I feel like there's enough development in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton nowadays to warrant their own thread.

[TheGoatRodeo]

The proposed building below is going through the approval process in Bethlehem. The design calls for an 8 story apartment building with retail on the ground floor. It replaces two small pre-war buildings that are in rough shape and a parking lot. The link gives floor plans and renderings the design team is scheduled to present to Bethlehem's Historical Conservation Commission this month. This is the first I'm hearing about this project and am unsure of the overall timing.

https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/getatta...spx?lang=en-US

Also I'd be down for a Lehigh Valley thread!

[TheGoatRodeo]

The City of Allentown recently released a feasibility plan to redevelop the 200 acre site of the former Allentown State Hospital into mixed-use high-density housing, mid-density housing, single family housing, office space, and industrial uses. No timeline has been given but the demolition of the old hospital is complete.

Link to the article: https://www.mcall.com/news/local/all...fay4-list.html

[SouthCentralPA]

Originally Posted by TheGoatRodeo

The City of Allentown recently released a feasibility plan to redevelop the 200 acre site of the former Allentown State Hospital into mixed-use high-density housing, mid-density housing, single family housing, office space, and industrial uses. No timeline has been given but the demolition of the old hospital is complete.

Link to the article: https://www.mcall.com/news/local/all...fay4-list.html

Is this building that is pictured demolished or is it still standing?

[TheGoatRodeo]

Unfortunately the entire original campus has been demolished. It was originally built in 1904 but like many old state owned facilities, no one took care of it in later years so it cost more to maintain even vacant and then repair to a usable condition than it would be to demolish completely.

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/all...xt-photos.html

[deja vu]

^ Another sad loss. But at least the vision for its "replacement" is fairly dense and compelling.