Allentown Center Square redesign finds strong support from planning officials

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A project to overhaul one of Allentown’s busiest intersections and make it better for pedestrians is moving forward with the full backing of planning officials.

The city Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously granted conditional approval for the Center Square redesign.

Plans for the project include extending two plazas — on the northeast and southeast corners of Seventh and Hamilton streets — to create more space for gathering and events.

That would eliminate several lanes for vehicles. Hamilton Street traffic would no longer split around the Sailors and Soldiers monument — instead, all traffic on that street would be routed to the left of the statue, according to the plans.

The left-turn lane from Seventh Street to Hamilton Street would also be covered by a plaza, leaving two lanes for vehicular traffic.

A bike lane would run along the left side of two vehicular traffic lanes on Seventh Street.

Allentown Planning Director Jennifer Gomez said planning officials debated at length about which side of the road to create a bike lane.

They settled on the left side because there are fewer conflict points, such as valet parking and drop offs on the right side near PPL Plaza, according to John Wichner of Bowman Consulting.

“It’s great to finally get some bike lanes in the city,” commission member Erich Hortung said.

Improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists around the city’s central crossroads and providing more space for people — not cars — were among the top priorities residents identified during public sessions last year, Gomez said Tuesday.

Lehigh Valley planning officials last month also urged city representatives to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists in the project.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk this year launched a Vision Zero plan to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on city roads by 2030.

'A major benefit'

Last year’s public sessions showed many people also hope the project creates opportunities for events that celebrate Allentown’s diverse cultures and history.

Craig Beavers, who was recently appointed to the planning commission, said the redesign project would bring about “a remarkable transformation” downtown, if all goes according to plan.

“This will be a major benefit to the city,” he said.

The project is set to include the entire Seventh and Hamilton intersection and public rights-of-way, with the Soldiers and Sailors monument to remain the focal point of a new plaza.

Renderings show a statue would be the centerpiece of the extended plaza outside the Starbucks on the ground floor of Two City Center.

The project also calls for new green space. Center City Allentown is nationally ranked above the 90th percentile for its lack of green space, according to a Lehigh Valley planning official.

Allentown’s Center Square redesign project will be funded by grants from the state Transportation Department and the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone’s Public Improvement Investment Program.

City officials have said the project should be done by the end of next year.