ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown plans to issue bonds to pay for new facilities for police, firefighters, EMTs and other city workers.
City Council on Wednesday started the process to raise up to $134 million through a series of general-obligation bonds.
Members introduced legislation to authorize those bonds; that bill will be the subject of a council committee-of-the-whole meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 13.
A breakdown provided to council shows $65 million — about half of the money to be raised through bonds — would go toward the city’s new Life Safety & Wellness Center.
Allentown Fire Chief Efrain Agosto has long urged city officials to make upgrades at Central Fire Station or replace it.
The Life Safety and Wellness Center will cost about $65.5 million if started soon. That cost could balloon to more than $72 million if officials wait until 2028 to launch the project.Alloy5 projections
Agosto in June said the facility — which was built about 100 years ago to serve a car dealership — is “starting to deteriorate” and is “way out of its useful life.”
The property at 723 Chew St. was converted to be Allentown’s Central Fire Station 80 years ago.
A seven-month analysis of the facility showed its issues are likely to become critical within three years.
Bethlehem architectural firm Alloy5 projected the Life Safety & Wellness Center will cost about $65.5 million if started soon. That cost could balloon to more than $72 million if officials wait until 2028 to launch the project.
The new facility would house firefighters alongside the city’s EMS department and Health Bureau.
New police station
The measure introduced Wednesday night also earmarks an eight-figure sum for a project to expand the current police headquarters more than 75%.
The city is turning to bonds to raise $21 million for the build, which is projected to cost about $37 million. Council put $9 million toward the project from Allentown's American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Allentown officials plan to raise about $18.7 million for public-works projects, while $17.7 million would fund capital projects in the city’s parks.Breakdown provided to council
Construction is expected to last about 18 months, with officials optimistic about opening the expanded police station next year.
The current station opened in the early 1960s, when there were about 150 officers in the Allentown Police Department; the new facility would be built to serve about 250 people.
Allentown officials plan to raise about $18.7 million for public-works projects, while $17.7 million would fund capital projects in the city’s parks, according to the breakdown provided to council.
Municipal bonds work like loans: Government entities use bonds to raise funds for large capital projects — like emergency-services facilities, bridges and schools — and repay the principal amount plus interest.
