'I want to make it affordable': Former Allentown textile factory could become apartments

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A former factory soon may be turned into an apartment building.

Allentown Zoning Hearing Board on Monday unanimously granted a special exception to plans to convert a vacant factory into an apartment building.

• Allentown zoners granted a special exception to plans to convert a vacant factory at 401-407 N. 2nd St. into an apartment building 
• The building would have 10 units — six one-bedrooms and four two-bedrooms
• Owner Ryan Hadeed said he hopes construction will be completed by next fall

The property is at 401-407 N. 2nd St., on the border of Allentown's First and Sixth wards.

The building would have 10 units: six one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments, according to site plans. One of the two-bedroom units would be a standalone ADA unit.

The plan needed a special exception primarily because it had one less parking space than is required by the city's laws. But zoners determined there is enough off-street parking in the area to accommodate new residents.

Building owner Ryan Hadeed said he had rented it as a commercial property up until December, but it now is vacant.

“I don't want to push any tenants out and make high-end luxury apartments,” Hadeed said. “I want to make it affordable.”

Hadeed said he plans to charge $1,350 in rent for the one-bedroom apartments and $1,650 for the two-bedroom apartments. He said he may be able to lower the rent if construction costs less than anticipated.

According to Rent.com, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Allentown is $1,425 and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,966, as of Aug. 20.

The complex’s design

Hadeed’s father operated the building as a textile factory in the mid-1990s, and later rented it out as commercial space. But Hadeed said his family has always called it “the factory” even after it stopped operating as one.

Now, Hadeed wants to name the complex “The Factory Apartments” and keep elements of the industrial design, such as windows with dark metal frames.

Zoning Board member Alan Salinger complimented the design of the rehabilitated building shown in the renderings.

“You’re bringing back the handsomeness of the building,” Salinger said.

Hadeed said he hopes construction will be done by next fall.