ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A new drug-and-alcohol recovery home is set to open in north Allentown after city officials approved the project Monday.
We Rise Recovery Homes principal Charles Lewis asked the city Zoning Hearing Board to approve his plans to convert a single-family home at 631 Allen St. into a group home for 10 people recovering from addiction.
But after the board hesitated to approve that proposal — which member Scott Unger called “a tremendous overuse of the property” — Lewis offered to reduce his request by removing one bedroom from his proposal.
"I don’t know that I’m in love with it, but … I can live with it."Alan Salinger, Zoning Hearing Board member
That was just enough to earn the Zoning Hearing Board’s unanimous approval, even though two members said they didn’t “love” the project.
Unger had raised issues about the lack of parking at the property and the proposal’s density, with 10 people expected to share a total of about 1,600 square feet, which included just one small living room.
'Safe, drug-free environment'
Those concerns were allayed by Lewis’ offer to eliminate a bedroom — and two residents — and convert it into a second living room.
“I think I’m compelled that, while I don’t love the idea because of parking [issues], I can go along with the revised, amended application,” Unger said before moving to approve it.
Member Alan Salinger joined Unger in voicing his reluctant approval.
“I think that’s a good analysis — I don’t know that I’m in love with it, but … I can live with it,” Salinger said.
The mission of We Rise Recovery Homes is to offer a “safe, drug-free environment” for people who are trying to recover from addictions to drugs or alcohol, Lewis told zoning officials.
But no treatment or counseling will be offered at the Allen Street recovery home, he said.
The property has no off-street parking, so tenants will not be allowed to have a car while they’re at the recovery home. And they’ll be kicked out if they buy one during their stay, Lewis said.
Zoning officials made that a condition of their approval for the project, though they admitted it will be difficult for the city’s zoning officers to enforce the parking restriction for tenants.
