As infrastructure goes in, anticipation goes up at $300M The Waterfront

Though buildings have yet to rise, one of Allentown's biggest construction projects in decades is well underway.

Estimated to cost slightly more than $300 million, The Waterfront is expected to bring fresh life to a massive, underused section of Allentown along the Lehigh River.

Plans involve constructing several large, looming office and residential buildings along the western bank of the Lehigh River near the Tilghman Street Bridge.

The project includes six Class-A office buildings, three apartment complexes, three parking garages, a half-mile walking and biking path along the bank of the river and outdoor plazas and amphitheaters – all on 26 acres.

Its massive scale and ability to fully transform a vacant, underused industrial site into active, productive use could create a “mini-city.”

At full build-out, the 1.2 million-square-foot project will offer nearly 3,000 jobs on the site of the former Lehigh Structural Steel Co.

“There is a huge amount of excitement,” said Tony Iannelli, CEO and president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Several years ago, The Waterfront Development Co., a partnership comprised of Jaindl Properties, Dunn Twiggar Co. and Michael Dunn Co., created the project, which benefits from Neighborhood Improvement Zone tax incentives.

The developers bought the site in 2012 and, as they sought approvals and permits, began the first step of the development in 2015, including demolition and installation of infrastructure such as streets, curbs and underground utilities. Developers will complete the construction in-house.

“All of the utilities are being installed at the same time to accommodate the 12 buildings,” said Zachary Jaindl, chief operations officer. “We are installing Waterfront Drive.”

This is the road that will link the buildings and create the principal street connection to the structures.

Meanwhile, the newly completed American Parkway Bridge and the construction of Riverside Drive, a road that would link Whitehall Township to Allentown, will open additional access to the site and further extend pedestrian and biking opportunities.

The first part of the Riverside Drive walking/biking path will extend from Union Street to Furnace Street in Allentown.

The developers' acquisition of that road will allow them to ultimately extend it to Race Street in Whitehall, simultaneously connecting the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail's northern and southern legs, Jaindl said.

The parking garages will be three to five stories each in height, and spaces also will be available along Waterfront Drive so drivers can access the apartments and office/retail locations.

Jaindl said the developers want to establish The Waterfront early on, pairing it with the downtown environment – which has undergone massive redevelopment – to create a cohesive city.

“Our goal is to create a self-sustaining development that's cohesive with the other environments,” he said. “We plan on having a number of restaurants on-site, as well.”

The lure of waterfront dining, plus the proximity of the city's destination spots, such as Allentown's Coca-Cola Park, within walking distance from the site, is creating a sense of the property serving as a gateway into the city via the American Parkway Bridge.

While developers have not revealed the tenants interested in signing leases, announcements are expected in the next couple of months.

“Our goal is to amass a small portfolio and announce the tenants in one move,” Jaindl said.

The placement of the buildings is flexible, and developers may alternate residential buildings with office buildings, or reposition them, as the development takes shape.

The site will have a projected 425 market-rate apartments between three on-site apartment complexes, Jaindl said.

The developers have used Cope Linder Architects of Philadelphia and MKSD Architects of South Whitehall Township to design the buildings and could be using more architects.

Cope Linder designed the master plan for the campus as well as 615 Waterfront Drive, an eight-story commercial office with first floor retail, Jaindl said. MKSD designed 645 Waterfront Drive, a six-story office building with first floor retail, and 560 Waterfront Drive, an eight-story office with first floor retail.

“While we have used two [firms] to date, we anticipate introducing a number of architectural styles by utilizing various firms in order to build a diverse campus and offer unique architectural examples to Allentown's developing downtown,” Jaindl said.

Aside from the commercial development that will occur, the developers see a great deal of visitors coming to the site for river access and entertainment options such as sports competitions, festivals and concerts that haven't been offered before along the Lehigh River in Allentown.

The project is generating excitement among the business community, particularly in the Allentown area.

“So many cities have capitalized on their waterfront, so I think there's a ton of interest and a lot of wait and see,” said Iannelli of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“We've really been blessed, and we have a first-class developer.”

Source: LVB