Could affordable apartment complex be coming to Allentown? What you need to know

Affordable apartments could pop up on South Seventh Street in Allentown if a property sale from Lehigh County goes through.

Private developer Cortex Residential wants to purchase 43-47 S. Seventh St. for a project it’s calling the Urban Place Apartments, according to a press release provided by Cortex Residential co-founder Jonathan Strauss.

“While specific details about the project have not been released, it is confirmed that the development will serve individuals and families with lower and moderate incomes, addressing a critical need for affordable housing in the area,” the press release stated.

During a Lehigh County committee meeting Wednesday, Strauss said they’re aiming to make the building three stories tall with 30-35 units. These will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

“Along with affordable units, we need family affordable units,” he said.

Lehigh County owns the land and would sell it for $900,000, according to county documents .

General Services Director Rick Molchany said that the county is allocating up to three years for the developer to pay for the property purchase. This is because the developer needs time to apply for Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which would help finance the apartments.

The county board of commissioners will vote on the sale during the July 24 meeting. On Wednesday, however, commissioners also expressed concerns for the project.

Commissioner April Riddick said she would want the developer to clarify the ratio of apartments based on their number of bedrooms.

“Most families are three bedrooms,” she said. “That’s needed more so than two or one bedrooms.”

Commissioner Ron Beitler asked why the building couldn’t be more than three stories, to which Board Chair Geoff Brace explained that there may be zoning constraints and that the tax credits may not cover a larger building.

In other news, Brace said that the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission will soon announce an housing affordability report and study. The unveiling will take place at 11 a.m. on July 26 at the Lehigh County Government Center.

“I think it’s an important report to understand the many factors and the many steps that have to take place for the Lehigh Valley to get its arms around the housing affordability issues that exist in our region,” he said.