While a number of activities ranging from participating in regional planning affairs to analyzing census data are conducted under this program, its cornerstone is the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a community's statement of long term goals and objectives and provides direction on how they can be achieved. The city's latest Comprehensive Plan was adopted by City Council in 1994. An update is currently in preparation. Other recent plans prepared by or coordinated by the Bureau of Planning and Zoning includes the following: Elm Street Program
The City, in association with the Old Allentown Preservation Association, is a participant in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Elm Street program. Covering the Old Allentown neighborhood, the Elm Street program's goals are to:
- Revitalize neighborhoods in proximity to the existing downtown by improving the exterior appearance of the buildings and streetscape.
- Formalize a connection between established residential neighborhood areas with downtown revitalization activities.
- Prevent neighborhood decline by developing a plan that includes the establishment of a sustainable community organization that will implement a five year strategy.
- Assist municipalities in preparing and implementing a revitalization strategy for established residential neighborhoods either in the vicinity of a Main Street Program project or in proximity to an existing commercial district.
The Old Allentown program has an Advisory Committee that executes an annual work plan based on the Old Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Plan, prepared with the assistance of the Bureau of Planning. The program's activities are managed by four committees, Organization, Promotion, Clean Safe and Green, Design, and Neighborhood Restructuring. A program manager assists in the program's implementation.
For more information, call Ms. Marie Sincavage at 610.740.9919 at the office of the Old Allentown Preservation Association located at 147 North 10th Street, Allentown.
Main Street Program
The City is also a participant in the State sponsored Main Street program, successfully designating North 7th Street between Linden and Washington Streets as a "Main Street". The Seventh Street Development Committee (SSDC) acts as the program's advisory body, and the Community Action Development Corporation-Allentown manages the program. The program follows the National Main Street Center's Four Point Approach of organization, economic restructuring, promotion, and design to structure the SSDC's comprehensive strategy. The SSDC follows an annual work plan and is assisted by a Main Street Manager.
For more information contact Main Street Manager Peter Lewnes at (610) 433-5703.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan
The bureau recently coordinated the preparation of Parks and Recreation Master Plan (32mb) to guide the future development of the City's parks system and recreation programming. Based on community input and extensive surveying of the city's existing facilities and programs, the plan provides a blueprint for improving and enhancing one of the true assets of the city, its parks system.
Arts District Master Plan
One of the anchors of downtown Allentown is its arts district between N. 5th and N 6th Streets. The district is the home of many fine cultural arts and entertainment venues including the Allentown Art Museum, the Baum School of Art and Symphony Hall and most recently the Allentown Arts Park. The Arts District Master Plan was completed in 2004 for the purpose of providing a strategy for the district to grow and further develop its potential.
Census Data
The bureau summarizes and analyzes demographic, housing, economic and social data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau. The most complete set of data available is collected every ten years during the decennial census. The latest census data available was complied in 2000. Below are two reports prepared by the bureau which summarize the most frequently asked for data relating to the City.
Allentown 2000: General Population and Housing Characteristics from Census 2000
Allentown 2000: Profile of Economic, Housing and Social Characteristics from Census 2000
The following are other summaries of data for Allentown:
Allentown Municipal Profile (Lehigh Valley Planning Commission)
Profile of Selected Demographic Characteristics: 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau)
Profile of Selected Housing Characteristics: 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau)
Profile of Selected Social Characteristics: 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau)
Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission