Members of the public can share their views with city consultants on priorities for future actions shaping downtown Allentown infrastructure, land use, development policy, and management during two days in August.

Goody Clancy and Associates out of Boston is leading the process of preparing a downtown urban design and development plan for the city. They will conduct a public meeting in an open house format on Wednesday, August 6 from 5pm to 7pm at the Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton streets. Consultants will also be present in Center Square on Wednesday, August 6 from 12pm to 1:30pm. A third session will be held at PPL Plaza at 9th & Hamilton on Thursday, August 7 from 11:45am to 1:30pm to speak to interested persons.

Several topic-based stations at the open house will display information on the downtown, inviting attendees to ask questions, and enabling discussion with staff from the planning team and the city.

“The rebirth of downtown Allentown is advancing at breakneck speed,” said Mayor Ed Pawlowski. “The downtown urban design plan will help us prepare for the next projects and advise the city on how we want them to shape the form and function of the downtown.”

The development projects already underway downtown have created an opportunity for further reinvestment that builds upon the downtown’s transformation and resurgence as the place of prominence in this region.

Goody Clancy is joined on the study by the traffic and parking consulting firm of Nelson/Nygaard, also out of Boston; Code-A-Metrics, a zoning and codes specialist; and the local engineering firm of Barry Isett and Associates.

The study is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2015.

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