Housing Association & Development Corporation (HADC) is proudly showing-off its rehabilitated two-unit apartment building at 511 Chew Street in Allentown. The formerly blighted and vacant building was once owned by Ira Thor, who along with his brother, Adam, were the first inductees in Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s Landlord Hall of Shame in 2008.

At an afternoon news conference today at HADC of Allentown headquarters next door to the rehabbed property, HADC launched the Jordan Heights Neighborhood Development Investment Fund ensuring HADC’s ability to continue revitalization work in the 24-square-block residential neighborhood north of the city’s business district. The news conference was attended by government, business and community leaders, including Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Congressman Charlie Dent, State Senator Pat Browne, State Representative Mike Schlossberg and Lehigh County Executive Tom Muller. HADC used Investment Fund dollars to bridge financing for the project.

Housing Association & Development was formed in 1978 by three faith-based organizations led by First Presbyterian Church. During the nonprofit organization’s 36 years of existence, HADC has renovated almost 300 blighted and vacant residential properties in center-city Allentown, returning them to the tax rolls with income-eligible first-time buyers under long term ownership and occupancy requirements. Most of HADC’s work is concentrated in the Jordan Heights section bounded by Tilghman Street on the north, Linden Street on the south, Seventh Street on the west and Jordan Street on the east.

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