Mayor Ed Pawlowski, State Senator Pat Browne and State Representative Mike Schlossberg were among a local contingent today that hosted city of York representatives for a presentation and tour of Allentown’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ).

York is among the eight Pennsylvania cities eligible to be designated a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) that was approved by the state legislature in June and signed by Governor Tom Corbett. As many as two CRIZ zones can be created this year. The CRIZ zones are similar to the NIZ, but the financial benefits to developers are not as generous and come with additional financial safeguards for the state.

The local contingent included Allentown City Councilman Peter Schweyer, City of Allentown Director of the Department of Community & Economic Development Sara Hailstone and ANIZDA Chairman Sy Traub. The visiting contingent included York Mayor Kim Bracey, State Representative Kevin Schreiber, York Deputy Director of the Department of Economic Development Shilvosky Buffaloe, York City Councilman Henry Dixon, former York Mayor Bill Althaus; Sonia Huntzinger and Tim Miller of Downtown Inc. and Eric Menzer of York Revolution Baseball.

“Our downtown redevelopment is the talk of Pennsylvania,” said Pawlowski. “I was delighted to show Mayor Bracey and her party what the NIZ is doing for Allentown and what the CRIZ can mean for York. I’d be happy to host similar events for my colleagues in other CRIZ qualifying cities.”

“Allentown is transforming before our eyes,” Schlossberg said. “With cranes, construction crews and equipment running constantly, we are building prosperity. I am also happy to welcome leaders from the City of York to Allentown so they can see the opportunity the Neighborhood Improvement Zone can create. I want to thank Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Senator Browne and their staffs for taking the time to make this possible today. The City Revitalization and Improvement Zone could be an exciting tool for cities like York. Each city that can use this tool will help Pennsylvania to prosper, putting thousands to work and attracting new businesses to our Commonwealth.”

In just its second year, the NIZ has already produced half a billion dollars in proposed development. The zone also includes the Lehigh River waterfront. A $285 million two-phase development of office and residential buildings there has received tentative approval from the Allentown Planning Commission.
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