Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County

ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF LEHIGH COUNTY

The Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County (RALC) was formed in 1971 but was inactive for many years before being reconstituted in May 2023.

The service area of the RALC includes all municipalities in Lehigh County; however the City of Allentown and the City of Bethlehem have formed separate redevelopment authorities that undertake redevelopment projects within those jurisdictions.

Municipalities and others interested in the work of the RALC should contact Christopher Gulotta, Executive Director at RALC@lehighcounty.org.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael A. Yeager (Chair)

David Weinstein (Vice-Chair)

Oscar Ghasab (Treasurer)

Ricky Gower (Secretary)

Jill Seitz

Christopher Gulotta (Executive Director) The Gulotta Group, LLC

Kent H. Herman, Esquire (Solicitor) King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC

RALC MISSION STATEMENT

The Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County (RALC) is focused on the goal of remediating and repurposing blighted properties in Lehigh County's Boroughs and Townships. It accomplishes this work by partnering with elected and appointed officials, as well as the non-profit and private sectors to grow the tax base, provide opportunities for economic development, and increase the supply of housing. In doing so, the RALC will pursue a variety of financing and incentives to spur repurposing properties for productive uses and to sustain the organization going forward.

Adopted October 5, 2023

RALC MEETING INFORMATION

NOTICE OF 2025 REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF LEHIGH COUNTY MONTHLY MEETING SCHEDULE

The Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County will conduct public meetings on the following dates for the period January through December 2025:

January 9, February 6, March 6, April 3, May 15 (cancelled), June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6, and December 4

The meetings will be conducted via ZOOM and are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. with the exception of April 3 which will be an in-person meeting held in Room 436, Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. 7th St., Allentown PA 18101.

Additional information on the RALC meetings, including agendas and ZOOM instructions, can be found at the Lehigh County Department of Community and Economic Development’s website:

https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Community-Economic-Development/Lehigh-County-Redevelopment-Authority

RALC 2025 MEETING AGENDAS

REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF LEHIGH COUNTY 2025 MEETING AGENDAS

RALC January 9, 2025 Revised Agenda RALC July 3, 2025 Agenda

RALC February 6, 2025 Agenda

RALC March 6, 2025 Agenda

RALC April 3, 2025 Agenda

RALC April 23, 2025 (Special Mtg.) Agenda

No May Meeting

RALC June 5, 2025 Agenda

RALC 2025 MEETING MINUTES

REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF LEHIGH COUNTY 2025 MEETING MINUTES

RALC JANUARY 9, 2025 MEETING MINUTES RALC JULY 3, 2025 MEETING MINUTES

RALC FEBRUARY 6, 2025 MEETING MINUTES

RALC MARCH 6, 2025 MEETING MINUTES

RALC APRIL 3, 2025 MINUTES

RALC APRIL 23, 2025 MEETING MINUTES

No May meeting

RALC JUNE 5, 2025 MEETING MINUTES

RALC 2025 RECORDED ZOOM MEETINGS

RALC JAN 9, 2025 ZOOM LINK PASSCODE: B0%ntHI*

RALC FEB 6, 2025 ZOOM RECORDING IS UNAVAILABLE

RALC MAR 6, 2025 ZOOM LINK Passcode: K0.zBE26

RALC APR 3, 2025 ZOOM RECORDING IS UNAVAILABLE

RALC APR 23, 2025 ZOOM RECORDING PASSCODE: 8&!d3aez

No May meeting

RALC JUN 5, 2025 ZOOM RECORDING PASSCODE: J9e8!09X

RALC JULY 3, 2025 ZOOM RECORDING PASSCODE: 385598

TOOLS/FUNDING RESOURCES TO ADDRESS BLIGHTED PROPERTIES

Neighborhood Improvement District Materials Pages 1-8 Pages 9-16

Tax Exemption and Mixed-Use Incentive Program Act Materials

Fire Insurance Escrow Act

CATASAUQUA IRON WORKS PROJECT UPDATE

The Redevelopment Authority has entered into an agreement of sale to sell the 10+ acre site to IronWorks Development Group LLC, which was formed by VM Development Group LLC to undertake the project.

IronWorks Development Group is completing its due diligence for the next 6-12 months including evaluating floodplain/environmental/title issues, obtaining land development approval and project financing. The project is expected to move ahead at some point in 2026 with the construction of the project’s first phase. To this end the Authority is seeking a $1million grant from the Commonwealth which will be used to construct a retaining wall with the goal of widening Front Street to make it a two-way street with parking on both sides.

The Authority recently received a $50,000 Keystone Communities Grant through PA Department of Community and Economic Development to assist the developer in covering a variety of engineering costs.

FORMER LEHIGH VALLEY DAIRY REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE

The Redevelopment Authority recently entered into an agreement with Elias Property Group to provide technical services with the objective of identifying a preferred developer for the site on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township. Under the terms of this agreement the Authority drafted a Request for Proposals that was distributed to over 40 firms on June 30th. Proposals from qualified developers are due in September 2025.

The Authority will be assisting the Elias Property Group in evaluating any proposals received based on criteria in the Request for Proposals that includes price, substantive conditions or contingencies that would be a requirement of the preferred developer to close on the purchase of the site, experience of the preferred developer in undertaking similar projects, demonstrated capacity of preferred developer to complete the project, quality of development including proposed uses, public benefits (job creation, real estate tax revenues), and respondent’s statement of public participation opportunities.

RIGHT-TO-KNOW

RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW

The Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County intends to comply with the Open Records Act, Pennsylvania’s new Right-to-Know Law, Act 3 of 2008. The Request Form and Fee Schedule are available by email (RALC@lehighcounty.org) or phone (484-866-6048) .

If you have a specific request to be made under the Right-to-Know Law, please submit the form to Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County, Suite 519, Lehigh County Government Center 17th South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18101 or RALC@lehighcounty.org .

Agency Open Record/Right-to-Know Officer (AORO): Christopher Gulotta, Executive Director

Alternate: Kent H. Herman, Solicitor

The PA Office of Open Records contact information is:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Office of Open Records

Commonwealth Keystone Building

400 North Street, 4th Floor

Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225

Phone: 717-346-9903; Fax: 717-425-5343

Email: openrecords@state.pa.us;

Website: http://openrecords.state.pa.us

Public bodies may fill anonymous verbal or written requests. If the requester wishes to pursue the relief and remedies provided for in this Act, the request must be in writing. (Section 702.) Written requests need not include an explanation why information is sought or the intended use of the information unless otherwise required by law. (Section 703).

2024 RALC ANNUAL REPORT