ALLENTOWN – A public hearing has been scheduled for the Borough Council’s Dec. 26 meeting on an ordinance that will provide funding for phase II of Allentown’s historic streetscape project.
Residents may comment on the ordinance that evening and the council may vote to adopt the ordinance following the public hearing.
At a meeting on Dec. 12, council members introduced a bond ordinance appropriating $1.9 million and authorizing the issuance of $1 million in bonds and notes to finance a portion of the streetscape improvements.
The bond ordinance was introduced with support from council President Wil Borkowski, Councilman Rob Schmitt, Councilman Thomas Fritts and Councilwoman Angela Anthony.
Councilman Robert Strovinsky, Councilwoman Johnna Stinemire
During a previous meeting at which the ordinance was a topic of discussion, Strovinsky said the borough’s engineer, Carmela Roberts, is conducting a preliminary survey of the area that will be the focus of the second phase of the streetscape improvements.
Council members said the engineer’s survey is expected to provide specific costs for the streetscape improvements. They said the report Roberts eventually submits will help guide them in setting priorities for the project.
Portions of the streetscape improvements will be paid for with grants Allentown has received for the initiative.
In July, officials were informed the borough will receive $854,000 from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) to be used for the second phase of the historic streetscape improvement project.
At that time, Mayor Greg Westfall said the improvements will include the replacement of deteriorated curbing and sidewalks and bring the area targeted for improvement into full compliance with standards established by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
The proposed improvements may extend west on Church Street to the borough limits and north on Main Street to Broad Street, he said.
Existing sidewalks are expected to be replaced with a combination of brick pavers and concrete, and concrete curb will be installed to match the improvements that were completed during the first phase of the streetscape project, according to the mayor.
In addition, street trees that are more suitable for streetscapes will be planted in place of any trees that have to be removed in order to properly reconstruct the sidewalks and curbs.
“This (NJTPA) grant will continue our efforts to enhance pedestrian safety and our national and state designated historic district, as well as to make the borough an attractive place to live and do business. The Borough Council and I would like to express our gratitude to all parties who made this grant possible,” Westfall said upon learning of the NJTPA funding.
Allentown had previously been selected to receive $235,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2017 municipal aid program for the second phase of the historic streetscape improvement project. Borough officials said those funds will be used for the purposes for which they were intended.