ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The future of a project to turn a historic Allentown church into “deeply affordable” apartments is uncertain after the city Zoning Hearing Board rejected a major plank of those plans.
Ripple Community Inc. wants to convert the former Emmanuel United Church of Christ at 1547 W. Chew St. into a dozen apartments, while also putting a community center, its office and three medical respite rooms in the building.
Those respite rooms were deemed temporary shelters by the city’s zoning office, a designation that drew scores of residents to zoning meetings in February and March.
The zoning board issued its ruling Monday, about four weeks after residents made their case against Ripple’s plans.
Allentown Zoning Hearing Board approved 75% of the proposal — granting Ripple authorization to build a dozen apartments, open its offices and house medical respite rooms there, but denied Ripple Community Inc.’s request for zoning relief to open a community center.Allentown Zoning Hearing Board action
Board member Scott Unger joined Alan Salinger to approve 75% of the proposal — granting Ripple authorization to build a dozen apartments, open its offices and house medical respite rooms there.
But Unger sided with Trent Sear to deny Ripple’s request for zoning relief to open a community center.
Unger said he saw the “value” of Ripple’s community-center plans but struggled to find a “legal basis” to approve it.
Approving the community center — a more intensive use of the building — likely would have caused issues that could’ve put the other approvals in jeopardy — such as a lack of parking, Unger said.
Ripple to 'evaluate options': Leader
Ripple Executive Director Sherri Binder said she was “grateful” that zoners approved most of her organization’s requests but “disappointed” the community center was denied.
“Our community always will be at the very center of our work and our mission,” Binder said.
She said the community center was an "extraordinary opportunity to address ... the evolving needs in our community.”
“It's no secret that this process has been challenging on a variety of fronts."Ripple Executive Director Sherri Binder
Ripple planned to move all its operation from its current facility at 1335 Linden St. to the new location. But Monday’s partial denial means that move is far from finalized.
Binder said she will “have to revisit” those plans with Ripple’s board while working to “evaluate what our options” are regarding the zoning ruling.
“It's no secret that this process has been challenging on a variety of fronts,” Binder said of the zoning process.
Ripple acquired the former Emmanuel United Church of Christ last summer through “an extraordinary gift” from the parish, Binder has said.
If Ripple moves forward with the conversion project as approved Monday, several floors would be built inside the church’s sanctuary to create space for 12 apartments for families with “very low” and “extremely low” incomes.
The top floor would be used for Ripple’s offices, while Valley Health Partners' Street Medicine Team would run three medical respite rooms in the complex.
It’s unclear what would fill the first floor, as that’s where Ripple planned to put its community center.
