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, with the exception of the City of Allentown and the City of Bethlehem which have formed separate redevelopment authorities that operate 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, 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

BLIGHT-TO-BRIGHT INITIATIVE

Blight-To-Bright

Pennsylvania’s Keystone Communities Program was re-designated on 9/3/2024 as The Main Street Matters program. The Blight-To-Bright initiative developed by the Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County (RALC) has submitted its application and is waiting for notice of an award. Three Lehigh County municipalities, Catasauqua Borough, North Whitehall, and Whitehall Townships, have expressed serious interest in participating. These municipalities have been asked to provide matching funds which they have committed, along with funding provided by the RALC, to be used to demolish and/or repair blighted properties identified within those communities.

CATASAUQUA IRON WORKS PROJECT

Catasauqua Iron Works Project

At its December 16, 2024 meeting, Catasauqua Borough Council approved a letter of intent with the preferred developer, VM Development Group. RALC is actively working to continue assisting all parties on the development of this site.

REDEVELOPMENT OF FORMER L.V. DAIRY COOPERATIVE SITE

Demolition of the property on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township has been completed and a Phase II Environmental Study has been received by the owner. RALC provided funding for the completion of this study and is expected to provide financing assistance to the owner for the development of concept drawings for the site.

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).