Allentown Voice – A community-focused journalism lab

Are trees a luxury?

Allentown faces a striking lack of tree equity, or the even distribution of trees. How did this come to be? What is the city doing

Could a riverwalk change how Allentown views the Lehigh?

Urban parks are especially important in a dense, formally industry based city like Allentown, that once lacked easy access to the natural environment, as the

It never rains at Musikfest?

We are seeing increase flooding in the Lehigh Valley, and warehouse development might have something to do with it. By CL

Allentown has a lead problem

Allentown needs to identify all their lead pipes so that they can be replaced. How will this impact you? By Maddie Davidson

Something in the Water

PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have been found in our bodies, in our water, in our soil, in places across the country… including here

Allentown’s Commission to End Chronic Homelessness failed to do so, what can we learn from their mistakes?

Over the past year, the Commission on Homelessness has seen lower attendance rates at each monthly meeting. As Allentown’s city officials struggle to find a

Tiny homes as a solution to homelessness

With more people struggling to find housing in Allentown, we revisit the tiny homes proposal.

Will the Waterfront bring gentrification?

As the waterfront redevelopment takes shape, residents are left wondering how the investment will impact them.

Renters rights

The goal in Allentown is to educate renters about their rights, and to continue to advocate for better rental conditions as well as push for

Preserving Allentown’s past

The complicated journey to get funding for restoration of the historic Americus Hotel property located in the heart of the city's Neighborhood Improvement Zone.

Is rental assistance a permanent solution or just a bandage?

As government rental assistance runs out, can we work on solving the eviction crisis instead of relying on quick and temporary solutions?

Finding hope for LGBTQIA+ youth

While roughly 7% of youth in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ+ they comprise 40% of unhoused youth. Why LGBTQ+ experience higher rates of homelssness often

The hidden homeless

"It’s not always the drama that you see on TV, sometimes it's just as simple as you thought you were coming here to get a

Is the NIZ improving Allentown?

The Neighborhood Improvement Zone, or NIZ, was marketed as a revitalization of Allentown, to reshape the landscape of the city, bring new people in and create

The challenge of seeking shelter in Allentown

What happens when people in Allentown suddenly find themselves in need of housing?

Allentown’s Red Line

Allentown doesn’t have a redlining map, or at least not one that has survived to be examined today. Yet, even without an official red line

How can Allentown improve its public housing system?

Maintaining affordable housing in a city like Allentown with its older buildings and high demand isn't cheap, and the city's public housing authority has long

How COVID unmasked the eviction crisis

As the pandemic brought an increase in unemployment, those who were already struggling to pay their rent found themselves in a precarious situation.

Redlining and the Allentown School District

By Cydney Wilson William Allen High School, once known as Allentown High School, has changed drastically over the past few decades. It has become increasingly

2030 plan incentivizes affordable housing

By Vicki Zandier “Cost-burdened” households and renters make up the vast majority of Allentown. They are struggling to remain in their households due to the

The Waterfront plans to reconnect to Lehigh River

By Dana Bonner Spanning twenty-nine acres on the western banks of the Lehigh River, the Waterfront Development includes plans for apartment-style living, workspaces, and a

When landlords neglect their properties, how can we hold them accountable?

By Shira Holtz The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act (Act 90) was passed by the state of Pennsylvania in 2010 to crack down on

What is the NIZ?

By Carly Giacoio Allentown has been having an identity crisis–a former bustling industrial city, it has been trying to reinvent itself, most notably with a

The evolution of Parkland School District

By Alex Caban-Echevarria The evolution of Parkland High School (PHS) began with a $77 million construction project completed in 1999, the most expensive in the

Local inspectors work in rentals and presales

By Jordan Fisch Many do not know the average day of a local house inspector. With over 27,000 rental units in Allentown, checking each home

Giving old homes new life

By Johnny Veglia June 2022 Allentown’s relationship with housing is complicated. The historic homes and buildings in Allentown have a variety of issues, from mold

The Allentown housing crisis

There isn’t enough housing for the number of people who want to live in Allentown. More importantly, there isn’t enough affordable housing. Read more from

Allentown real estate investor I always knew I wanted to be a realtor; I wanted to put people in homes and invest in myself. I went to Scott White [to obtain my real estate license], which is located in Bethlehem, and because of COVID, I did everything online. I would work my normal job Monday […]

Living in Allentown: Cynthia Mota

"Arriving in Allentown I experienced a community that was filled with diversity and although a difficult move I found a great deal of help and support from those in the community."

Living in Allentown: Andrene Brown

I lived in New York City for most of my life after coming to the United States from Jamaica. I moved to Allentown in order to be closer to my dad. I instantly fell in love with the city and it was a nice change in pace from where I came from.

Living in Allentown: Carolyn Hoffman

"Working with the unsheltered population, which is what I did for six years, you can’t find more authentic, genuine people than individuals who are experiencing homelessness."

Kenny Cruz

Allentown L.E.A.D. coordinator, Real Estate Lab graduate I’m currently a 24-year-old Latino here in Allentown. I graduated from Penn State in May of 2020. I was doing engineering at first, and I would be walking to a class for engineering. But I’d be walking, not motivated, to get to class. Why is everybody else walking […]

Emely Minaya

Demely Deli Grocery “Allentown offers a good medium between city and a comfortable quiet lifestyle. New York is very fast paced, which is also the reason why my parents wanted to move out here. I remember getting here and the streets were so quiet if you would drive around late at like, 9 pm. On […]

Lyell C. Scherline

owner of Jay’s Local “I was born and raised in Allentown and then COVID just brought me back to the area. I have strong roots and I really enjoy the Lehigh Valley so I really wanted to do something good for the community. We have a little bit of everything in Allentown. I feel like […]

Serena Younes

manager, Aladdin Family Restaurant “My family came here in the 70’s. They came here from Syria for a better life. They decided they wanted to open up a restaurant where they can host family and friends, and it started off small with a very small menu, and it just grew from there. A lot of […]

Working in Allentown: Ed Hanna

"These kids need the opportunity and hope to dream big, I think that’s my biggest concern. And the only way that they can do that is through better schools. I think we need to give them more hope that there’s a lot out there that they can achieve and do."

Emily Vaughan

CEO, Vaughan Lawn “I grew up in Allentown. My eldest brother started our company several years ago when he started pulling a lawn mower behind our family’s bike around our neighborhood. Since then, we have been operating from the garage of our home. With the start of the business in 2010, Vaughan Lawn has not […]

The Neighbor Unfavor

The Bargain

The Gold Rush

Living in Allentown

Working in Allentown