The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown "RACA" is soliciting proposals for the Purchase and Development of , in accordance with this Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals shall be made upon proposal forms or letterhead stationery and all references to numbers shall be stated both in writing and figures. The signature shall be an original in long hand, and the completed form shall be without interlineation, alteration or erasure Envelopes shall be closed, sealed and marked, according to Specifications attached hereto RACA does also reserve to itself the right to waive informalities in awarding the proposal which is in the best interest of the authority
Any questions and/or clarifications must be in writing and shall be directed to the person
noted below.
Megan Hart, Executive Director
Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown
Phone: (610) 437-7733
E-mail: Megan.Hart@AllentownRedevelopment.org The subject property consists of approximately .82 acres, it is a flat site that was home to multistory buildings located at the corner of Front and W. Gordon Streets. The site was previously
known at the Ribbon Works. The Multi Story buildings were built to house the old Weilbacher Silk
Mill business. A fire in the Old Mill (East Section) left the building uninhabitable since 1982. The
New Mill (West Section) was vacant and deteriorated significantly without property maintenance
since approximately 2004. The neglected buildings suffered more damage from fire, storm weather
and vandalism resulting in collapsed roofs, deteriorated and missing wall sections, broken windows,
along with missing flooring. These blight issues caused a public safety Hazard and The City of
Allentown called for an emergency demolition of the buildings.
1.1 RACA currently owns approximately .82 acres of land located at 332 N Front Street,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1.2 The property is currently a vacant, undeveloped lot that is secured by fencing.
1.3 The property was a former manufacturing site known as the Ribbonworks. After
years of neglect and a fire that consumed a portion of the structure, the buildings
were demolished in 2008.
1.4 332 Front Street is located minutes away from Route 22 and 78 which connects 3 large
cities: Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. Directly across the street is The Lehigh River
and the New Waterfront Project, this Redevelopment will compliment and "bridge"
Development between the existing residential neighborhood and the new construction.
1.5 The acquisition of the property and demolition project utilized approximately
$775,000 of funds supplied by HUD. As a result, the reuse of the property must
meet one of HUD's national objectives for redevelopment, such as providing
housing for low to moderate income individuals. A deed restriction will be in place
for a minimum of Ten years (10) and will require occupants to meet the 80% of
HUD Income level restrictions and requirements. If a reuse does not meet one of
HUD's national objectives would require, those funds must be paid back in full.
1.6 Property is eligible for the National Registry of Historic Places. Reuse of project will need
to conform to those guidelines. As such the state Historic Preservation Officer along with
PA SHPO, will provide review and comment of the project plans once they are submitted
for approval.
1.7 The property addressed in this RFP is Tax Parcel I.D #640743593607 1.
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