Page 10 - Discover Lehigh Valley Official Visitors Guide 2015
P. 10
THE COVER Q: What is your connection to Lehigh Valley?
Allentown:A City I was born and raised here. I’m a graduate of Salisbury
High School in Allentown and Lafayette College in
Creating Easton, and I live in Lehigh Valley today.
New History Q: Why did you choose to develop Allentown in particular?
Allentown has long been a city rich I actually bought my first building in downtown
in culture, tradition, and history. Allentown in 1998. Many years later when our state
Founded in 1762 by William Allen, senator, Pat Browne, wrote the Neighborhood
the city is known for its award- Improvement Zone (NIZ) legislation to spur economic
winning parks system, the hiding of development downtown, I knew I had a once-in-a-
the Liberty Bell from the British lifetime opportunity to help revitalize my hometown.
from 1777 to 1778, and having the The NIZ allows us to develop on a scale and at a pace we
oldest civilian concert band in the wouldn’t be able to without it.
country, among several other
accomplishments. Q: There are multiple phases to this project. When will
they be totally completed?
With a town so steeped in traditions,
dealing with change can sometimes The short answer is: City Center will continue to
be a challenge for the people who develop Class A office space, residences, and retail and
live and work in the community, and restaurants downtown to meet the demand, which is
an exciting new endeavor for others. currently high.
These are exactly the times
Allentown is faced with today ... an Q: One City Center is home to Lehigh Valley Health
ever-changing landscape that will Network’s Sports Medicine & Fitness Center. The
create new history. facility is open to the public for use as a gym and
offers the latest in technologies. It also serves as a
Change of an entire downtown takes physical therapy location for sports-related issues.
more than vision. Meet City Center
Investment Corporation (CCIC), the Why was it important to include a health-oriented
development company poised to facility attached to PPL Center? Does having a health
make it happen. Formed in 2011, this and fitness center say something about the overall aim
award-winning team of individuals of the City Center project?
is on a mission to change the
perceptions of this city and return it Absolutely. Healthy communities should have state-of-
to its former heyday, tenfold. the-art healthcare facilities like LVHN’s. And the tie-in to
the Phantoms is obvious – LVHN is the official healthcare
For instance, when you look at the provider for the team. Beyond that, LVHN is the region’s
brand-new PPL Center in downtown top employer and a highly respected organization. Its
Allentown, you may know that it is early commitment to the revitalization of downtown
the home of the Lehigh Valley Allentown was a major coup for the project.
Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the
NHL Philadelphia Flyers. But, did you Q: STRATA Flats at Four City Center is under
know that it is actually part of a construction at the present time. These are going to
much larger rebirth? be some of the finest luxury living apartments located
directly across from PPL Center. The building will offer
J.B. Reilly is the Founder and parking, concierge service, 24/7 monitored surveillance
President of CCIC. His visionary and controlled access, as well as a fitness center and
skills are to be highly commended. yoga room. It will have Wi-Fi, a rooftop party deck and
We had the chance to ask him a few lounge, and it will be pet friendly. How does having
questions about the overall new full-time residents living in Allentown meet with
transformation project and a little the aim of the City Center projects? Do you feel that
bit about his personal life. downtown Allentown will become a sought after place
Here are his responses. to live, and why?
8 2015 Official Visitors Guide of Lehigh Valley, Pa.
Allentown:A City I was born and raised here. I’m a graduate of Salisbury
High School in Allentown and Lafayette College in
Creating Easton, and I live in Lehigh Valley today.
New History Q: Why did you choose to develop Allentown in particular?
Allentown has long been a city rich I actually bought my first building in downtown
in culture, tradition, and history. Allentown in 1998. Many years later when our state
Founded in 1762 by William Allen, senator, Pat Browne, wrote the Neighborhood
the city is known for its award- Improvement Zone (NIZ) legislation to spur economic
winning parks system, the hiding of development downtown, I knew I had a once-in-a-
the Liberty Bell from the British lifetime opportunity to help revitalize my hometown.
from 1777 to 1778, and having the The NIZ allows us to develop on a scale and at a pace we
oldest civilian concert band in the wouldn’t be able to without it.
country, among several other
accomplishments. Q: There are multiple phases to this project. When will
they be totally completed?
With a town so steeped in traditions,
dealing with change can sometimes The short answer is: City Center will continue to
be a challenge for the people who develop Class A office space, residences, and retail and
live and work in the community, and restaurants downtown to meet the demand, which is
an exciting new endeavor for others. currently high.
These are exactly the times
Allentown is faced with today ... an Q: One City Center is home to Lehigh Valley Health
ever-changing landscape that will Network’s Sports Medicine & Fitness Center. The
create new history. facility is open to the public for use as a gym and
offers the latest in technologies. It also serves as a
Change of an entire downtown takes physical therapy location for sports-related issues.
more than vision. Meet City Center
Investment Corporation (CCIC), the Why was it important to include a health-oriented
development company poised to facility attached to PPL Center? Does having a health
make it happen. Formed in 2011, this and fitness center say something about the overall aim
award-winning team of individuals of the City Center project?
is on a mission to change the
perceptions of this city and return it Absolutely. Healthy communities should have state-of-
to its former heyday, tenfold. the-art healthcare facilities like LVHN’s. And the tie-in to
the Phantoms is obvious – LVHN is the official healthcare
For instance, when you look at the provider for the team. Beyond that, LVHN is the region’s
brand-new PPL Center in downtown top employer and a highly respected organization. Its
Allentown, you may know that it is early commitment to the revitalization of downtown
the home of the Lehigh Valley Allentown was a major coup for the project.
Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the
NHL Philadelphia Flyers. But, did you Q: STRATA Flats at Four City Center is under
know that it is actually part of a construction at the present time. These are going to
much larger rebirth? be some of the finest luxury living apartments located
directly across from PPL Center. The building will offer
J.B. Reilly is the Founder and parking, concierge service, 24/7 monitored surveillance
President of CCIC. His visionary and controlled access, as well as a fitness center and
skills are to be highly commended. yoga room. It will have Wi-Fi, a rooftop party deck and
We had the chance to ask him a few lounge, and it will be pet friendly. How does having
questions about the overall new full-time residents living in Allentown meet with
transformation project and a little the aim of the City Center projects? Do you feel that
bit about his personal life. downtown Allentown will become a sought after place
Here are his responses. to live, and why?
8 2015 Official Visitors Guide of Lehigh Valley, Pa.
