Page 11 - Discover Lehigh Valley Official Visitors Guide 2015
P. 11
ee years ago when we launched the development the neighborhood feel that makes Allentown so
City Center Lehigh Valley, we chose the tagline “Live. charming. The hotel will feature 170 guest rooms with
Work. Play.” We knew that in order to help revitalize upscale and trendy motifs and a fabulous restaurant,
the downtown, we needed to create new opportunities The Dime, above the entrance to PPL Center.
for each of those pieces of city life. Since then, we’ve
built two office towers that are now fully occupied Q: The PPL Center appears to be the hub of the city’s
with a third on the way. More recently, we’ve created transformation. The arena is home to the Lehigh
opportunities for play, with The Hamilton Kitchen & Valley Phantoms, who are the AHL affiliate of the NHL
Bar, Roar Social House and Tony Luke’s. And now Philadelphia Flyers. The arena will be used for many
we’re introducing STRATA to the neighborhood and other things besides hockey though. Can you tell us
creating a new opportunity for people to live downtown. what else the public can look forward to?
The project has been very well received – people are
excited to live in a stylish building in the center of the PPL Center will offer something for everyone. It is
excitement downtown. planning to host more than 140 events per year, including
concerts, trade shows, youth sports, high school and
Q: Two City Center is located across the street from collegiate events, conferences, and graduations. PPL
the arena. This 11-story building offers The Hamilton Center will also offer family programs like Disney on Ice,
Kitchen & Bar and office space with tenants that Cirque du Soleil, and the Harlem Globetrotters. The arena
include National Penn Bancshares’ headquarters, seats more than 8,500 people for hockey and more than
Buckno Lisicky & Company, Cenduit, Duggan & 10,000 for concerts and other events.
Marcon, and City Center Investment. Is there still space
available for lease within the building? Q: There are all kinds of new restaurants popping up
around town such as Chickie’s & Pete’s, Tim Hortons
Two City Center is fully leased, as is One City Center. There Café, Crust, Roar Social House, and more. Besides event
is space available in Three City Center, and we will continue nights, do you see people coming into town for dining
to build Class A office space to meet the demand. and shopping purposes?
Q: Coming in spring of 2015 is Three City Center which Yes. In fact, they already are. Our new restaurants Roar
will be a 211,000 sq. ft., seven-story office/retail space Social House and The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar are both
located not far from the arena. Why should companies doing phenomenally well on event nights and non-
be interested in locating their business in downtown event nights. We are looking to launch more restaurants
Allentown? What are the advantages? downtown for every taste and budget.
Our current office tenants tell us they love being Q: One of the biggest concerns that has been voiced
downtown. Everyone is out exploring the streets at since the announcement of this development has been
lunchtime and after work. Not only are they enjoying the potential for parking issues. How has this been
the restaurants and shopping, they are conducting addressed? Have there been any issues so far?
business during chance encounters on the sidewalks,
which doesn’t happen as often in suburban office There are around 5,000 public and private parking
parks. In addition to that, downtown Allentown is spots within three blocks of PPL Center as well as a
easily accessible by major roadways and within driving downtown-wide valet parking program. Some people
distance to several larger metropolitan areas. were concerned, but it’s turned out to be a non-issue.
I think people have been pleasantly surprised by how
Q: The Renaissance® Allentown Hotel is expected to easy it is to get in and out of the downtown and park,
open in January 2015 with direct access to the arena. even on PPL Center event nights.
Part of this 170-room hotel, with over 10,000 square
feet of event space, has sections of the historic Dime Today’s Allentown is much different than its important
Bank built into its architecture. Can you tell us what the past. If you haven’t visited lately, you simply must get
vibe of this building is going to be like? out and explore it for yourself.
Renaissance® Hotels is a high-end lifestyle brand within For more information on the City Center happenings,
the Marriott International portfolio. The Renaissance® visit CityCenterLehighValley.com. Or, for information
Allentown Hotel is the newest and only full-service about Allentown in general, check out AllentownPA.gov.
Marriott within 60 miles. It will offer the amenities and
experiences of a luxury urban hotel without sacrificing
DiscoverLehighValley.com 9
City Center Lehigh Valley, we chose the tagline “Live. charming. The hotel will feature 170 guest rooms with
Work. Play.” We knew that in order to help revitalize upscale and trendy motifs and a fabulous restaurant,
the downtown, we needed to create new opportunities The Dime, above the entrance to PPL Center.
for each of those pieces of city life. Since then, we’ve
built two office towers that are now fully occupied Q: The PPL Center appears to be the hub of the city’s
with a third on the way. More recently, we’ve created transformation. The arena is home to the Lehigh
opportunities for play, with The Hamilton Kitchen & Valley Phantoms, who are the AHL affiliate of the NHL
Bar, Roar Social House and Tony Luke’s. And now Philadelphia Flyers. The arena will be used for many
we’re introducing STRATA to the neighborhood and other things besides hockey though. Can you tell us
creating a new opportunity for people to live downtown. what else the public can look forward to?
The project has been very well received – people are
excited to live in a stylish building in the center of the PPL Center will offer something for everyone. It is
excitement downtown. planning to host more than 140 events per year, including
concerts, trade shows, youth sports, high school and
Q: Two City Center is located across the street from collegiate events, conferences, and graduations. PPL
the arena. This 11-story building offers The Hamilton Center will also offer family programs like Disney on Ice,
Kitchen & Bar and office space with tenants that Cirque du Soleil, and the Harlem Globetrotters. The arena
include National Penn Bancshares’ headquarters, seats more than 8,500 people for hockey and more than
Buckno Lisicky & Company, Cenduit, Duggan & 10,000 for concerts and other events.
Marcon, and City Center Investment. Is there still space
available for lease within the building? Q: There are all kinds of new restaurants popping up
around town such as Chickie’s & Pete’s, Tim Hortons
Two City Center is fully leased, as is One City Center. There Café, Crust, Roar Social House, and more. Besides event
is space available in Three City Center, and we will continue nights, do you see people coming into town for dining
to build Class A office space to meet the demand. and shopping purposes?
Q: Coming in spring of 2015 is Three City Center which Yes. In fact, they already are. Our new restaurants Roar
will be a 211,000 sq. ft., seven-story office/retail space Social House and The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar are both
located not far from the arena. Why should companies doing phenomenally well on event nights and non-
be interested in locating their business in downtown event nights. We are looking to launch more restaurants
Allentown? What are the advantages? downtown for every taste and budget.
Our current office tenants tell us they love being Q: One of the biggest concerns that has been voiced
downtown. Everyone is out exploring the streets at since the announcement of this development has been
lunchtime and after work. Not only are they enjoying the potential for parking issues. How has this been
the restaurants and shopping, they are conducting addressed? Have there been any issues so far?
business during chance encounters on the sidewalks,
which doesn’t happen as often in suburban office There are around 5,000 public and private parking
parks. In addition to that, downtown Allentown is spots within three blocks of PPL Center as well as a
easily accessible by major roadways and within driving downtown-wide valet parking program. Some people
distance to several larger metropolitan areas. were concerned, but it’s turned out to be a non-issue.
I think people have been pleasantly surprised by how
Q: The Renaissance® Allentown Hotel is expected to easy it is to get in and out of the downtown and park,
open in January 2015 with direct access to the arena. even on PPL Center event nights.
Part of this 170-room hotel, with over 10,000 square
feet of event space, has sections of the historic Dime Today’s Allentown is much different than its important
Bank built into its architecture. Can you tell us what the past. If you haven’t visited lately, you simply must get
vibe of this building is going to be like? out and explore it for yourself.
Renaissance® Hotels is a high-end lifestyle brand within For more information on the City Center happenings,
the Marriott International portfolio. The Renaissance® visit CityCenterLehighValley.com. Or, for information
Allentown Hotel is the newest and only full-service about Allentown in general, check out AllentownPA.gov.
Marriott within 60 miles. It will offer the amenities and
experiences of a luxury urban hotel without sacrificing
DiscoverLehighValley.com 9
