Page 32 - Indulge December/January 2016
P. 32
PROGRAM
AIMS TO BOOST
HOMEOWNERSHIP
IN DOWNTOWN
ALLENTOWN
By Patrick O’Donnell
32 | INDULGE • DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 Over the past seven employees of participating companies business prosperity in downtown
years, businesses have to buy — or, in a few cases, rent Allentown carries over into the
flocked to Allentown, drawn by a — homes in designated downtown residential aspects of the town.”
renaissance that’s reshaped the neighborhoods. As a condition
very face of the downtown. of the program, the buyer must Bernhard says DACDI shaped
reside in the home for five years. the program — which kicked off
It’s been a heady time, with a crop in July — after other successful
of new restaurants, shops, bars and “There’s a total of 14 employers models, including one used by
boutiques bringing a sophistication who are involved,” says DACDI Johns Hopkins University and the
the city hasn’t enjoyed in decades. Executive Director Donald Bernhard. Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health
“Some of them are companies who System. Funding comes from the
Now those businesses are looking are funding their employees only; DACDI member organizations.
to bring — and keep — employees some of them have agreed to fund
and their families downtown, too. other employees — police, teachers, “Each employer can tailor
employees at Muhlenberg and Cedar their program a bit,” Bernhard
The Live Near Your Work program, Crest colleges. Their mission is as says, “but typically it is a $10,000
crafted by the Downtown Allentown simple as ensuring the newfound forgivable loan.” If the homebuyer
Community Development Initiative stays for the full five years, the
(DACDI), offers incentives to
AIMS TO BOOST
HOMEOWNERSHIP
IN DOWNTOWN
ALLENTOWN
By Patrick O’Donnell
32 | INDULGE • DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016 Over the past seven employees of participating companies business prosperity in downtown
years, businesses have to buy — or, in a few cases, rent Allentown carries over into the
flocked to Allentown, drawn by a — homes in designated downtown residential aspects of the town.”
renaissance that’s reshaped the neighborhoods. As a condition
very face of the downtown. of the program, the buyer must Bernhard says DACDI shaped
reside in the home for five years. the program — which kicked off
It’s been a heady time, with a crop in July — after other successful
of new restaurants, shops, bars and “There’s a total of 14 employers models, including one used by
boutiques bringing a sophistication who are involved,” says DACDI Johns Hopkins University and the
the city hasn’t enjoyed in decades. Executive Director Donald Bernhard. Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health
“Some of them are companies who System. Funding comes from the
Now those businesses are looking are funding their employees only; DACDI member organizations.
to bring — and keep — employees some of them have agreed to fund
and their families downtown, too. other employees — police, teachers, “Each employer can tailor
employees at Muhlenberg and Cedar their program a bit,” Bernhard
The Live Near Your Work program, Crest colleges. Their mission is as says, “but typically it is a $10,000
crafted by the Downtown Allentown simple as ensuring the newfound forgivable loan.” If the homebuyer
Community Development Initiative stays for the full five years, the
(DACDI), offers incentives to
