The Allentown Page
Allegiant Home Inspections serves Allentown PA
If you are considering moving to Allentown PA, below you will find background, history and information dealing with home inspections issues in Allentown Pennsylvania. Our Home Inspectors are local; they are born and raised in the Lehigh Valley and have a passion for not only the area, but also the historic structures we can all enjoy.
Downtown Allentown, PA
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently the fastest growing city in Pennsylvania. It is also the county seat of Lehigh County.
Commercial airline service to and from the city is available through Lehigh Valley International Airport. General aviation and charter service is offered by LVIA and Allentown Queen City Municipal Airport
The city is connected to the Interstate Highway System by Interstate 78 and Interstate 476, the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which provide access connections to the major urban areas of other Northeastern United States urban areas. Also U.S. Route 22, the Lehigh Valley Thruway, provides a limited access east-west highway connection to the Interstate Highway System to the northern parts of the city. Allentown is a two-time winner of the All-America City Award.
Two four-year colleges, Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College, are located in Allentown. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, a very popular amusement park, is located just outside of the city.
Neighborhoods of Allentown
PP&L Building at Night Located in Center City Allentown PA
Built between 1926-1928. This classic Art-Deco skyscraper was designed by architect Harvey Corbett (1873-1954) of the firm of Helme & Corbett. A pioneer in skyscraper design, Corbett was one of several architects who planned Rockefeller Center in the 1930s.
Base of the Center Square “Soldiers & Sailors” Monument Center City Allentown
The focal point of the community as it was conceived by William Allen in 1762 In the not-too-distant past is Center Sq on Hamilton St. The "Soldiers & Sailors Monument" in Allentown's Centre Square, which was dedicated in 1899 in honor of the Pennsylvania Volunteers' 47th Regiment in support of the Union in the American Civil War.
In days gone by clothing stores were located on each corner. Today, banks have established themselves in the buildings making the Square the financial heart of Allentown. Just to the right of First Trust, on 7th Street, is a maroon brick, Art-Deco style building, the former Dime Savings Bank and Trust Company, which opened in 1929 only to close in the Great Depression. It was recently bought and is being renovated for business use & loft apartments and condos which our home inspectors will be happy to make sure are in good condition before you purchase your new home.
Center City Allentown PA, which includes the downtown area and the 7th Street retail and residential corridor, is the city's central business district and the heart of the city of Allentown. We have performed home inspections on all types of homes in the area from Brownstones to Condos, Row Homes to Single Family dwellings our inspectors have experience with all of the local architecture in the Lehigh Valley. Allentown's fastest growing commercial corridor which serves as the primary gateway to the city with improved appearance in the last several years through new street lights, planters and waste receptacles. Neighborhood service establishments and family-owned ethnic restaurants dominate business on 7th Street. A small colony of artists have begun to settle in this area of Allentown. 7th Street revitalization is organized by local volunteer citizen committees through a Main Street Program.
DownTown Allentown PA is where the business district is located. It is home to several large employers such as PPL and The Morning Call and is host to city, county, and federal government centers. Small businesses and several prominent restaurants and nightclubs add to the charm of the old city. These establishments include Robato of Tokyo, The Bay Leaf, the Allentown Brew Works, the Sterling just to name a few. An ongoing effort to revitalize this area is progressing partially through the introduction of high-end loft apartments, condos and townhomes which our Home Inspectors are only to happy to evaluate for you before making a real estate purchase. The area is being helped along by continuing supporting efforts from the commonwealth of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (of which Allegiant Home Inspections is a proud member).
The East Side refers to the residential suburbs of Allentown. A mixture of row homes and lovely single family dwellings. The area includes; Dutch Hill, East Allentown, Midway Manor, Overlook Park and Rittersville. Allegiant Home Inspections has Home Inspectors familiar with the neighborhood which is reflected in the comprehensive reports we provide.
The Old Allentown Historic District was laid out in the original plans for Allentown in 1762 and today contains a mixture of housing styles including; Federal, Italianate, Eastlake, Colonial and Old Victorian. Some very old historic homes can be found here and Allegiant’s Home Inspectors have experience with evaluating these unique historic buildings.
The South Side is a mixture of public housing to wood lots with older homes. The south side consists of several different neighbor hoods including; Alton Park, Cumberland Gardens, Lehigh Parkway and Mountain View.
The Waterfront is currently undergoing a plan to redevelop the former site of Lehigh Structural Steel. The plan which should be completed in 2012 will include a walking path along the Lehigh River, an amphithearter, a marina, resturants, a hotel along with townhouses and condominums which our Home Inspectors will be happy to work up reports for.
West End a very diverse neighborhood boasting 100s of small business. Which includes everything from fine dining to street side cafes, Theatres to Art Galleries and some truly lovely historic homes. The neighborhoods consist of; Hamilton Park, Trexler
History
The original plan for the town laid out in 1762 by William Allen, now rest in the archives of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, comprised forty-two city blocks and consisted of 756 lots, mostly 60 feet (18 m) in width and 230 feet (70 m) in depth. The town was located between present-day Fourth and Tenth Streets, and Union and Liberty Streets. Many streets on the original plan were named for Allen's children: Margaret (present-day Fifth Street), William (now Sixth), James (now Eighth), Ann (now Ninth) and John (now Walnut). Allen Street (now Seventh) was named for Allen himself, and was the main thoroughfare. Hamilton Street was named for James Hamilton. Gordon Street was named for Sir Patrick Gordon, Deputy Governor of Colonial Pennsylvania from 1726-1736. Chew Street was named for Benjamin Chew, and Turner Street was named for Allen's business partner, Joseph Turner.
Trout Hall, built in 1770 by James Allen (son of Allentown founder William Allen), is the oldest house in Allentown. From 1867 to 1905, it served as the home of Muhlenberg College.
American Industrial Revolution
Prior to the 1830s, Allentown was a small town with only local markets. The arrival of the Lehigh Canal, however, expanded the city's commerce and industrial capacity greatly. With this, the town underwent significant industrialization, ultimately becoming a major center for heavy industry and manufacturing. While Allentown was not as large as neighboring Bethlehem at the time, the local iron industry — which included the Allentown Iron Company (established 1846) and the Allentown Rolling Mills (established 1860) — employed the majority of Allentown's workforce. Railroads, such as the Lehigh Valley Railroad, were vital to the movement of raw materials and finished goods, and employed a significant workforce during this time. This period of rapid economic growth in the region was halted by two events, the Panic of 1873 and the Long Depression.
In addition to the iron and railroad industries, Allentown also had a strong tradition in the brewing of beer and was home to several notable breweries, including the Horlacher Brewery (founded 1897, closed 1978), the Neuweiler Brewery (founded 1875, closed 1968) and Schaefer Beer, whose brewery was later sold to Guinness.
The loss of the textile trades and the fall of Bethlehem steel lead to the area being label as declining the reputation being fueled by Billy Joel’s single “Allentown” which told the stories of the fall of industry. However Billy might be surprised if he returns to the Lehigh Valley and sees what it looks like today. Perhaps he might consider writing a second song with a bit more of an upbeat view to reflect the current state of Allentown.
Architecture
Allentown's Center City neighborhoods mainly consist of a variety of Victorian and Federal rowhomes. The stately homes around West Park are mostly Victorian and Craftsman. The impressive homes on the city's tree-lined streets in the West End were mostly built in the 1920s and 40's. Houses in the City's South Side and East Side are mixture of styles and are generally twins and single family homes built from the 1940s through the 1960s with century old Victorians in the mix. Allentown also has loft apartments in converted mills and historic brick manufacturing buildings and modern and historic high-rise apartment buildings. It takes a trained eyed to find the gems from the money pits. Allegiant Home Inspections will give you the edge to find the classic house of your dreams in Lehigh Valley.
There are three historic districts in Allentown, Old Allentown, the Old Fairgrounds and West Park neighborhoods. Old Allentown and Old Fairgrounds are Center City neighborhoods that hold a joint house tour organized by Old Allentown Preservation Association (OAPA) once a year in September. The West Park neighborhood also offers a tour of this district's larger Victorian and Craftsman-style homes.
Arts and Entertainment
The Allentown Symphony Orchestra performs at Allentown Symphony Hall, located on North Sixth Street in center city. The city also has a musical heritage of civilian concert bands, and is home to the Allentown Band, the oldest civilian concert band in the United States. The Allentown Band, Marine Band of Allentown, Municipal Band of Allentown and the Pioneer Band of Allentown all regularly perform at the bandshell in the city's West Park.
The city houses a collection of public sculptures, including the DaVinci Horse, located on 5th Street. This sculpture is one of three in the world.
The Allentown Art Museum, located on North Fifth Street in Center City, is home to a collection of more than 13,000 pieces of art, along with an associated library. The Baum School of Art, located in downtown Allentown at 5th and Linden Streets, offers credit and non-credit classes in painting, drawing, ceramics, fashion design, jewelry making and more.
Cuisine
Vestiges of Allentown's Pennsylvania German heritage remain present in its cuisine, and foodstuffs such as scrapple, chow-chow, Lebanon bologna, cole slaw and apple butter are often found offered in local diners and the Allentown Farmer's Market. Shoofly pie, birch beer, and funnel cakes are regularly found at local fairs. Several local churches make and sell fastnachts as a fundraiser for Fastnacht Day, the day before the start of Lent.
Ethnic food types represented include Colombian, Dominican, Mexican, Thai, Puerto Rican, West Indian, Japanese, Italian, Lebanese and Syrian. Yocco's Hot Dogs, a regionally well-known hot dog and cheesesteak establishment with six area locations, was founded in 1922 by Theodore Iacocca, uncle of Lee Iacocca. In addition, A-Treat, a regionally-popular brand of carbonated soft drinks, has been manufactured in Allentown since 1918.
Sports
Allentown has a history in the sport of professional baseball that dates back to 1884. In 2008, Allentown unveiled Coca-Cola Park, a $50.25 million, 8,100-seat stadium.
The stadium was constructed in east-side Allentown to serve as the home field for the Philadelphia Phillies' AAA-level Minor League baseball team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The IronPigs, a member of the International League, are the first Major League-affiliated club to play in the city since 1960.
Education
Public schools
The City of Allentown is served by the Allentown School District, which is the fourth largest school district in Pennsylvania, with 18,118 students. The city maintains two public high schools for grades 9-12, William Allen High School, which serves students from the southern and western parts of the city, and Louis E. Dieruff High School, which serves students from the eastern and northern parts. Each of these Allentown area high schools competes athletically in the Lehigh Valley Conference. Both schools play their home football games at J. Birney Crum Stadium.
Allentown School District's four middle schools, for grades 6-8, include: Francis D. Raub Middle School, Harrison-Morton Middle School, South Mountain Middle School and Trexler Middle School. The city is served by 16 elementary schools, for kindergarten through fifth grade, including: Central, Cleveland, Hiram W. Dodd, Jackson, Jefferson, Lehigh Parkway, Lincoln, McKinley, Midway Manor, Mosser, Muhlenberg, Ritter, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Union Terrace and Washington. The Roberto Clemente Charter School, also located in the Allentown School District, is a Title I charter school which provides educational services to mainly Hispanic students in grades 6 through 12.
The Allentown School District is currently undertaking a 10 year, $120 million facilities improvement plan. The plan includes renovation of all 23 schools in the district. Most of the schools to be renovated will be expanded. Two additional elementary schools and a fifth middle school are expected to be built.
Private schools
Allentown has two parochial high schools, Allentown Central Catholic High School and Lehigh Valley Christian High School, though both schools draw students from both Allentown and the city's suburbs. Other Allentown-based parochial schools (serving grades K-8) include: Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena School, Holy Spirit School, Lehigh Christian Academy, Mercy Special Learning Center, Our Lady Help of Christians School, Sacred Heart School, Saint Francis of Assisi School, Saint Paul School, and Saint Thomas More School. Parochial schools in Allentown are operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown. The Grace Montessori School is a pre-school and early elementary Montessori school run as an outreach of Grace Episcopal Church. The Swain School, a non-sectarian private school founded in 1929, is also located in Allentown.
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is one of two four-year colleges located in Allentown.
Two four-year colleges are located in Allentown: Cedar Crest College and Muhlenberg College. A satellite campus of Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC), a comprehensive community college which offers two and four year degree programs, continuing education and industry training, is located in Center City Allentown.
Parks and Recreaction
Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom's Steel Force and Thunderhawk roller coasters, just outside Allentown. Steel Force opened in 1997 as the tallest and fastest roller coaster on the East Coast of the United States, with a first drop of 205 feet and a top speed of 75 miles per hour.
City parks
The City of Allentown has one of the best park systems in the country. Much of the city's park system can be attributed to the efforts of industrialist Harry Clay Trexler. Inspired by the City Beautiful movement in the early 1900s, Trexler helped create West Park, a 6.59-acre park in what was then a community trash pit and sandlot baseball field in an upscale area of the city. The park, which opened in 1909, features a bandshell, designed by noted Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer, which has long been home to the Allentown Band and other community bands. Trexler also facilitated the development of Trexler Park, Cedar Parkway, Allentown Municipal Golf Course and the Trout Nursery in Lehigh Parkway. Trexler was also responsible for the development of the Trexler Trust, which to this day continues to provide private funding for the maintenance and development of Allentown's park system.
City parks in Allentown include Bicentennial Park (4,600 seat mini-stadium built for sporting events), Cedar Creek Parkway (127 acres, including Lake Muhlenberg, Cedar Beach and the Malcolm W. Gross Memorial Rose Garden), East Side Reservoir (15 acres), Kimmets Lock Park (5 acres), Lehigh Canal Park (55 acres), Lehigh Parkway (999 acres), Old Allentown Cemetery (4 acres), Jordan Park, South Mountain Reservoir (157 acres), Trexler Memorial Park (134 acres), Trout Creek Parkway (100 acres), Joe Daddona Park (19 acres) and West Park (6.59 acres).
Radon in Allentown and Lehigh County
Radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer, is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil and rock and gets into the air you breathe. It moves through the ground and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation where it can accumulate to unsafe levels. Because it is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. Have Allegiant Home Inspections add a radon test to your Home Inspection. Our Home Inspectors are certified with the PA DEP to conduct radon test. If your test show you are at risk, most times a mitigation system can be negotiated into the price of your home at closing.
