At its Regular Meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, the Allentown School District School Board of Directors approved the purchase of a 16.7-acre tract of improved land from City Center Group to build a new comprehensive K-8 campus at the planned Northridge development in East Allentown.
“We are thrilled to take the next step in the process in order to address the growing needs of our learning community on the East Side of Allentown, and provide students, educators, and families with a state-of-the-art learning environment,” said Dr. Carol D. Birks, Allentown School District’s Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer. “As we prioritize creating pathways for tomorrow and empowering families as outlined in our Strategic Plan, investing in modern, innovative learning environments, ensures that every student has the space, resources, and support to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally."
Facing continued increasing enrollment, the District worked with local real estate developer City Center Group to find a new school campus location, deciding on the site of the former Allentown State Hospital, where City Center is preparing to build a master-planned community called Northridge. As a part of this agreement, City Center will be responsible for several on-site property improvements which include but are not limited to, the construction of a signalized intersection and traffic pattern modifications at the intersection of Hanover Avenue & Northridge Drive, prioritizing pedestrian safety. City Center will aid in the extension of utilities, including electric conduit, telecommunication conduit, water lines, sanitary sewer line, and trenching for natural gas, and secure design, engineering, and legal services necessary to secure zoning and State and Local land use approvals and permits.
The School Board of Directors had previously approved the schematic design of the K-8 school in November 2024, which included positive aspects of the site and project justification. The approved design included a 195,000 square foot educational space which will accommodate approximately 1,200 students, a library, multipurpose room, playing fields, and green space.