Developer of Allentown's PPL Building has 'solutions' for Christmas light display

Nov 13, 2024

The developer converting the PPL Building into a mixed-use residential and commercial development presented additional details to the Allentown Planning Commission on what is planned for the 24-story art deco building at Ninth and Hamilton streets.

That includes a possible future for the annual Christmas light display.

Nicholas Dye from Scranton-based D&D Realty Group said during Tuesday’s meeting that the skyscraper will have 112 market-rate apartments with one or two bedrooms. Amenities will include a fitness center, a golf simulator and 201 tenant parking spaces in an attached garage that will be leased through the Allentown Parking Authority.

“We’re excited to take such an iconic building in the Lehigh Valley and really put our spin on it,” Dye said.

The commission voted to give a positive recommendation to the project, which will go before the city’s Zoning Hearing Board. However, there were some questions.

Commission Chair Christian Brown wanted to know what will happen to the Christmas light display. Since the 1930s, the building has illuminated its windows bright green and red in the unmistakable shape of a Christmas tree on the building’s east-facing side, and a yellow-and-red candle light display on the building’s west-facing side.

“We are absolutely sensitive to that, so we are working on two different solutions,” Dye said. “I think that we can all agree that having the apartments time up and turn on their lights is obviously not practical, but we are very sensitive to it. We have two ideas, none that I’m ready to roll out today. I can tell you that everybody will be pleased with either of them. We want to be good neighbors.”

The first two floors will feature a restaurant and other commercial uses, while the third through 20th floors will each have six apartments. The 21st and 22nd floors will have two penthouse units each.

“Really, all of the apartments have great views,” Dye said, “but obviously, the higher you go, the better the view.”

The apartments will range from 750 to 2,000 square feet, with high ceilings, oversized windows, spa-like bathrooms and stainless steel appliances. Each apartment will also have its own washer and dryer.

The 23rd floor will be a mechanical room, while the 24th floor will house the elevator pulley system.

Besides asking about the holiday lights, the commission recommended considering streetscape improvements on Ninth Street, a public viewing area on the 22nd floor and bike storage for tenants.

D&D Realty Group announced in March that it purchased the building for $9 million. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission unanimously approved the sale in July.

PPL announced in June 2023 that it was leaving its headquarters and has since moved hundreds of employees to offices at Two City Center, 645 Hamilton St., about two blocks away.