Bohler Moves Affordable Housing Forward in Allentown 

An architectural rendering of affordable housing at Walnut Square

Bohler continues to play a pivotal role in supporting Cortex Residential’s efforts to bring affordable housing to downtown Allentown, providing site civil engineering design, due diligence, and permitting for two significant projects. 

The zoning board has recently granted an exemption for Urban Place, a 33-unit apartment building designated as affordable housing for individuals earning 20%-60% of the area median income. Bohler Lehigh Valley team represented the developer, siting minimal safety risks due to the signalized intersection and deep sidewalks. 

“The entire intersection is signalized,” stated Bohler Project Manager Don Peters. “If you are driving down Seventh Street and making a left onto Walnut Street, there would be no traffic coming in an easterly direction on Walnut Street.” 

Urban Place will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, along with amenities such as a staffed lobby, a community room with supportive services, bike storage, and on-site laundry. Construction could begin in 2026, pending further approvals and tax credit financing. 

Bohler also provided services for Walnut Square, a similar Cortex Residential project offering 38 affordable housing units at the intersection of Walnut and Eighth Streets. Construction on Walnut Square is set to begin early next year. 

Cortex Residential, described by co-founder Jonathan Strauss as a “mission-driven” for-profit organization, is addressing the region’s growing need for affordable housing, underscoring the importance of density and future-focused planning: 

“You have one opportunity to develop a site like this every 100 years. Once you put a building here, that’s it, so if you can build more density planning for the future, that’s ultimately the goal, and I think it’s good for everybody.” 

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