New details emerge about second data center proposal in Allentown
Allentown, PA, is considering two data center proposals, one from J.G. Petrucci and another from Quantm Group. The city recently approved new zoning regulations (Bill 52) that restrict data center locations and strengthen environmental standards, though it's unclear if these will apply to J.G. Petrucci's earlier submitted application. The Allentown Planning Commission is awaiting a revised submission for the Quantm Group project.
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is currently evaluating two separate data center development proposals. Frank Kane, Allentown's managing director, provided new information regarding a second proposal located at 1024 N. Bradford Street, adjacent to Coca-Cola Park. The developer for this 9.5-acre site, marketed as Allentown Flex Center and intended for a 146,000 square-foot data center, is identified as J.G. Petrucci, whose LLC owns the property.
This development comes as the Allentown City Council recently approved Bill 52, which tightens data center zoning regulations. The new ordinance removes data centers as a permitted use in the IG-Industrial General district, restricts them to the Industrial Manufacturing district, mandates a 500-foot buffer from sensitive land uses, and enhances environmental impact standards. A key question remains whether J.G. Petrucci's application, submitted on the same day Bill 52 was approved (August 5), will be subject to these new standards.
Separately, an earlier proposal from Quantm Group to convert a 224,000 square-foot warehouse at 2401 W. Emmaus Avenue into a data center is also under review. The Allentown Planning Commission held a special meeting on this project last month but took no action, awaiting a formal resubmission from Quantm Group that incorporates the commission's feedback for future review. The new regulations of Bill 52 are confirmed not to apply to this first proposal.