Almost 45 years after it welcomed residents to Cumberland Gardens, the Allentown Housing Authority (AHA) rededicated the city’s largest public housing community to celebrate the completion of the award-winning comprehensive renovation of 200 apartments.

Those attending the Oct. 12 event included Congressman Charles W. Dent (R-15), representatives from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, State Sen. Patrick M. Browne (R-16), State Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-22), Allentown City Council members, the AHA Board of Commissioners and community residents.

“The overall goal was to modernize Cumberland Gardens,” said AHA Executive Director Daniel R. Farrell. “This community was built in the 1970s. It’s now more than 40 years old and we wanted to make it viable for another 40 years.”

The $45-million project included rehabilitation of the properties, improved accessibility for residents and changes to outdoor areas to increase green space and make the community more pedestrian-friendly.

“This is a great day for the residents of Cumberland Gardens and for the Allentown Housing Authority,” said Dent. “The AHA’s efforts here are a textbook example of how to accomplish an outstanding revitalization and renewal process for public housing. This project stands as a point of pride for the City of Allentown.”

The project, which received an Award of Merit from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, is the largest AHA project since the construction of Overlook Park on the site of Hanover Acres-Riverview Terrace, Allentown.

“The improvements to Cumberland Gardens ensure that Allentown continues to provide affordable housing in an environment that inspires residents to achieve a better life,” said Pawlowski.

“In addition to these renovations, the housing authority is an ally in making our neighborhoods safe by partnering with the city on surveillance cameras and providing additional police patrols to reduce crime,” Pawlowski said.

Unlike Overlook Park, the Cumberland Gardens project did not involve demolition of existing apartments. Instead, units were rebuilt.

The three-phase project reduced the number of bedrooms in many of the apartments to provide adequate size quarters for modern living needs. In addition, each unit received new doors and windows, structural improvements, replacement of floors, trim, fixtures and siding and interior wall repairs.

The overhaul began in 2010. In October 2012, AHA celebrated the completion of the first phase of the project, which involved 74 units.

The first phase was funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, AHA and City of Allentown funds.

The second and third phases were financed through Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, City of Allentown and AHA funds.

Construction and general contracting was provided by Harkins Builders and Pennrose Properties Inc. of Philadelphia, which partnered with AHA on the reconstruction of Overlook Park in east Allentown. Fulton Financial of Lancaster provided tax credit equity funding to the project.