The sale of a parcel of land from Lehigh County to Urban Place Apartments, LP provided the background of a discussion on affordable housing among Lehigh County Board of Commissioners during the July 10 meeting.

Located at 43-47 S. Seventh St., the property was sold for $900,000, contingent on Urban Place being able to secure low-income housing tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to build an apartment building.

The proposed building has 65 units with one, two or three bedrooms. Commissioner April Reddick asked for clarification on numbers for the different styles of apartments.

“We need more family-based apartments,” Reddick pointed out, referring to three-bedroom units.

She wants to ensure this meets the needs of affordable housing for Allentown.

To avoid confusion on two distinct issues, Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi explained affordable housing has a credit dimension to it, while low-income housing is like a student looking for something within a low-income budget.

Commissioner Chair Geoff Brace explained Jonathan Strauss, of Urban Place Apartments, will attend the July 24 meeting to answer questions ranging from the height of the building to parking spaces.

Brace also reminded the board both the sale and the final building plans are contingent on receiving low-housing tax credits and any attached parameters. Allentown zoning regulations will also come into play.

In other business, three bills were introduced related to wages: a bill approving temporary wage increases for certain employees at the 911 Center and another bill for temporary wage increases for the department of corrections. Both extensions are through Jan. 31, 2025. A third bill is for the extension of a flat-rate contingency staffing program for certain employees at Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation until Jan. 31, 2025.

All three bills will be subject to a final vote July 24.

Lastly, Barbara (Bobbie) L. Rudolph was appointed to the Aging and Adult Services Advisory Board until Dec. 31.