Growing demand makes building pitched for Colonial site taller, pricier

The stately building slated for the former Colonial Theater site in Allentown will now stretch two stories taller and cost $13 million more due to increased demand for downtown office space.

Representatives with City Center Investment Corp. on Thursday presented plans to Allentown's Planning Commission for a seven-story office and retail building that would be the next in a growing list of projects from the company that's building the new arena, hotel and combination retail/luxury apartment complex just blocks away.

The Colonial site plans, which were first presented in July when City Center was awarded the property, call for one floor of retail and six stories of office space on the vacant lot bounded by Hamilton Street and the city's Arts Park.

That's two more floors of office space than the company originally proposed. The expansion has been driven by the high demand for City Center's other properties, said Judy Woosnam, a vice president with City Center. All 500,000 square feet of office space in One City Center and Two City Center has been leased, she said.

"So while we're building, we'll build bigger," Woosnam said, laughing.

The additional office space will bring the cost of the Colonial development to about $50 million for the 166,000-square-foot building. Originally it was proposed at $37 million.

The proposal calls for a limestone facade for the first two stories and a paneled composite product on the upper stories, said James Gentile, president of North Star Construction Management. Because the building also faces the Arts Park, the rear facade will mimic the front and have a balcony for employees to enjoy the view. Balconies with plants will occupy all four corners of the top floor.

The lower level will have room for two to four retail tenants, Gentile said. City Center is negotiating with interested tenants for both the office and retail space, Woosnam said.

City Center developer J.B. Reilly said he believes law firms will be interested in renting at the new building because it's essentially next door to the county and federal courthouses.

City Center was one of two developers that submitted proposals for the Colonial property. It beat out a plan presented by a partnership of Alvin H. Butz Inc. and Think Loud Development LLC, a York developer and fiber optic network builder backed by members of the rock band Live.

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Growing demand makes building pitched for Colonial site taller, pricier