Planning Commission approves hotel, office for hockey arena

When an architect appeared before the Allentown Planning Commission on Tuesday to seek approval for the hoped-for hotel and office building in the downtown hockey arena complex, she spoke of luxury.

Guests could rent a hotel room whose balcony opens onto the action of a hockey game or concert after enjoying dinner at a high-end restaurant above the arena's main entrance. They could cap off the evening with a drink from a bar or caf downstairs without ever going outside.

Who's going to make this happen?

The commission on Tuesday endorsed new plans for the 8,500-seat hockey arena that now include a 180-room hotel, a seven-story office building and 125-space underground parking garage.

Two members abstained from voting because of stated conflicts of interest. Four others approved the plan, as well as several waivers requested by the arena authority's attorney.

The approval allows Allentown and the arena authority to continue "confidential" discussions with private developers, a city spokesman said.

"The Planning Commission's approval was an important initial step in the public side of the process that enables the private developers to move forward with the assurance that they have approved project use," Mayor Ed Pawlowski said in a statement.

Tim Siegfried, an attorney with Tallman Hudders & Sorrentino, told the commission that the additions weren't initially included in the plans because the arena authority did not know if they were feasible or if a developer would sign on.

There's still no developer, Siegfried said, but architects say the additions are viable.

The Morning Call reported last week that four sources have said the 200,000-square-foot office building will be owned by downtown investor City Center Investment Corp. and occupied by Lehigh Valley Health Network.

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Planning Commission approves hotel, office for hockey arena