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5th Street/Allentown Pike Corridor Revitalization
About the Project
The Muhlenberg Township 5th Street Highway/Allentown Pike Corridor Revitalization Project includes a 3.9-mile stretch of U.S. Business Route 222 between Highway 222 and the city of Reading boundary. The project’s purpose is to develop a vibrant and realistic 15- to 20-year plan that provides vehicle access while creating a strong sense of place. By building on the unique strengths and opportunities within the Muhlenberg area, the plan demonstrates a sustainable strategy for revitalizing the corridor.
Corridor Character Zones
For the purpose of the study, an initial assessment of the 3.9 mile corridor identified eleven Corridor Character Zones:
- North Muhlenberg Gateway
- Cherokee Ranch Neighborhood Fringe
- NGK Metals Site - Laureldale Cemetery
- PennDOT and Rail Corridor
- Target Commercial Zone
- Schools and Quarry Zone
- Bellevue Gateway
- The Fairgrounds Square Mall and Shopping Centers
- Route 12 Gateway and Big Box Retail
- Hyde Park Neighborhood Fringe
- South Muhlenberg Gateway
Each zone is distinct from the other, providing a variety of major functions including gateways to and from Muhlenberg, fringe neighborhoods, retail, and industrial centers, the former Berks Products Quarry and schools. View a Detailed Map of the Corridor Character Zones (PDF).
Muhlenberg Township 5th Street Highway/Allentown Pike Corridor Revitalization Project Final Plan Available
The Revitalization Blueprint Builds an Environment to Live, Work, Play & Visit
The Fifth Street Highway/Allentown Pike Corridor Revitalization Plan provides a detailed blueprint that enables Muhlenberg Township to create an inviting and vibrant corridor that encourages people to live, work, play, and visit. The specific infrastructure improvements, land use recommendations, and market uses are provided within the pages of the Plan. Action steps and funding strategies are outlined, so that the Township may take incremental steps to strategically change the dynamics of the corridor, which will ultimately strengthen and improve its retail environment and appearance.
You may download the full 5th Street Highway/Allentown Pike Revitalization Plan Final Report - October 2013 (PDF).
Or, due to the full report's file size, feel free to peruse the Table of Contents and Individual Chapters:
- Table of Contents (PDF)
- Chapter 1 - Executive Summary
- Chapter 2 - Implementation Strategies (PDF)
- Chapter 3 - Introduction - Public Input Summary (PDF)
- Chapter 4 - Existing Land Use (PDF)
- Chapter 5 - Market Assessment (PDF)
- Chapter 6 - Existing Transportation Facilities (PDF)
- Chapter 7 - Recommended Land Use (PDF)
- Chapter 8 - Recommended Transportation Facilities (PDF)
Corridor Existing Conditions
For information on the corridor's existing conditions, please view the following maps and reports:
Corridor Revitalization Project Team
The project team is lead by Muhlenberg Township with Herbert, Rowland, and Grubic, Inc. (HRG) as the lead project consultant. Supporting HRG’s transportation planning and engineering expertise are three sub-consultants with specialties in economic development and land planning, urban design, and public outreach.
Steering Committee Purpose
The Steering Committee will:
- Provide overall guidance and direction for the revitalization planning process
- Assist the project consultant team with monitoring the project’s progress
- Ensure critical milestones are achieved
- Review draft written materials
- Identify critical participants in the public involvement process
- Identify critical success factors for the plan’s adoption and implementation
Members
Steering Committee members include:
- Jamal Abodalo, Muhlenberg Township
- Michael Golembiewski, Berks County Planning Commission
- Bob Hanna, Giorgi Foods
- John Hlis, Boscov's
- Steve Landes, Muhlenberg Township
- Walter S. LaSota, Muhlenberg Planning Commission
- Michael Malinowski, Muhlenberg Township
- Pamela J. Shupp, Berks Economic Partnership
- Steve Willems, NAI Keystone Commercial and Industrial
- Glenn A. Yeager, Esquire, Muhlenberg Township Resident
Project Recommendations
Utilizing the data collected from the field, existing conditions evaluation and input from the public and the Steering Committee, Guiding Principles (PDF) were developed as tools to develop the vision for the corridor. Please see the Recommended Land Use Map (JPG).
Additional documents will be provided as they are available.