Archive for GoValley

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Hellertown wants to limit rentals in residential areas

Hellertown officials say renters responsible for most crime and their cars are causing parking problems in some neighborhoods, so they would prefer that renters live downtown. That’s the reasoning behind Hellertown’s latest proposal to ban apartment conversions in its residential neighborhood zones. Hellertown’s Planning Commission two months ago approved a measure that would ban all [...]

9Sep2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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Bethlehem gets $490,000 to plan garage, new terminal

Bethlehem has received $490,000 in federal funding to pay for the planning and design of a new parking garage/bus terminal on Third Street in the city’s South Side. The money comes from the Federal Transportation Administration. The overall project will cost between $22 million and $25 million, and is expected to take a few years. [...]

9Sep2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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North Whitehall Wal-Mart gets conditional OK

Wal-Mart took a step closer toward coming to North Whitehall as township supervisors voted Wednesday to give preliminary approval to the retailer’s subdivision plans. Wal-Mart’s application next goes to the township planning commission and then back to the supervisors for final approval. The store will be located off route 309.
Source: The Morning Call, 9.4.08

9Sep2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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Another transfer tax revenue loss for Allentown

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski froze all nonessential spending this week to help plug a projected $1.9 million hole in the city’s budget. The city is on pace to see $1.5 million less than projected revenues from real estate transfer fees. The slowing housing market is affecting transfer tax revenue in all municipalities in the Lehigh [...]

8Sep2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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Lower Macungie Gets New Traffic Light Summer 09

Lower Macungie residents lobbying for a traffic light at a dangerous township intersection will have to wait until next summer.
Township officials said last week that a planned signal at Lower Macungie Road and Wild Cherry Lane near the Turnpike should be up and operating by June or July 2009. Some of the work is expected [...]

8Sep2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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Two-way traffic for Seventh Street in Allentown?

Allentown officials are considering a switch to two-way traffic on one-way southbound Seventh Street, a gateway thoroughfare into the city. Some Seventh Street merchants and residents think the concept is worth considering as a way to subdue speeding motorists and to bolster business development and pedestrian safety.
Source: The Morning Call, 9.3.08

8Sep2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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Lehigh Valley Market Update August 2008

Comparison of Lehigh Valley Home Sales from August 2007 to August 2008:
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Number of Sales - During August 2008, 520 sales were reported, down approximately 23.4% from August 2007 at 679.
Average Sales Price - The average sales price for August 2008 was recorded at $228,000, down approximately 5.8% from August 2007 when the average sales [...]

8Sep2008 | GoValley | 1 comment | Continued
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Lehigh County tax rate to hold steady

Lehigh County residents can expect a stable tax rate for the third year in a row.  County Executive Don Cunningham said Thursday the tax rate would remain at 10.25 mills, though the $405 million budget has increased by about $4.5 million over last year. 
Source:  The Morning Call, 8.22.08

22Aug2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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Buyers flock to FHA, government-backed loans

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Borrowers are flocking to government-insured loans, particularly those offered by the Federal Housing Administration, as they seek to refinance out of costly adjustable-rate mortgages or take out purchase loans with low down payments.  The Mortgage Bankers Association says applications for government-insured loans were up 133.9 percent in July from a year ago, [...]

22Aug2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued
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Forks Twp Speeds Up Crayola’s Solar Power Plant

Forks Township planners have decided to speed up the approval process for Crayola’s proposed solar power plant.
The Planning Commission on Thursday night agreed to rule on the plan in two weeks, rather than next month, after hearing a proposal that impressed commissioners and residents.
The crayon company hopes to turn roughly 15 acres of its property [...]

16Aug2008 | GoValley | 0 comments | Continued