The Allentown Art Museum is getting ready to begin the process of building its new location at 10th and Hamilton streets.
This week, officials from one of the city’s cultural icons came before the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority’s Project Review Committee with a couple of requests.
The museum, represented by President and CEO Max Weintraub and Board Chair Chris Bernecker, requested that the future site at 1001 Hamilton St. be added into the NIZ. It then asked for NIZ funding of up to 20% of project costs, not exceeding $9 million. Demolition and construction costs are estimated at $48.7 million.
The committee on Wednesday unanimously approved both requests. It will be taken up by the full ANIZDA board Sept. 2. To get the 0.67-acre parcel into the NIZ, the board voted to transfer a similar sized piece out of Buck Boyle Park because the city’s special tax zone is limited to 128 acres by law.
The Allentown Police substation on 10th and Hamilton streets is seen Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Allentown. The building will be demolished to make way for the Allentown Art Museum’s new facility. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)
Plans are to move from the current site at 31 N. Fifth St. after the new building is complete in 2029. Demolition of the former Allentown Police substation is scheduled for the fall, pending city approval, with construction beginning next spring.
Weintraub said the current building was originally built as a church in 1902 and has housed the museum since the 1950s.
“The necessity [of moving] is because we are in a building that no longer meets the standards and the requirements for a modern museum,” he said. “Due to its aging infrastructure, inadequate, and outdated climate control systems and spatial limitations, it’s severely impeding our ability to serve our visitors and to safeguard our permanent collection of over 20,000 art objects.”
Since the museum started free admission in 2022, it receives about 60,000 visitors annually.
“Our current largest event on the calendars is the annual gala,” Weintraub said. “And that actually takes place in two discrete spaces in the museum because we can’t accommodate everyone in one space. A purpose built facility allows us to address that and many other things that have really hindered our growth.”
Weintraub gave a description of the proposed 55,000-square-foot, three-story building with a partial basement.
The ground floor will be transparent from street level, featuring public sightlines. It will include a great hall for large events along with dedicated classroom spaces.
The second floor will be opaque for light-sensitive textile and paper exhibits. The facade will feature elements reflective of local industrial and concrete industries. There will also be a rooftop terrace.
Visitors will be encouraged to park at the garage at 940 Linden St.
The museum purchased the land from the Allentown Parking Authority in April 2025 for $1.4 million. It is currently conducting a capital campaign to raise funds for the project, along with securing state grants.
On its website, the museum said it plans to eventually sell its current property “and will work with city leaders and community partners to identify potential buyers and appropriate future uses for the building.” It will remain open while the new location is built.
Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com.