ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The future Allentown Art Museum at 10th and Hamilton will be part of the Neighborhood Improvement Zone, also known as the NIZ.
ANIZDA, the body that governs Allentown’s special taxing district, approved the art museum’s inclusion earlier Wednesday.
Museum officials say the approval will allow the project to tap up to 9 million in state funds to help pay for a portion of the $50-55 million project.
Allentown Art Museum President and CEO Max Weintraub released a statement following the ANIZDA meeting:
“This is an important milestone in our efforts to build a new, purpose-built facility for the Museum and the diverse communities we serve. Founded more than 90 years ago, the Museum has long served as a cultural, civic, and economic anchor for Allentown and the Lehigh Valley—and this new facility will ensure that legacy continues for generations to come. I am grateful to Steve Bamford and the entire ANIZDA board for their support and confidence in our project,” said Weintraub.
Weintraub says the current site of the Allentown Art Museum will be sold and that the museum is fielding preliminary interest.
The site for the new Art Museum is the former Allentown police substation.
Demolition on the site is scheduled to begin in October.