Easton Housing Authority outlines Harlan House rehab and new Easton Homes to replace Walter House

Tyler Martin, executive director of the Easton Housing Authority, told the Northampton County Economic Development Committee on April 3 that the authority is pursuing two projects to preserve and expand affordable housing in Easton: a full rehabilitation of the Harlan House high rise and a redevelopment, Easton Homes, at 1022 Northampton Street to replace the aging Walter House high rise.

"We will be rehabbing the entire building with all residents remaining in place," Martin said of Harlan House, 221 South Fourth Street, describing a phased in-place rehab that would replace windows and HVAC systems, install new kitchens and bathrooms, and add on-site supportive-services administrative space. He said the authority intends to apply imminently for 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding for Harlan House.

For Easton Homes (formerly Easton Home at 1022 Northampton Street) Martin said the authority submitted a 9% LIHTC application in February 2025. The presentation described a plan that converts the existing 52 single-room-occupancy (SRO) units in the existing building into 18 one-bedroom units and adds a new three-story construction wing so the combined site will provide 45 one-bedroom units. Martin said the 45 units match the current unit count at Walter House; Walter House currently houses 45 residents and is planned for demolition after disposition through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Residents at Walter House would be offered the option to move into new units at Easton Homes or accept a tenant protection voucher (TPV) to seek housing in the private market.

Martin identified MDG Design and Construction as the master developer partner and KMA as the architect (a subcontractor to MDG). He said the Easton Zoning Board unanimously approved the plans on March 17. He also described a partnership to rehabilitate a nearby historic mansion for a nonprofit partner to expand case-management and medical-referral services on site, which would contribute supportive-service points on LIHTC scoring.

Martin asked for advocacy support for the LIHTC applications, saying PHFA (the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency) will evaluate 4% awards on a rolling basis and that 9% awards will be competitive. When Commissioner Gofredo asked for an estimated construction cost, Martin declined to provide an immediate figure from the master developer but later stated, "31,292,000. That's the projection." The transcript shows Martin offered to provide more exact cost information after the meeting.

The presentation described the housing as principally for senior and disabled residents, said each unit will be ADA-compliant, and noted wait lists for public housing and housing-choice vouchers that show demand for one-bedroom units. Martin said the authority plans to keep residents in place at Harlan House during rehab and to proceed with displacement/rehabilitation planning for Walter House only after disposition approval from HUD.

The transcript records no formal committee vote on the projects; Martin's remarks were presented as an informational update and a request for local support and advocacy for LIHTC funding.