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Planning commission urges careful selection of buyer for McKinley Elementary, notes historic‑district review requirement
Summary
Planning staff presented notice of a possible sale of McKinley Elementary School in Old Allentown and the commission advised the school district to select buyers whose intended use would be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood; staff noted the parcel is within the Old Allentown Historic District and any demolition or major alteration will trigger a Certificate of Appropriateness review.
Planning staff presented a formal notice that the Allentown School District may sell the former McKinley Elementary School (located in Old Allentown) and asked the commission for advisory comments, which the commission provided.
Jennifer (planning staff) said the municipal process requires school property sales to be presented to the Planning Commission and staff has 45 days to comment. She noted that under the Zone Allentown initiative the parcel was assigned P2 institutional zoning; depending on future uses the buyer may need rezoning and any alteration or demolition affecting the historic fabric will require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Architectural Review Board and a city council decision.
Commissioners expressed a preference for adaptive reuse and urged the district to seek a buyer whose plans would be compatible with nearby residences. Several commissioners specifically recommended avoiding demolition where feasible, and one suggested removing asphalt from surrounding open areas to create green space should the property be redeveloped. Commissioners and staff acknowledged that any substantial redevelopment likely will require rezoning or a certificate of appropriateness and that the commission’s formal role at this stage is advisory; final determinations would occur during rezoning, historic‑district review, or site‑specific permitting.
