Planning Commission Approves Medical School Amendment
Allentown's planning body signed off on a revised redevelopment plan at 702 Hamilton St. for a Thomas Jefferson University campus.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Remote Work
The Allentown Planning Commission approved an amendment to a redevelopment plan for a medical school at 702 Hamilton St., proposed by City Center Group Development. The Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College Lehigh Valley Campus will occupy the upper three floors with classrooms, computer labs, study areas and a library.
Why it matters
The amendment changes a previously approved 87,000-square-foot Class A office plan into an academic use that would bring students and faculty to downtown Allentown. The commission also tabled a separate waiver request for the 37-story Peregrine Tower at 90 S. Ninth St., leaving that project's status unresolved.
The medical school plans to enroll 180 students initially, growing to about 240, with 150 to 170 faculty and 45 students per class. This replaces the 87,000 square feet of Class A office space approved on July 8, 2025, and the timeline for full enrollment was not specified.
The players
City Center Group Development
The applicant seeking the amendment for the 702 Hamilton St. redevelopment plan, which will host the medical school.
Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College Lehigh Valley Campus
The medical school that will occupy the upper floors of the building and serve as the project's end user.
Allentown Planning Commission
The city body that reviews land-use and redevelopment applications and approved the amendment while tabling the Peregrine Tower waiver.
The details
The commission approved the amendment at a Tuesday afternoon meeting at City Hall. The upper three floors of the building will house the college, while the Peregrine Tower waiver was tabled after the sight triangle clearance at Ninth and Walnut streets was found insufficient under the city's previous zoning ordinance.
Timeline
July 8, 2025: Planning Commission approved the original 87,000-square-foot office proposal for 702 Hamilton St.
November 10, 2026: Planning Commission approved the medical school amendment and tabled the Peregrine Tower waiver.
Market Landscape
The conversion of approved office space at 702 Hamilton St. into a medical school campus marks a shift from the July 8, 2025 Class A office proposal toward institutional education uses in downtown Allentown. It shows how a single redevelopment site can move from speculative commercial space to a tenant anchored by a university, altering the mix of uses in the district.
Downtown Allentown residents and business owners near 702 Hamilton St. can expect more daytime foot traffic from students and faculty once the medical school opens, in place of the office workers the earlier plan anticipated. The unresolved Peregrine Tower waiver could affect the timing of construction and street-level conditions at Ninth and Walnut streets.
The takeaway
Redevelopment plans can change substantially after approval, so residents tracking a downtown project should watch for amendments and tabled waivers rather than relying on the original proposal. Following Planning Commission agendas is the most direct way to see how decisions like these are made.
What happens next
A hearing on the 1024 N. Bradford St. litigation is expected early next month, and the request to extend that warehouse plan's recordation deadline is set for Dec. 14, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage of how workplace shifts are reshaping local commercial real estate, see Remote Work in Allentown.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFMZ.
