Allentown Test-Fits

The Allentown Test-Fits project works directly with the City of Allentown since the adoption of their new form-based zoning ordinance, which officially went into effect at the start of January 1, 2026. The formation of this new ordinance was years in the making for the city. Prior to this change, Allentown utilized a conventional zoning code, as most places do.

Conventional or traditional zoning focuses on the building's use, and creates a separation of uses throughout the city. With traditional zoning, there will often be large areas of the city that are zoned for a single use, such as residential, separating it from other uses. Form-based code has less of a focus on use, and prioritizes the look and fit, with use becoming a secondary concern. In certain areas of the city, a single block may mix multiple different land uses.

With their form-based code, every parcel in the city is given a “zone.” Within each zone, there are several different “building types” that are allowed there. Across Allentown, there are 14 different building types.

Small Cities Lab is advising post-adoption amendments to this new ordinance, as well as creating a pattern book of two parts that reflect and inform one another.

The first part of the pattern book illustrates the existing conditions and fabric of the city, broken down by building type. There are helpful diagrams to further understand the reading of the ordinance itself in this section. This required an extensive building type study, and understanding of what distinguished types from each other. This exercise put the new zoning ordinance through a test run, seeing what made sense to a fresh set of eyes, and where discontinuities in information and execution may occur.

The second part of the pattern book is a series of “test fit” designs for an ambiguous building type in Allentown, Small Generals. These designs are feasible multi-family housing options between 3-6 units that could happen in the city under the new ordinance. These designs gently increase density, while thoughtfully incorporating the existing patterns identified in the first half of the pattern book.

This design exercise is another way to put the zoning ordinance to the test and inform post-adoption amendments. Questions that arise throughout the design process for our team lead to important discussions with the city in the effort to make the ordinance clear, accessible, and successful in producing the type of development that is desired in the city.

A man with his back to the camera looks at renderings on a wall.

On June 23, we hosted a Pattern Book Pre-Launch Party, displaying 9 Small General, multi family designs. These designs used different site conditions. 3 were designed for an urban infill site, which is a bit denser but is a lot width that is common in the city. 3 were designed for suburban corner sites, at the size common for larger parcels in the more suburban areas of the city. These first 6 designs complied completely with the lot width requirements, and the rest of the building requirements set by the zoning ordinance. While they complied, they pushed the notion many people have of what multi-family housing can look like in these areas. Especially in areas of mostly single-family housing, multi-family housing can increase density in a thoughtful way with the right design that makes it a seamless addition to the neighborhood.

The next 3 designs were suburban infill, that were designed for a site that is narrower than would currently be allowed per the ordinance. These designs brought forth the question of how the ordinance limits density in suburban areas, and questions the levels of success the current limitations would have in practice in pursuit of the outcome the city is looking for in these areas.

These questions and exercises are part of ongoing discussions between the Small Cities Lab and the City of Allentown. The pattern book will be made available in the coming months, meant to be a resource for many audiences in Allentown.