Mission Statement
Our Mission -- “Worthy of” Allentown's “Natural and Historic Assets”
Mission Statement
Our Approach
Geographic Boundaries
Mission Statement
- As a volunteer-driven, historic preservation-based, community revitalization organization - - our mission is to enhance the Allentown Village and setting, with a focus on the downtown, by assisting and partnering with other organizations, institutions and individuals to accomplish our goals in a way that is appropriate for, and worthy of, its extraordinary natural and historic assets.
- Educating the community in the principles of sustainability, economic development, natural resource protection, historic preservation, and village planning;
- Revitalizing the economy and sense of community with increased emphasis on the arts, culture, and history;
- Preserving and protecting a greened, historic village
- Thoughtfully designing and planning for a quality aesthetic - both in design particulars and for a common, cohesive vision of how we want our community to look and feel, and;
- Developing solutions to address pedestrian and vehicular traffic and circulation issues that satisfy and enhance both the real needs of commerce and a residential quality-of-life while making the village more pedestrian-friendly.
Our Approach
- TAVI (The Allentown Village Initiative) since 2013 has been an Associate Tier Main Street™ New Jersey Program. In 2018 due to New Jersey State funding reductions, the Main Street™ New Jersey Program services only Tier One members. Our downtown program will utilize the Four-Point Approach™ and the Eight Principles of Success as outlined by the Main Street New Jersey program of the NJ Department of Community Affairs, the State Coordinating Program of the National Main Street™ Center, Inc. - a subsidiary of the National Trust For Historic Preservation.
Geographic Boundaries
- “Allentown Village” refers here to the Allentown Borough boundaries as they existed in August, 2013.
- “Downtown” roughly refers here to the the area that existed as a “business district” in the Borough of Allentown's Master plan in August 2013. Standing at the center of the village - the South Main Street boundary includes the far edge of 75 South Main Street on the left and the far edge of the bridge on the right; the North Main Street boundary includes the far edge of 12 North Main Street on the left, and the far edge of 9 North Main Street on the right; the Waker Avenue boundary includes the far edge of 9 North Main Street on the left and the far edge of 5-9 Waker Avenue on the right; and the Church Street boundary includes the far edge of 14 Church Street on the left and the far edge of 21 Church Street on the right.
Vision Statement
Our Vision -- 'Authentic, Imaginative & Unique!'
Vision Statement
As volunteers, we envision a vital, sustainable community where people want to stroll the village, patronize delightful businesses, and experience the arts - a place enhanced with imagination and a 'look and feel' that is appropriate for, and worthy of, its extraordinary natural and historic assets.
2013 Vision Narrative
Walking along on Allentown Village's dogwood tree-lined main streets that are primarily residential, we see, as stated in the narrative of its 1982 registration as a National Historic District, “A picture-book history of American architectural development”. Land deeded in 1706, at the juncture of what was an old Indian path connecting New York with Philadelphia and several waterways, a mill village developed. Today, as we walk amid people with their newfies, clumber spaniels and dachshunds; laughing children run downtown for an ice cream cone. Pausing at the Mill Pond Park, a great blue heron and white egret walk the shallows amid the Canada geese - hunting for food, as men cast their lures and a fiddler plays. Looking out across the pond, way up the hill, a white steeple punctuates the robins’-egg-blue sky and a church bell tolls the hours. Other people pile their shopping bags beside them on the benches and picnic tables around the dock enjoying their coffee and locally-baked muffins. Several people are reading the history of the revolutionary war era blockhouse and later blacksmith's shop that stood at this site from one of the many interpretive history signs that line the village paths.
Turning around to face the mill, we walk past a blacksmith's hand-wrought-iron sign with a cut-out atop - depicting soldiers' marching with a horse and cannon to the battles of Trenton, Princeton or Monmouth during the 1770s. This sign is part of a graphic-identity-system designed for the village by Alice Wikoff, a local artist, telling the story of Allentown through public art. As we head across the stone bridge, under the carriage-style lighting that is standard for the quaint business district, we notice that the traffic is slow, calmed, and not badly backed-up - allowing us to cross the street easily. The commercial signs for the shops surrounding the mill are obviously designed by artisans. Delicious smells emanate from the mill's restaurant and tearoom where brightly-colored umbrellas cover tables overlooking the pond and stone dam. Antique farm equipment sprinkled around the area in the sun, remind a plethora of visitors of our agrarian roots there are touches of whimsy everywhere.
Heading north on Main Street under the elm trees, along the landscaped, restored historic street-scape, garden-style benches are uniform and well-maintained. Many people smile and stop to talk with people they "now who are jogging to Heritage Park - one of Allentown's unexpected treasures. This park flows into a greenbelt, helping give the village a 'sense of place' - enhancing the downtown. Groups of bikers, birdwatchers and other ecotourists stop to visit the restaurants and shops along with others driving our State Scenic By-way and the Crossroads of the American Revolution Heritage Area.
The businesses and the occasional homes that line the street, showcase architectural detail and pride in the community with imaginative window displays and wildflowers -- maintaining the 'authentic look' of our simple, rural heritage - without the manufactured look of modern village look-a-likes. History though, weaves itself throughout the village in restaurant menus, cultural events, and black-and-white photographs of an earlier time. As we pass the famed Imlay House, taverns, and people on the street, we feel a sustainable prosperity and a sense of belonging in the scale of the community gathering spots. Reaching the intersection of Main and Church Streets and going further north down the road, we are grateful that there are no traffic lights in Allentown - that there is adequate, well-marked parking - that our progress and quality-of-life is protected - and that we can look forward to the future with long-term plans.
Vision Statement
As volunteers, we envision a vital, sustainable community where people want to stroll the village, patronize delightful businesses, and experience the arts - a place enhanced with imagination and a 'look and feel' that is appropriate for, and worthy of, its extraordinary natural and historic assets.
2013 Vision Narrative
Walking along on Allentown Village's dogwood tree-lined main streets that are primarily residential, we see, as stated in the narrative of its 1982 registration as a National Historic District, “A picture-book history of American architectural development”. Land deeded in 1706, at the juncture of what was an old Indian path connecting New York with Philadelphia and several waterways, a mill village developed. Today, as we walk amid people with their newfies, clumber spaniels and dachshunds; laughing children run downtown for an ice cream cone. Pausing at the Mill Pond Park, a great blue heron and white egret walk the shallows amid the Canada geese - hunting for food, as men cast their lures and a fiddler plays. Looking out across the pond, way up the hill, a white steeple punctuates the robins’-egg-blue sky and a church bell tolls the hours. Other people pile their shopping bags beside them on the benches and picnic tables around the dock enjoying their coffee and locally-baked muffins. Several people are reading the history of the revolutionary war era blockhouse and later blacksmith's shop that stood at this site from one of the many interpretive history signs that line the village paths.
Turning around to face the mill, we walk past a blacksmith's hand-wrought-iron sign with a cut-out atop - depicting soldiers' marching with a horse and cannon to the battles of Trenton, Princeton or Monmouth during the 1770s. This sign is part of a graphic-identity-system designed for the village by Alice Wikoff, a local artist, telling the story of Allentown through public art. As we head across the stone bridge, under the carriage-style lighting that is standard for the quaint business district, we notice that the traffic is slow, calmed, and not badly backed-up - allowing us to cross the street easily. The commercial signs for the shops surrounding the mill are obviously designed by artisans. Delicious smells emanate from the mill's restaurant and tearoom where brightly-colored umbrellas cover tables overlooking the pond and stone dam. Antique farm equipment sprinkled around the area in the sun, remind a plethora of visitors of our agrarian roots there are touches of whimsy everywhere.
Heading north on Main Street under the elm trees, along the landscaped, restored historic street-scape, garden-style benches are uniform and well-maintained. Many people smile and stop to talk with people they "now who are jogging to Heritage Park - one of Allentown's unexpected treasures. This park flows into a greenbelt, helping give the village a 'sense of place' - enhancing the downtown. Groups of bikers, birdwatchers and other ecotourists stop to visit the restaurants and shops along with others driving our State Scenic By-way and the Crossroads of the American Revolution Heritage Area.
The businesses and the occasional homes that line the street, showcase architectural detail and pride in the community with imaginative window displays and wildflowers -- maintaining the 'authentic look' of our simple, rural heritage - without the manufactured look of modern village look-a-likes. History though, weaves itself throughout the village in restaurant menus, cultural events, and black-and-white photographs of an earlier time. As we pass the famed Imlay House, taverns, and people on the street, we feel a sustainable prosperity and a sense of belonging in the scale of the community gathering spots. Reaching the intersection of Main and Church Streets and going further north down the road, we are grateful that there are no traffic lights in Allentown - that there is adequate, well-marked parking - that our progress and quality-of-life is protected - and that we can look forward to the future with long-term plans.
