Where you lease affects your costs, hiring, and growth for years to come. Pennsylvania offers several strong office markets, and the Allentown market, with The Waterfront at its center, has become one of the most compelling. Here is how it compares with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton, and why The Waterfront stands apart.
A cost structure that favors growth
Allentown’s office costs are well below those of the state’s largest markets. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh carry the rents and overhead of major metros, while the Lehigh Valley delivers Class A quality at a lower total cost of occupancy. The difference allows a company to allocate more of its budget to operations, hiring, and growth rather than rent. Leasing teams can confirm current figures for a specific suite at 615 Waterfront.
The Neighborhood Improvement Zone advantage
Allentown holds something no other Pennsylvania city has at this scale: the Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ). The program, created in 2012, allows eligible state and local taxes generated within the zone to be reinvested in development within it, helping attract more than $1 billion in new investment to downtown Allentown. For a tenant, that structure is the engine behind Class A space at a competitive cost. The zone is authorized through 2042. The Waterfront is one of its flagship projects.
Workforce and talent
A strong, affordable talent base is essential, and the Lehigh Valley offers one. The region draws graduates from a deep pool of nearby colleges and universities, labor costs are below those in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and a reasonable cost of living supports retention. For a growing company, that combination is as valuable as the rent line.
Quality of life
Allentown trades big-city congestion for a riverfront setting and room to breathe. The Waterfront adds walking and biking along the Lehigh River, downtown dining and culture within reach, and a steady calendar of community events. Those are the conditions that keep people, and the teams that work here, feeling the difference.
Location and connectivity
The Waterfront sits about an hour from Philadelphia and under two hours from New York City, with major highways and Lehigh Valley International Airport close at hand. A company can serve both metros without paying to sit inside either one. For regional, national, or international operations, that central position is a logistical asset.
Modern, sustainable buildings
The Waterfront’s buildings are new, energy-efficient, and flexible, set within a 29-acre district built around green space and the river. 615 Waterfront, the six-story Class A office building that opened in March 2023, anchors the office side. Allentown’s growth echoes proven mixed-use revivals like Durham’s American Tobacco Campus and Denver’s River North district: location, lifestyle, and business advantage in one place.
The short version: lower cost, a deeper talent pool, a better setting, central access, and modern space.
See how the Offices at 615 Waterfront fit your business. Schedule a visit.