It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Allentown, PA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Allentown, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always treated with respect and they showed care for my mother. Everyone was pleasant when”
“Always Best Care Senior Services provided very professional services that resulted in finding the best”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of”
“I am a current client of this provider Always best care cared for my mother. They”
“Ken Good was so helpful and knowledgable when my elderly father needed in-home care. He”
“Ken and Rebecca have been extremely helpful during the process of finding in-home care for”
“Ken is a fantastic provider of in-home care in Doylestown. I highly recommend his team.”
“Ken was the first person I really talked to when I found out my father”
“Excellent in every respect.”
“The support provided by Ken and Rebecca Good (and all of their team) has been”
“Very few businesses or even people come from a place of compassion and a good”
“I am a current client of this provider Ken and Rebecca go above and beyond”
“Ken and Rebecca were a godsend in our search for care for our elderly father.”
“Very good, prompt attention to an unexpected need for day care in home for Mother-in-law.”
“Ken & Rebecca were very helpful & knowledgeable with resources in helping me care for”
“Both Rebecca and Ken were very easy to talk with and were very interested in”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care provides extremely caring, compassionate help”
“Your loved ones will be in great care with Always Best Care of Greater Bethlehem.”
“Always treated with respect and they showed care for my mother. Everyone was pleasant when I would call about different circumstances.”
“Always Best Care Senior Services provided very professional services that resulted in finding the best personal care facility fit for my mother. They have a passion for helping seniors and prioritize the health and well-being of their clients over everything else. I would highly recommend them when you are in a position of finding senior care services for your loved ones.”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of Bethlehem. Wonderful staff and excellent caregivers that go above and beyond what is expected of them!”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of Bethlehem. Wonderful staff and excellent caregivers that go above and beyond what is expected of them!”
“I am a current client of this provider Always best care cared for my mother. They have been amazing. My mother really likes her caregiver.”
“Ken Good was so helpful and knowledgable when my elderly father needed in-home care. He actually came to the rehab center to meet us where my father was getting physical therapy after a fall. This way he was able to accurately access how much care my father would need and which caregivers would be the right fit. We were afraid we'd have to move him to a nursing home but fortunately we were able to set up in-home care. It's been four months now and we have been very happy with the caregivers who have been assigned to my father. Always Best Care is very responsive and flexible in adjusting hours as needed, somehow managing to keep the caregivers my parents have bonded with even though the hours have been reduced. We are happy our parents are able to age in place with care as they need it.”
“Ken and Rebecca have been extremely helpful during the process of finding in-home care for my in-laws. They have been sensitive to our needs, diligent in their efforts to provide the best possible care, and consistent in their follow-up to see if things are satisfactory. We have been executing this process from out-of-state and the process has been very smooth. Through phone calls and face-to-face meetings when possible, both Ken and Rebecca have been professional, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services.”
“Ken is a fantastic provider of in-home care in Doylestown. I highly recommend his team.”
“Ken was the first person I really talked to when I found out my father was given a year to live. Instead of immediately looking at me like a business opportunity, he treated me like a close friend. He listened and treated me with complete kindness.. I have gotten to know Ken and his wife Rebecca and I can easily say that they are two of the most wonderful people I have ever met. There is nothing in this world I wouldn't trust them with. Especially the care of a loved one.”
“Excellent in every respect.”
“The support provided by Ken and Rebecca Good (and all of their team) has been invaluable as the family navigates through dealing with the impact of our sister's illness to all of us. The structure with using ABC's online portal to evidence our sister's care is extremely beneficial in ensuring strong and coordinated communication. It is truly appreciative this technology is available and utilized by ABC. For those dealing with identifying care for a loved one, you would be smart to contact Always Best Care of Upper Buxmont.”
“Very few businesses or even people come from a place of compassion and a good heart. Always Best Care does. The client always comes first as does their health and well-being, and the family seeking the best for their loved ones. Thank you Ken for all you did for my parents!”
“I am a current client of this provider Ken and Rebecca go above and beyond for their clients, as do their staff. They handled emergent situations for my grandmother when we were on vacation - staying with her the entire time at the hospital. Ken also did significant research for our decision to put her in an assisted living community. I highly recommend Always Best Care.”
“Ken and Rebecca were a godsend in our search for care for our elderly father. Both Ken and Rebecca were incredibly compassionate, empathetic and caring. In addition, they were knowledgeable and had a wonderful process for determining the needs of the family, the needs of the specific individual and finding an appropriate match for a caregiver to meet those needs. I can't say enough about the services provided by Always Best Care. Ken always went above and beyond, he knew the questions to ask, and how to navigate all the red tape of various organizations (Veterans Administration, etc.) AND he diligently does site visits to the facilities he references so he is able to speak from experience about the quality of care at the facilities under consideration. If you are in need of advice and assistance in caring for a family member I recommend Ken and Rebecca and Always Best Care with no reservations.”
“Very good, prompt attention to an unexpected need for day care in home for Mother-in-law. Ken is very well versed in available providers and other services needed at this time.The day care providers dealt well with her memory problems.”
“Ken & Rebecca were very helpful & knowledgeable with resources in helping me care for my Mom during an extremely difficult time. It was great finding two people who cared & listened to my situation. I never felt alone in my difficult decision making process.”
“Both Rebecca and Ken were very easy to talk with and were very interested in getting to know my father. They went out of their way to help us as our plans changed from in home care to personal care. They explained the process and were with us every step of the way to answer questions and provide support. I would use them again in a minute.”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care provides extremely caring, compassionate help for my mom, I live out of town, and can't be there myself very often. But this business goes all-out to take care of my mom. I don't know what we would do without them.”
“Your loved ones will be in great care with Always Best Care of Greater Bethlehem.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lehigh Parkway in Allentown, PA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Grille 3501 or visit Historic Bogert's Covered Bridge, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Allentown, PA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Allentown, PA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Allentown, PA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Sitting amid a regional housing crisis – but now on a pile of money – city leaders are looking at a group of pilot programs to chip away at the growing shortage of places to live.Allentown has 865 fewer housing units than it needs for its current population, a number that could approach 5,400 over the next 25 years without serious intervention, according to regional planners.Officials are looking to tap into a new stream of revenue to help reverse that trend.Allentown now collects 1% fr...
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Sitting amid a regional housing crisis – but now on a pile of money – city leaders are looking at a group of pilot programs to chip away at the growing shortage of places to live.
Allentown has 865 fewer housing units than it needs for its current population, a number that could approach 5,400 over the next 25 years without serious intervention, according to regional planners.
Officials are looking to tap into a new stream of revenue to help reverse that trend.
Allentown now collects 1% from each deed transfer within the city, after voters approved a referendum and City Council passed legislation to double its take from home and property sales starting this year.
The half-percentage-point increase put a little more than $1 million into the city’s new Housing Trust Fund in its first six months.
That money could help a few families find new homes in the short term, while officials are optimistic about further progress as the pot of money continues to grow.
City Council and leaders in Mayor Matt Tuerk's administration have discussed earmarking some of the funds to help homeowners make repairs to their properties, while tax-abatement programs also are on the table.
They're also planning to use a portion of the Housing Trust Fund to help first-time homebuyers compete in an aggressive regional market.
Vicky Kistler, the city's community and economic development chief, said at a recent meeting that her department is looking to acquire and renovate three blighted homes, with hopes of refining and expanding the pilot program as tax revenue grows.
Those homes would be targeted at a pool of applicants earning 80% or less of the Lehigh Valley’s median income, which hit a new high this year, Kistler said.
A typical homebuyer in the area once spent about twice their annual income to buy a home; they now often spend closer to four times their salary, according to the LVPC.
That puts the income eligibility cutoff for a typical household at about $67,500. A household earning that much could afford to buy a home in the $200,000 range, but many homes would likely cost about $300,000 to buy and fix, Kistler said.
With its Housing Trust Fund up and running, Allentown now has money to fill that gap – at least enough to acquire a few homes to launch the pilot program.
Some council members asked officials to instead determine eligibility based on Allentown’s median income: roughly $55,000, which is about two-thirds of the region’s mark.
That move could significantly hurt the pilot program's chances at early success, according to Kistler and her deputy, Mark Hartney.
Households that meet the income requirement – earning around $44,000 or less – would likely struggle to become “bankable,” i.e. secure a mortgage for a home valued at $200,000, Kistler said.
City Council considered the pilot programs in the wake of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission releasing its final Housing Attainability and Affordability Strategy late last month.
The Lehigh Valley is more than 6,000 housing units short of what it needs for its residents. The shortage could soar past 50,000 units by 2050 on the current trajectory, according to the LVPC.
A typical homebuyer in the area once spent about twice their annual income to buy a home; they now often spend closer to four times their salary, the LVPC's 157-page report states.
Home prices have climbed significantly over the past decade. The median sales price for a home in the Lehigh Valley hit a record high of $389,500 this summer; that number was about $200,000 lower in 2016.
DCI Allentown 2026 is from July 31 - August 1, and is composed of one of the largest pools of drum corps for a single event across the DCI season.Over the course of two days, a mix of world class and all-age groups will compete in Allentown, PA at the DCI Eastern Classic. As the DCI World Championships approach, it's important for corps to perfect their programs.Day one of the event will feature all-age corps such as the Hawthorne Caballeros and Bushwackers and make it's way down towards World Championship contenders like the B...
DCI Allentown 2026 is from July 31 - August 1, and is composed of one of the largest pools of drum corps for a single event across the DCI season.
Over the course of two days, a mix of world class and all-age groups will compete in Allentown, PA at the DCI Eastern Classic. As the DCI World Championships approach, it's important for corps to perfect their programs.
Day one of the event will feature all-age corps such as the Hawthorne Caballeros and Bushwackers and make it's way down towards World Championship contenders like the Bluecoats. The second day will feature 2025's event winning Boston Crusaders, as well as other notable corps like the Phantom Regiment and Carolina Crown.
Those aren't the only drum corps who will be taking the field this weekend. Here's the full list of groups performing over two days at DCI Allentown 2026.
2026 Eastern Classic is streaming live on FloMarching from J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, PA on July 31 - August 1.
Subscribe to FloMarching to catch this weekend's action live and the latest news and events from the 2026 DCI season.
Fans should look forward to watching multiple DCI shows each week, from the start of the 2026 DCI season on June 26th, all the way through DCI Finals on August 6-8. Watch all the action live from the comfort of your home, or watch on the go using the FloSports app.
July 29 | DCI Huntington
July 30 | The Marion Open
July 31 - August 1 | DCI Eastern Classic
August 3 | Innovations In Brass
August 3 - 4 | DCI Open Class World Championships
August 6 - 8 | DCI World Championships
August 7 - 8 | DCI All-Age World Championships
August 8 | SoundSport International Music & Food Festival
* indicates FloMarching exclusive show separate from the 2026 DCI Summer Tour
Select replays from past DCI seasons are available with sound on-demand. Keep an eye out for more information on the 2026 DCI season and how you can watch more of your favorite shows with sound.
Watch the full 22 minute documentary following the 85th anniversary Boston Crusaders 2025 corps.
FloMarching Radio is returning this June, bringing the sounds of DCI straight to your ears 24/7, all summer long! Stream it for free LIVE starting on June 1 on the FloMarching YouTube channel or on the FloSports app.
FloMarching is the exclusive streaming partner for the DCI Summer Tour. Fans can watch the action from home here on FloMarching and the FloSports app with a subscription.
The DCI World Championships begin on Thursday, August 6 with Prelims before moving onto Semifinals on Friday, August 7, and Finals on Saturday, August 8.
The DCI World Championships are hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, home to the Colts.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A data center proposal will keep looming over Allentown’s South Side for the next few months.Quantm Group is leading the effort to convert an empty warehouse at 2401 W. Emaus Ave. into a data center spanning almost a quarter-million square feet.The Allentown City Planning Commission held a rare evening meeting July 16 to review a proposal the developer submitted in May. But Quantm filed altered plans for the site last week that zoning and planning officials have not yet reviewed.The commissio...
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A data center proposal will keep looming over Allentown’s South Side for the next few months.
Quantm Group is leading the effort to convert an empty warehouse at 2401 W. Emaus Ave. into a data center spanning almost a quarter-million square feet.
The Allentown City Planning Commission held a rare evening meeting July 16 to review a proposal the developer submitted in May. But Quantm filed altered plans for the site last week that zoning and planning officials have not yet reviewed.
The commission typically meets on a Tuesday afternoon. It convened Thursday night instead to give more residents a chance to participate, according to Chairman Christian Brown.
Cofounder Tony Maras opened his presentation by pledging to withdraw the newest plans and address outstanding concerns from residents and the city. Quantm aims to resubmit its proposal for review at the commission’s Sept. 8 meeting, he said.
“We’re not looking for a snap approval,” Maras said after spending about 45 minutes detailing the proposed data center and its potential benefits.
Among those benefits, Maras said, are upgraded electrical infrastructure, high-paying jobs, and millions of dollars in new tax revenues for the city, county and school district.
“The question isn't whether (data centers) should be built; the question is, can you build them responsibly?” Maras said. “That’s my obligation.”
Residents should push their elected officials to attract data center projects instead of trying to push them away, Maras said, questioning why it would be “better to have that data center built in another community.”
The Emaus Avenue facility, if approved, would operate as an “edge data center,” which Maras described as “at the edge of the cloud … where we are."
Edge data centers, not to be confused with Edged Data Centers (the developer behind the 1.5 million-square-foot Project Atlas in South Whitehall Township) have a smaller footprint, lower electric demand and fewer employees than hyperscale facilities, he said.
All but one of the warehouse’s 46 truck bays would be removed, since the facility would not generate regular traffic beyond employees. That space would instead hold dozens of “chillers” to keep the facility cool, Maras said.
Several residents noted Thursday night that his pitch sounded strikingly similar to one Edged Data Centers delivered last week at the South Whitehall Township Planning Commission’s meeting on Project Atlas.
Like Edged US executives, Maras painted a picture of a more intense industrial facility that could occupy the site if the data center is not approved.
The commission in 2022 approved plans for a 224,000-square-foot warehouse on the 13.7-acre Emaus Avenue property.
The warehouse would generate about 400 daily trips, including significant truck traffic, Maras said, more than twice the roughly 132 daily trips the data center's 66 employees would produce.
And he estimated the warehouse's annual tax revenue at about 10% of what the data center could generate.
Planners raised concerns in their preliminary review about the data center's relatively limited job opportunities for a large property on the South Side, an area the city has designated a "major employment hub."
The site could employ hundreds of people per shift, but the data center plans call for fewer than two dozen employees per shift.
Senior planner Melissa Velez said the city also has ongoing questions about the data center’s compatibility with nearby neighbors, including Camelot for Children and the Wynnewood Greens housing complex.
About three dozen residents spoke about the data center’s potential effects on nearby homes and families, its water and electricity use, and its impact on utility costs.
Alicia Ruthroth told the planning commission she worries about “constant” noise from data centers.
“The noise doesn’t stop,” she said.
She also criticized Maras for comparing his proposal to a potential warehouse on the site.
“We really don’t want warehouses, either," she said, so a data center is “not a great alternative."
Marissa Burns urged the commission to hold the data center proposal to new regulations Allentown City Council adopted last month. The ordinance sets specific standards for data centers, including regulations on water and electricity use and requirements for extensive noise and environmental studies.
That legislation won't apply to the Emaus Avenue project. Quantm Group submitted its application before council signaled its intent to consider data-center zoning, meaning the proposal will be reviewed under the rules in place at the time it was filed.
Council is now looking to change the city’s noise ordinance to address a data center’s continuous use and output. That legislation, which would govern the Quantm project and all other properties in the city, is expected to regulate audible noises and low-frequency hums like those data centers produce.
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