A stretch of MacArthur Road, south of the Lehigh Valley Thruway (Route 22) to the City of Allentown boundary, has undergone a renaissance of sorts, one that has not occurred since the 1970s.

New businesses have recently undergone extensive upgrades on the east and west sides of the busy corridor, dubbed unofficially by some as the "Gateway to Whitehall Township."

It was this commercial sector that was the focus of a study and plan advanced by the township.

Urban Research & Development, Bethlehem, undertook and completed the study two years ago.

Since then, no signs of a start-up by the township have taken place.

However, the private sector has been busy, with new or existing businesses making their mark.

The township labeled the southern section of MacArthur Road as "historic," and the finished plan went as far as noting the sector as MaArthur Parkway South.

Whitehall Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. said Jan. 10 a vital part of the project will be the "streetscape," with state or federal grants advancing such a project.

Signage is included.

A township committee involved with transportation met as late as last month to determine how South Sixth Street can play a role in the overall scheme.

Unlike Allentown, where the state created a Neighborhood Improvement Zone with tax dollars, the changes on MacArthur Road South were the result of private commercial efforts.

Beginning at the massive Route 22/MacArthur Road ramp and bridge construction, and heading toward the city line, the first project that is evident is White Castle, a chain restaurant, where a gas station previously was located.

A complete makeover of a diner, Salt & Pepper, is a bit further down, next to the Dunkin' Donuts.

Also, Griddle 145 is located on the west side, which opened earlier and is making its mark, attracting crowds to the eatery.

On the east side is Bottom Dollar, a market built on the site which years ago housed Food Fair.

Aldi's, a smaller attractive market, is south of Bottom Dollar.

Popeyes, a chain restaurant featuring New Orleans Cajun flavored chicken, opened a couple of weeks ago.

The restaurant opened where a building had been previously left in disrepair.

The American Family Services Foundation outlet, located where Hess's Gas Station once stood, spruced up the block.

Just a few doors north is a pizza restaurant that years ago housed Zimmerman's Market, a family homespun market.

Foot traffic compliments the vehicle traffic in this area.

The township and its revitalized commercial and industrial authority realize the signature piece to the complete makeover of the south sector of MacArthur Road is the expansive Lehigh Valley Dairy property.

At the other end of the MacArthur Road commercial district and also in the mix is the Whitehall Family Diner, which has completed an inside and outside makeover, improvements to the U-Haul rental business across the street, safety and widening of Route 145 and upgrades to the Wawa store there.

With new commercial projects cropping up, the township is confident Whitehall and MacArthur Road and its surrounding commercial businesses will continue far into the future as the region's destination for shoppers and diners, whether it be at the Lehigh Valley Mall, all you-can-eat restaurants or smaller shopping centers and enterprises.