At the Dec. 15, 2025, Catasauqua Borough Council meeting, members heard an update on the Iron Works project.

Council President Howard Cunningham reported the Lehigh County Redevelopment Authority and consultants are continuing to coordinate with representatives of VM Development to refine their plans for the project, including phasing strategies.

“Based on recent conversations, the team is considering the merits of subdividing the property while it is still under borough ownership and then transferring it in a series of transactions instead of all at once,” Cunningham said.

He noted this would potentially allow the initial phase of the development to proceed sooner than it otherwise would have if the entire property was transferred at once.

Borough Manager Glenn Eckhart added one of the considerations for this shift in the phasing is the flood plain in the bottom corner of the property. He said they want to subdivide where there is no need for any flood plain activity.

According to Eckhart, the transaction, at least for the first phase, can happen as early as March or April.

“They would pay half of what the amount of the property is — the $160,000 — for that,” Eckhart said.

He noted when the plans get sorted for what will happen with the flood-prone area, “the second transaction would happen slightly down the road.”

According to Cunningham, VM is expected to present its plan for initial review by the borough planning commission in the spring.

“We are continuing to coordinate with our state elected officials on several pending grant applications for the project,” Cunningham said. “We anticipate announcements on those applications before the end of this year or the first part of 2026.”

“I’m just glad to see it starting,” Councilwoman Kim Brubaker said. “It’s been a long time; it’s nice to see something happening there. I think that’ll help bring people to the area once it’s established.”