Catasauqua Borough council members approved the master plan for the Iron Works site, as presented by VM Development Group, during the Sept. 21 council meeting.

Gretchen Rice, of VM Development, said they have been working on the plans for the site and expect to submit the plans for phase 1 to the planning commission Oct. 7.

According to Rice, phase 1 includes an L-shaped parcel around the municipal building. The site will include the depot building, a 60-unit apartment building, 14 town houses, parking and more.

The VM representatives noted they are excited to build a new industry in Catasauqua and plan to focus on residential now as an incubator to help bring in more business.

The representatives noted things are also moving forward on the flood plain study and efforts for phase 2. They said there is some work necessary to achieve balance, but they will be able to move forward.

Following the approval of the master plan, they will move on to land development.

Rice noted they are hoping for approval in November to move forward with financing and construction on phase 1.

It was reported they still need solid contracts for the funding coming from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was procured by U.S. Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th.

Chad Helmer, of Taggart Associates and Helmer Company, reported the retaining wall design is underway on Front Street and the site’s geotechnical field work is in process.

Moving forward, the retaining wall project needs to be completed before the streetscape work can be performed on Front Street. It was noted timing is crucial since the Multimodal Transportation Fund grant for the streetscape work expires in December 2027.

The hope is to have the retaining wall work done by spring or summer 2027, so the streetscape work can be performed in summer to fall of 2027.

The VM representatives noted they hope to start phase 1 work in spring 2027.

“Ideally, the area will look really different in 2028,” they said.

Additionally, Helmer noted there are still pending grant applications for the project, which were submitted in August. The Redevelopment Authority of Lehigh County submitted for the Main Street Matters program.

Chris Gulotta, of the redevelopment authority, said he is very pleased to be at this point with the project.

“This has been a good team,” he said, referring to the borough, county, state, VM and other project contributors. “It’s been a continuing pleasure to work with the borough.”