Easton Planners Approve Downtown Apartments

Easton's Planning Commission has given its approval to a developer who wants to turn two vacant Downtown properties into apartments.

wants to build the apartments -- along with some commerical space -- in two vacant buildings on the 400 block of Northampton Street.

The buildings -- the former homes of radio station WEST and A&D Tile -- are adjacent to each other. Plans call for 23 apartments and 5,200 square feet of commercial space. 

Commissioners had some questions about parking at the property, but were otherwise in favor of the plan.

"I think part of being in a city is that they’re going to be ," said Commissioner Ron Shipman. "We're trying to develop a city here."

 Schy-Rhys' Greg Schuyler told the commissioners he hopes to get to work right away, and said the project should take between 14-18 months to complete. The developers must get approval from the city's Historic District Commission, which meets Monday night.

Also Wednesday, the commission gave its recommendation to a new Chinese restaurant for Easton's South Side. The restaurant -- which needs to go before the city zoning hearing board -- would open at 700 Philadelphia Road, the same shopping center as the CVS and .