REAL ESTATE SALES ROSE BY 4% IN ’14 Page 3 January 26, 2015 • Vol. 26 • No. 4 • $2 SERVING BERKS, LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON & SURROUNDING COUNTIES www.LVB.com Inside Health, hospice campus planned in N. Whitehall By JENNIFER GLOSE [email protected] When Patrick Stonich and Joseph Motto became friends more than 10 LUXURY: A 300-unit luxury years ago, they discovered a common apartment complex near completion bond – their fathers were both ill and in Northampton County. were not getting Page 2 what they thought was proper care. ARMS RACE: Pennsylvania needs So Stonich, a fi nancial incentives when pitted Registered Nurse, against New York and New Jersey. and Motto, a Temple Page 8 business graduate, opened a home-care Stonich LEADS: A list of new businesses business in 2005 in the region. in Philadelphia. A decade later, after Page 22 PHOTO/STACY WESCOE identifying a need in the region, they Ford Explorers on the lot at Bethlehem Ford. The dealership says people are looking at SUVs more, but not necessarily are planning something much more buying since gas prices started to drop. ambitious in the Lehigh Valley. The two are developing what is planned to be a nearly $15 million, Focus Tumbling gas prices injecting 17-building campus on 38 acres in HEALTH CARE North Whitehall Township dedicated to personal and health care. Included some pickup into vehicle sales are twin 24-bed personal care homes and buildings for assisted living, By STACY WESCOE with the potential for a sales surge short-term rehabilitation, dementia, [email protected] AMERICA’S TOP-SELLING in SUVs and other lower-mileage VEHICLES IN 2014 please see CAMPUS, page 4 In 2008, when gasoline prices (LISTED WITH MPG vehicles, 2015 could be a banner began skyrocketing, owners of large FOR CITY/HIGHWAY) year for dealers. 476 SUVs and trucks ran to dealerships (1) Ford F-Series 17/23 “People have more change in in droves to sell off fuel inefficient (2) Chevy Silverado 18/24 their pocket, but they’re not staying PROPOSED Populytics uses employee health vehicles in exchange for smaller cars (3) Dodge Ram 17/25 away from the more fuel-efficient (4) Toyota Camry 25/35 CAMPUS care and health insurance data with better mileage. brands,” he said. “Business has for At Home But now that gas prices have (5) Honda Accord 27/36 picked up in all segments.” Health Services to help better manage patient (6) Toyota Corolla 28/37 And Hospice SUBTLE INCREASE population. dropped from nearly $4 per gal- (7) Nissan Altima 27/38 Page 13 lon and are nudging $2 per gallon (8) Honda CR-V 23/31 Jason Vanetta, sales manager at in many areas, vehicle owners are (9) Honda Civic 30/39 Savage L&B Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Washington St. (10) Ford Fusion 22/34 not necessarily running back to Robesonia, said he has seen mostly 476 THE LIST reclaim those gas guzzlers with the SOURCE: Kelley Blue Book. a balanced ratio of large and smaller Physical Rehabilitation Firms. same fury. vehicles selling on his lot. 309 Schnecksville Page 24 “We’ve got a lot of lookers, but and that has increased sales, said “But we are seeing more of a they’re not acting yet on the gas Ron Cral, director of operations at trend back to the truck and SUV,” BEHIND THE LIST prices,” said Lenny Casciole, a sales Rothrock Motors in Allentown. he said. Dr. Kelley Crozier says Reading manager at Bethlehem Ford. In fact, he said, that while But he said it’s a small, subtle 309 476 Trexler Nature Preserve Health Rehabilitation Hospital Car dealers in the Greater Lehigh January and February tend to be the increase with people who were per- provides services throughout the Valley aren’t complaining, however. slowest months of the year at the haps on the fence about whether or Allentown continuum of health care. Lower gas prices mean more dispos- dealership, sales this past month Page 21 able income for the driving public have been very strong. Coupled please see GAS page 7 VIEW FROM THE TOP PRESIDENTS’ Leaders from Phoebe Ministries, People First Credit Union, MassMutual Eastern FORECAST Pennsylvania and Best MESSAGE 2015 Principled Solutions deliver their message and forecast for 2015. Pages 10-12 2 Lehigh Valley Business • January 26, 2015 LVB.com Luxury apartment complex Volume 26, Number 4 65 E. Elizabeth Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18018 610-807-9619 • [email protected] Publisher in Palmer nears completion Michael O’Rourke By BRIAN PEDERSEN [email protected] • ext. 112 [email protected] Office Manager Cheryl Gaydos • [email protected] • ext. 100 The demand for luxury living is spurring growth for residential units in Allentown and Easton, but also NEWS in more suburban environments of the Lehigh Valley. Editor Bill Kline • [email protected] • ext. 115 Palmer View, a project with more than 300 luxury units under construction near Route 248 in Staff Reporters Brian Pedersen • [email protected] • ext. 108 Palmer Township, is looking to meet that demand Jennifer Glose • [email protected] • ext. 111 by building apartments for people who want close Senior Writer/Online Editor access to major highways and shopping centers. Stacy Wescoe • [email protected] • ext. 104 The community covers 37 acres and will accept Researcher first occupancy beginning March 1, said Jody Christopher Holland • [email protected] • ext. 110 Wright, property manager for Palmer View, built and managed by Hilton Realty of Princeton, N.J. DESIGN Senior Designer “We are told the entire project should be finished Emily Graf • [email protected] • ext. 101 by September, pending any weather and construc- tion delays,” Wright said. AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT VP Audience Development While the township has high-end, single-family Zander Gambill homes going up at the Maple Shade Estates develop- Audience Development Manager ment by Tuskes Homes, fewer single-family homes Sherry Andersen appear to be under construction in Palmer, according For subscription information and questions to David Colver, township supervisors’ chairman. PHOTO/BRIAN PEDERSEN please call 888-506-5770 “It seems like these high-end apartments seem to Combined, Palmer View will have more than 300 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. be going pretty well,” Colver said. “We are starting Nazareth Township that has dozens of retail estab- with subterranean garages and rental rates that are a ADVERTISING Sales Manager to see more of that, one and two-bedroom units, lishments, including Kohl’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club, little higher, she said. Tom Vrana • [email protected] • ext. 107 where we are not seeing single-family homes. The McDonald’s and Regal Cinemas. Monthly rents start at $1,280 for one-bedroom Senior Account Executive market seems to be there for the apartment living.” “It was basically the prime location,” Wright said. units; $1,570 for two-bedroom units. Apartment John C. Coyle III • [email protected] • ext.105 ADDITIONAL ACCESS “There is really not any type of high-luxury apart- sizes start at 800 square feet for one-bedroom Account Executives When the project was proposed, one of the ment community in this area. Probably our closest units and 1,133 square feet for two-bedroom units, Kristen Jordan • [email protected] • ext. 106 major concerns of township supervisors was that is two to three miles from here.” Wright said. Natalia Stezenko • [email protected] • ext. 103 it should have a connector road linking Van Buren In 2011, the township saw construction of Features include hardwood flooring, carpeting in Special Inserts Account Executive Road with Route 248, Colver said. Woodmont Place at Palmer, a community of luxury the bedrooms, stainless steel appliances and granite Sarah Kleintop • [email protected] • ext. 113 Once that connector road, Corriere Road, is apartments near Freemansburg Avenue, several countertops. Wright said. Also, Palmer View will EVENTS open, which should be by late summer, residents miles from Palmer View. include a clubhouse, private balconies and patios Events Director will be able to access the property from Van Buren TOTAL OF 11 BUILDINGS and a community pool. Wendy Berg [email protected] Road and Route 248. The first part of Palmer View involves construct- Mandy Partners in Easton was the original “It opens up a whole other avenue,” he said. ing 184 apartments in eight buildings, and the sec- developer that proposed apartments on the site. The Events Coordinator Dayna Edelman The site is behind Northampton Crossings on ond part includes 122 apartments in three buildings, township approved the existing project in January [email protected] • ext. 109 Route 248, a shopping center in neighboring Lower Wright said. The second part includes apartments 2013, according to Palmer’s planning director. Senior Events Designer Sara Siano [email protected] • ext. 116 Copyright 2015 by Journal Multimedia. All rights reserved. Volume 26, Number 4. Lehigh Valley Business BRIEFS These news briefs originally appeared in LVB.com’s Daily News email or as breaking news. Sign up at LVB.com. is protected under the federal Copyright Act. Reproductions of any part by any means or facsimiles without the express written permission of the publisher are not permitted. Construction to start in spring lobby, the Renaissance Allentown Hotel by Marriott tic, medical and surgical services. A full-service Reprints of LVB articles are available. For licensing, reprints, International opened at 12 N. 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