RETTEW served as the land development engineer for The Hive Residences, a two-building urban redevelopment apartment complex in downtown Allentown. RETTEW’s responsibilities included comprehensive land development and permitting services, such as designing an efficient stormwater conveyance system, performing hydrological calculations for NPDES permitting, and developing the sewer planning module. The planning module was complicated due to potentially historic buildings on the site. RETTEW obtained sewer flow credits for the previous buildings, which resulted in substantial savings in sewer tapping fees for the project.

The Hive features a green roof and open-air outdoor common area between both buildings, with other modern amenities designed to enhance urban living. Both buildings have direct access to adjacent parking decks via new pedestrian bridges, which were designed as part of the project. These and other surrounding amenities not only provide convenience and comfort to residents but also contribute to a thriving and engaging community atmosphere.

The Hive Residences not only provides modern living spaces but also contributes to the economic and social revitalization of downtown. The project enhances the urban landscape, attracts residents, and supports local businesses, fostering a vibrant community. RETTEW’s engineering expertise played a crucial role in transforming this vision into reality, demonstrating the positive impact of thoughtful urban redevelopment. This project won a Top Projects Award from Lehigh Valley Business.