University's Small Cities Research Lab Collaborating with Local Communities for Permanent Transformation
Lehigh University's Small Cities Lab Advances Urban Revitalization and Sustainability
Lehigh University's Small Cities Lab (SCL) is making significant strides in addressing affordable housing and urban challenges in small and mid-sized cities. The Lab, founded with a commitment to addressing challenges in small cities, has expanded its focus beyond housing to address broader issues impacting these urban centres.
One of the SCL's first major initiatives, the Alley House Program, aims to revive the historic "Alley House" model for affordable housing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Program has attracted over $1.5 million in funding, including grants from HUD and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The Alley House Program has designed and built pilot units for testing the viability of reintroducing affordable housing models.
The Alley House Program has sparked broader conversations about housing equity in small cities. Ernesto Zelaya, a university graduate who joined the Alley House Program as part of his architectural studies, has since shifted his focus to urban planning and community development, advocating for affordable housing and economic justice.
The SCL is partnering with LANTA for a project to improve the functionality and accessibility of a bus station in South Bethlehem. This collaboration demonstrates the Lab's commitment to addressing issues related to economic development, land use, sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.
The Lab collaborates with a diverse set of stakeholders, including local nonprofits, government agencies, and community leaders. The Small Cities Co-Lab, an inaugural symposium and workshop, will be held this fall to build new partnerships and expand the SCL's research agenda.
The SCL's portfolio now includes interdisciplinary projects designed to create long-term, scalable solutions for urban problems. For example, the Disability Health, Social Life, and Wellbeing project explores how urban spaces support or hinder individuals with disabilities. The Empowering Communities for Climate Justice project provides job training and advocates for clean-energy solutions in marginalized communities.
The Tree Equity Coalition, another initiative, aims to enhance urban forestry in Allentown's most disadvantaged neighborhoods. The SCL is also addressing the health impacts of extreme heat in Allentown and other small cities.
The Co-Directors of the SCL were invited by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to participate in roundtable discussions to inform Governor Shapiro's Housing Action Plan. The Lab was awarded a Community Projects Funding grant through a Congressional appropriation supported by former Sen. Bob Casey and former Rep. Susan Wild.
By leveraging Lehigh’s interdisciplinary resources, including engineering and social sciences, the Lab provides hands-on learning opportunities for students to engage with real-world urban challenges, fostering a new generation of urban problem-solvers. The SCL's work now addresses issues related to economic development, land use, sustainability, and infrastructure resilience, recognizing that affordable housing is deeply interconnected with these factors.
Though the exact details of their projects or quantitative impacts are not explicitly detailed in the provided sources, Lehigh University's Small Cities Lab is recognized for expanding its urban focus from affordable housing toward a comprehensive approach to small city revitalization and sustainability.
- Lehigh University's Small Cities Lab, with a focus on education and self-development, offers students the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning about urban challenges, fostering a new generation of urban problem-solvers in the fields of health, arts, science, and research.
- As part of its commitment to education, the Small Cities Lab is partnering with various stakeholders, including local nonprofits and community leaders, to expand its research agenda in areas such as economic development, land use, sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.
- In addition to its focus on affordable housing, the Small Cities Lab is undertaking projects that address broader health-related issues, such as urban forestry and the impacts of extreme heat, thus contributing to the wellbeing and overall sustainability of small cities.
