The Altoona Redevelopment Authority is staffed by the Planning and Community Development Department plays a major role in the development and redevelopment activities of the City. Appointed by the Mayor, the Altoona Redevelopment Authority can purchase land or acquire land through tax sales, direct purchase or lease and through eminent domain. It can own and manage real property, and zone or rezone land in connection with an approved redevelopment proposal. The Authority can sell or lease the land it owns, and financially participate in the redevelopment of property. It can also contract with the private sector for the redevelopment of parcels that are publicly owned, underutilized and part of a Redevelopment Proposal.

In the interest of redeveloping the City, the Redevelopment Authority is currently administering three Urban Redevelopment Plans.Northern Altoona is in the far northern end of the City and is generally located above North Eighth Street. This URA currently houses a KOEZ allowing residents of certain properties to live income- and property tax-free through 2013. Lower Altoona is located between Fifth Avenue and the mainline north of Twelfth Street. The current project is the replacement of the Seventh Street Bridge and the creation of two parklets on either side of the eastern approach. Finally, the Logantown URA has successfully redeveloped the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of Chestnut Avenue with neighborhood businesses and is now focusing on residential development on Lexington Avenue and the development of a regional shopping center on East Chestnut Avenue at First Street. Questions on these projects may be directed to the Property and Program Coordinator at (814) 944-4698.

The Altoona Redevelopment Authority also manages the Altoona Transportation Center, which houses the Amtrak and Greyhound stations, the AMTRAN downtown transfer center, the Altoona Parking Authority, and two local businesses: Station News and Food Service Solutions. The Transportation Center is located at the corner of Eleventh Avenue and Thirteenth Street downtown, and has an Altoona Parking Authority garage facility attached.