Read More - South Side Initiative

Newsletters | Free Apps | Weekly Savings
Log In
HOME
NEWS
WEATHER
TRAFFIC
SPORTS
BUSINESS
Search
ENTERTAINMENT
LIFESTYLE
New Bethlehem parking garage debated for four hours
Plans already approved for the $17.75-million project along New Street
Randy Kraft , WFMZ.com Reporter, [email protected]
Posted: 9:11 AM EDT Apr 01, 2016
Updated: 2:01 PM EDT Apr 01, 2016
Tweet
Tweet
0
COMMUNITY
SEARCH
FEATURES
STATION
OBITS
NEXT NEWSCAST:
69News Weekend Edition (6pm)
Your Regional News & Info
News By Region
0
2 closings/delays have been reported
2 closings/delays have been reported
SEVERE WEATHER ALERT
15 areas are now under advisories, watches or
severe weather warnings.
Berks
Mercer
Burlington
Monroe
Camden
Northampton
Carbon
Philadelphia
Delaware
Salem
Gloucester
Sussex
Hunterdon
Warren
Lehigh
Sign up for severe weather e-mails for your county
Kevin Livingston of Bethlehem Parking Authority and Tim Tracy of Desman Design Management
meet City Council committee
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Although a 626-space parking garage in south Bethlehem already has city approval for
construction, opposition to it continued unabated for more than four hours Thursday night.
The six-level Bethlehem Parking Authority garage will stand along the west side of New Street, between
Third and Fourth streets. It will be connected by a multi-level bridge to a six-story office building that
developer Dennis Benner will build at Third and New streets.
Development plans for both the parking garage and Benner’s building were approved by the Bethlehem
Planning Commission on March 10.
QUICK CLICKS
South Bethlehem office building
approved for construction
Residents oppose south Bethlehem
parking garage
Bethlehem City Council advances
Benner building project
Bethlehem City Council, which does not vote on approving the
plans, will take only two formal actions on the garage project.
In the coming weeks, it will vote on abandoning part of West
Graham Place, between New and Vine streets, so the garage
can be built there.
And it will vote on guaranteeing the borrowing that the parking
advertisement
authority must do to finance the $17.75-million garage.
If a majority of council members wants to stop the garage project — and there is no indication they do —
they could vote against that loan guarantee.
And if they want a smaller parking garage, they might vote against vacating that block of Graham Place
— requiring the developer to revise the plans.
Down Pillow
At 6 p.m. Thursday, Bethlehem City Council’s community development committee met to review a
Parking Demand & Feasibility Study that was done for the parking authority about the garage.
$59
Resident Dana Grubb thanked the committee for holding a public meeting on the parking study, although
he said: “It’s kind of like closing the barn door after the horses have gone out.
Shop Now
“But at least we have a chance to weigh in. Shame on the parking authority for not having done this
sooner.
Down Comforter
“Planning in Bethlehem really sucks.”
$299
Six of City Council’s seven members attended the meeting, but no formal action was taken.
Shop Now
“The approval of the debt is the critical decision,” said resident Al Wurth, who told council: “This is the
last chance that you have. This project couldn’t possibly go forward without pledging the full faith and
credit of the city behind the borrowing.”
Down Pillow
Two council members — Eric Evans and Olga Negron-Dipini — expressed reservations about the
garage project. Both were applauded.
$89
Resident Kimberly Carell-Smith also acknowledged the garage already has been approved, but asked:
“How do we beg City Council and the powers-that-be to think about scaling it back?”
Shop Now
Twenty-one people spoke during the meeting, some of them twice. Only three spoke in support of the
garage.
One of those supporters was Kassie Hilgert, president and CEO of ArtsQuest. “We know, from 32 years
of Musikfest, that we can’t have enough parking on the south side or the north side,” she said.
This Week's Circulars
Hilgert said ArtsQuest is reaching capacity with existing parking during regular programming at
SteelStacks. She also said the Banana Factory needs to expand, but doesn’t have enough parking to do
that.
Parking garage opponents included four residents of Graham Place, who complained no one from the
city or parking authority ever talked to them about the impact the garage will have on their street — not
only losing access to New Street but increasing traffic because some cars leaving the garage will use
Graham Place.
HOVER FOR CIRCULAR
HOVER FOR CIRCULAR
HOVER FOR CIRCULAR
HOVER FOR CIRCULAR
Negron-Dipini said the city was disrespectful to Graham Place property owners and other nearby
residents who weren’t informed about plans for the garage. “We can do better and we have to do better,”
she declared.
Opponents’ arguments
Several who oppose the project argued traffic in south Bethlehem already is gridlocked for many hours
every week day. They warned if traffic congestion gets worse, people will avoid driving in that part of
town — and all its merchants will suffer.
“Traffic already is at a standstill in that entire zone,” said Dwight Taylor, whose family owns the gas
station at Third and New streets. “It is detrimental to my business because, if people aren’t moving, they
can’t get in my store.”
Most Viewed on WFMZ.com
Articles
Taylor and other objectors said congestion will be even worse if Graham Place no longer is a throughstreet between New Street and Brodhead Avenue.
Videos
Galleries
Latest
‹ Previous
1
2
3
Next ›
High-speed police chase ends in fatal crash
Comments
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you
acknowledge that you have read and agree to the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance
with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Please be polite. Inappropriate posts and those containing links to
other sites may be removed by the moderator. Desktop and mobile versions of this site use independent comment
threads.
3 Comments
Sort by Newest
Sharply colder with strong winds
Police investigating suspicious death at
Northampton County day care
Crews respond to rollover crash near Lehigh
Valley Hospital
Pickup truck slams into Elverson church,
police say
Firefighters battle blaze at French Creek State
Park
Add a comment...
Amtrak construction workers killed in train
crash
Amtrak lead engine derails after fatal crash
near Philadelphia
Dana B Grubb · Owner at Concertpix Photography
Bethlehem already has a term limit on the executive/mayor of two terms. What is and
has been needed for some time are term limits on city council and city controller. The
idea of incumbency aiding politicians for 4, 5 or more terms is repugnant to the
American political process and it is certainly not what the Founding Fathers envisioned
for the Republic. It also heightens the opportunity for corruption.
Police release cause of crash that killed 5
Kids form human arrow, guide police to
suspect
Latest From The Newsroom
Like · Reply · 15 hrs
John Walsh
It is this simple. Elect new city council members at next election. This is an economic
transfer of taxpayer money to a developer to make a development plan happen without
any equity going back to the taxpayers. Stop this kind of financing arragements whereby
economci benefits are disproportionate to the taxpayer.
26 MIN. AGO
Pickup truck slams into Elverson
church, police say
12:43 PM
Fire destroys home in North Whitehall
Township
12:32 PM
Sharply colder with strong winds
12:02 PM
Amtrak lead engine derails after fatal
crash near Philadelphia
11:04 AM
69 News "Week in Review"
10:37 AM
'Threads of Love' event kicks off
National Donate Life Month
Like · Reply · Apr 1, 2016 10:29pm
Randy Kraft · Full-time Web reporter/editor at WFMZ-TV, Channel 69 News
Three of the seven members of Bethlehem City Council were just elected last
November. All are in their first term in office.
Like · Reply · Apr 2, 2016 12:51am
James Bullock · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Rare the parking lot they have now is full. That lot might hold 10% the capacity of the
new parking deck. The gov entity's are always blowing taxpayer money on projects not
needed. A parking tax to spend millions on a structure we dont need
is typical today. A parking deck in a crime ridden area is asking for trouble.
Like · Reply · Apr 1, 2016 9:48am
NEWS DIRECT FROM LEHIGH
VALLEY BUSINESSES & GOV'T
AGENCIES A Service from PR Newswire
Cash 5 Jackpot of $600,000 Won in Somerset County
MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Thu, Mar 31 2016 10:15 AM
Facebook Comments Plugin
advertisement
Powerball Ticket Worth $100,000 Sold in Allegheny
County
Latest From The Newsroom
MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Thu, Mar 31 2016 10:06 AM
Olympus Plasma Prostate Resection System Is
Recommended by National Institute of Health and
Clinical Excellence (NICE)
26 MIN. AGO
Pickup truck slams into Elverson
church, police say
12:43 PM
Fire destroys home in North Whitehall
Township
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., Wed, Mar 30 2016 8:30 AM
Sharply colder with strong winds
ALLENTOWN, Pa., Wed, Mar 30 2016 6:45 AM
12:32 PM
12:02 PM
Amtrak lead engine derails after fatal
crash near Philadelphia
11:04 AM
69 News "Week in Review"
AlertBot Celebrates 10th Year of Website Monitoring
Air Products to Broadcast Second Quarter Earnings
Teleconference on April 28
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Tue, Mar 29 2016 3:00 PM
Kitchen Magic Again Earns Esteemed 2015 Angie's
List Super Service Award
NAZARETH, Pa., Tue, Mar 29 2016 8:30 AM
10:37 AM
'Threads of Love' event kicks off
National Donate Life Month
More Local Headlines from PR Newswire
More LV Area News
Lehigh Crime Headlines
12:43 PM
Fire destroys home in North Whitehall
Township
6:55 PM
Ex-gang member pleads guilty in
shooting
10:37 AM
'Threads of Love' event kicks off
National Donate Life Month
6:52 PM
Steven Dreisbach will stand trial for
Emmaus murder
9:36 AM
Moravian Archives celebrates 'Deed
Day' in Bethlehem
5:00 PM
Police say man punches girlfriend
over messy bed
6:45 AM
Race Rogue gets ready to 'Conquer
the Unknown' this weekend
3:34 PM
6:49 PM
Hundreds hit the creek for first day of
trout season
2:04 PM
Man wanted in Easton shooting
6:32 PM
Crews respond to rollover crash near
Lehigh Valley Hospital
1:34 PM
Easton woman arrested after
punching police, EMT
Judge OKs first-time offender
program for construction company
owner
On this Day
FBI
On this day: April 3
The Pony Express begins, outlaw Jesse James is
killed, the convicted Lindbergh baby kidnapper dies in
the electric chair, the Unabomber is captured, and Iowa
legalizes gay marriage, all on this day.
Features Belt
Boscov's Berks Jazz
Fest: Looking back
at Jazz Fest over the
years
1234
Taylor Swift, once an
Apple critic, now in
Apple Music ad
Where are former
Final Four stars
today?
Connect with us! 69
News fan pages and
Twitter handles
WFMZ 69News Allentown, PA.
Stormcenter School / Business / Worship Application: SCHOOL/BUSINESS APPLICATION
WORSHIP REGISTRATION
NEWS
WEATHER
TRAFFIC
SPORTS
BUSINESS
ENTERTAINMENT
Inside Your Town
In Case You Missed It
Pennsylvania News
National News
Lehigh Valley News
Berks Area News
Regional: Other Areas
69 News at Sunrise
Technology
Politics
Recalls
Biographies &
Appearances
Order a News Story on
DVD
Espanol
Wanted by Police
Missing Persons
Hooked on Heroin:
Chasing the High
2016 Road to the White
House
Special Coverage: FBI
Probe
Weather Forecast
Hour-by-hour forecasts
Local radar
Future Radar
School and Business
Closings
Weather Maps
Local River Levels
Pocono Mountain
Cameras
Send Your Weather
Report
Contact Us
Helpful Links
Homework Help
Ed's School Program
The Accuweather
Channel
Traffic
Drive Times: Lehigh
Valley
Drive Times: Berks
Drive Times: Regional
Drive Times: NJ / NY
Long Commute
All Traffic Cameras
Pump Picks
Local Scoreboard
The Big Ticket
NFL
NCAA Football
NHL
AHL
NBA
NCAA BB
MLB
MiLB
MotorSports
Your Taxes
Local Stocks
Business Matters
Webcasts
Contests
Music Monday
WFMZ-TV Program
Schedule
LIFESTYLE
COMMUNITY
FEATURES
STATION
OBITS
Weekly Savings
Your Taxes
Food and Recipes
Health Beat and Life
Lessons
Family
Money
Auto
Pump Picks
Health
House and Home
Travel Getaways
Talk With Your Doctor
Calendar
Send Us Your Photos
and Videos
Send Us Birthday
Photos
Walk Team
Unsung Heroes
Employment
Furry Friends
Lost Pets
History's Headlines
Arts Around Town
Think Tank
Freddy Awards
One Tank Trip
Contact Us
Mobile and apps
Email Alerts
Employment
Advertise With Us
Where to find us on TV
WFMZ-TV Program
Schedule
69.3 - H&I Schedule
69.4 - Retro TV
Internships
Virtual Tour
Antenna Reception
Problems
Order a News Story on
DVD
Public Inspection File
Weather information provided by
© 2016, Maranatha Broadcasting Company, Inc.
Privacy Policy | Terms of use | Advertising Information | FCC Public Inspection File
Ad Choices
You might also like...
Nineteen-year-old dies
in Northampton County
quarry
Police: Rival
motorcycle gangs
clash; two pummeled...
Animal shelter issues
urgent plea for help
Amtrak lead engine
derails after fatal crash
near Philadelphia
www.wfmz.com
www.wfmz.com
www.wfmz.com
www.wfmz.com
AddThis