Category: 404 E. 3rd St.

On 3rd St., competition for student renters, suggestion for complementary design

Latest in a series of posts on 404 E. 3rd St

ref: Smith puts eyes on the plans for 3rd and Polk
ref: Planning Commission favors 3rd and Polk, but parking needs to be settled

404 E. 3rd is aimed at the student market.

The pitch the developer made to the Planning Commission was very “politic,” indicating they were intently following the City discussion of regulating student housing, were aware of the purposes of that project, even specifying them, and denoting 4 synergies with their project:

  • Just .3/mile from the edge of the Lehigh campus, this project will help pull students out of the neighborhood row homes
  • and that will encourage more retail business on 3rd. St.
  • The project is close to multiple modes of public transportation,
  • and will have substantial economic impact for the city, since the property pays only $499/tax this year ($105 to the City), basically nothing, and now will be taxed at $180,000 ($39,500 to the City).

Gadfly found the following brief comments by the developer about their relation to and relationship with Lehigh very interesting. If Gadfly understands correctly, Lehigh has publicly stated that it is providing housing for all of its students on campus, so what we have here is a stark example of minding the main chance — the developer realizing that he can offer a premium product to students for whom price is not a concern.

  • We designed Polk Street [310-22 E. 3rd St. — his nearby companion building] . . . things where I would want my daughter to be . . . . That shows we can get a premium in the market if we have the right product.
  • We’re not talking with Lehigh because we’re competing with Lehigh quite frankly.
  • We’re trying to grab the best of the best out of Lehigh and bring them down here.
  • We’re going after the top of their student housing stack, if you will.
  • I view us as a competitor to Lehigh, truthfully.
  • They’ve been a great competitor for us because it has been easy to pick off what we want.
  • We think we’re a better mousetrap.

But the best part of the commentary on the new project came from Kim Carrell-Smith, whom we have come to recognize always has sensible comments based on research as well on her lived experience on the Southside and her good taste. As Kim has done before, she asks for design of the new building that “blends” better with its neighbor to the west built by the same company.

  • I wonder if we could persuade you to work on a complementary design to your first building [310-22 E. 3rd St.].
  • It would add to the character of what you have already done.
  • It would definitely provide a kind of gentle way to come from the historic district out of the historic district.
  • I think that would be a great thing for the community.
  • It would be a great thing for the historic district.
  • And a good thing for the shopping, living, playing public.
  • Could you fill that niche with a building that doesn’t detract from your initial project?

Blend these better?

Such a good idea, Kim!

Planning Commission favors 3rd and Polk, but parking needs to be settled

Latest in a series of posts on 404 E. 3rd St

“I believe this project is one that is going to be done right. I think it is a much needed project. I think it will complement everything that is going on in the Southside.”
Planning Commission chair

“I am very bullish on Polk Street.”
Mayor Donchez

ref: Smith puts eyes on the plans for 3rd and Polk

The Planning Commission gave the go-ahead for this project for a new building at 403 E. 3rd St. (across Polk St. from Mo;inari’s) in its April 8 meeting. with the chair almost gushing with his affirmation. There was, however. considerable grousing about the stalled Polk Street Garage project across the street that would provide so much necessary parking.

Gadfly will post some audio and commentary from the meeting shortly.

————

selections from Sara K. Satullo, “80 apartments and 2 restaurants planned for 7-story South Bethlehem building.” lehighvalleylive.com., April 9, 2021.

Ashley Development Corp. plans to build a 7-story mixed use development at Third and Polk streets. Plans call for two floors of retail and then a mix of 80 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments on the upper floors built on a parking lot at 404 E. Third Street. The property sits between Third and Mechanic streets and bounded by Polk Street to the west.

Ashley recently had great success converting office space in an adjacent building at 322 E. Third St. into 52 high-end apartments targeting Lehigh University students and young professionals, Pektor said. “We are really trying to push the market to a high-end, higher quality product,” Pektor said. “We’ve learned that students, graduate students and staff people will pay for high-quality units and they will pay to be close to convenience… The more foot traffic and more residential units we can put in that approximate area I think is good for everyone.”

Pektor wants to capitalize on his success with a mixed-use development of more housing next door. He’s also in negotiations with two high-end, local restauranteurs who would occupy the first and second floors, he said. The more students developers can draw down to the business district the more the city can preserve the integrity of its original neighborhoods and create a more vibrant commercial district, Pektor said. And it creates a boon of foot traffic for local businesses, he said.

The planning commission ultimately signed off on several variances it has the power to approve under city zoning and made them contingent on developers nailing down where tenants will park. The biggest unknown for the project — estimated at a $16 million to $18 million investment — is where its residents and visitors will park. The coronavirus pandemic and unexpected emergency repairs at the Walnut Street parking garage have derailed plans for the Polk Street parking deck across from Pektor’s project. He is prepared to lease 114 spaces in the Betlehem Parking Authority deck if it is built. Without it, he might require tenants to provide proof of parking elsewhere or have to redesign the project, Pektor said.

Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez on Friday [said] much hinges on the forthcoming Walnut Street garage condition report and clearer federal guidelines on how the stimulus funding can be used. “Polk Street is basically shovel ready and now we have more (lease) commitments today than we had for the garage a year ago,” Donchez said. “That puts the parking authority in a stronger position. The key is what does the Walnut Street report say and what are the guidelines and regulations for how we should use the stimulus money? I am very bullish on Polk Street.”

What’s the value of a Historic Conservation District?

Latest in a series of posts on 404 E. 3rd St

That’s the very first question in the South Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission design guidelines:

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE HISTORIC CONSERVATION DISTRICT?

The South Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission (SBHCC) encourages the economic development and revitalization of the South Bethlehem Historic Conservation District while attempting to minimize the burden on long-term residents. Although each property owner can define the benefits of the Historic Conservation District based upon personal experience, historic districts have been found to: •Increase neighborhood stability and property values, foster economic development, increase business district investment, and revitalize older commercial areas by attracting new customers •Provide funding opportunities to property owners with grants and financial incentives to improve their historic buildings and structures •Preserve the physical history of the area and promote an appreciation of the physical environment •Foster community pride and self-image, increase the awareness and appreciation of local history and tourism.

The proposed new construction at 404 E. 3rd St. that we just posted on gives us a shorthand way of answering that basic question for visual learners:

What’s the value of a Historic Conservation District?

Smith puts eyes on the plan for 3rd and Polk

Latest in a series of posts on 404 E. 3rd St.

Anna Smith is a Southside resident, full-time parent, and community activist with a background in community development and education.

404 E. 3rd St.
Planning Commission
Thursday, April 8, 5PM

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/184879645
1(872)240-3212
access code 184-879-645

ref: Establishing community-centered principles [the Smith principles] for responsible Southside development

Gadfly:

Here we go again! The latest proposal for Southside Bethlehem is up for approval, and since it lies outside the Historic Conservation District, residents and business owners only have one chance to weigh in on the project—the upcoming Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, April 8 at 5 pm. Based on my experience with the current Planning Commission, I have little hope for any discussion that extends beyond minute technical details and congratulatory remarks to the developer, and a swift approval of everything as designed and presented. But, hey, we could be surprised. Regardless, I encourage folks to attend to remind our Planning Commission that residents and small business owners are interested in weighing in on proposed projects, which they are charged with ensuring represent “the best possible development” for our community.

The project under consideration is a 7-story (85 ft) mixed-use building proposed for the corner of Third and Polk streets in south Bethlehem, to be developed by Lou Pektor’s Ashley Development Corporation (owners of the mixed-use building across Polk Street). The current site is a parking lot that was previously slated for development as a two-story building with a major restaurant tenant, which went through a few different iterations over the years. Times have changed, and post-COVID, Lehigh Valley-housing-crisis projects are flooding in, as are proposals hoping to sneak in before height limits are changed for the Southside commercial districts. The new project consists of two floors designed for commercial use, with two retail spaces on the first floor, a large commercial space on the second floor (medical office? gym?), and then five floors that will include 25 studio apartments, 35 1-BR apartments, and 20 2-BR apartments. While they have not specified it, I believe that the apartments are likely going to be targeted as college student housing, given their size, location, and the developer’s recent conversion of their adjacent property to student apartments.

  1. Support projects that incorporate locally owned businesses into their plans, and that lead to a net increase in small businesses.

Here’s a big question for the developers, and one that I hope is addressed at the Planning Commission. Based on Ashley Development’s track record at their adjacent Third Street property, I’m nervous about the first-floor retail spaces. To their credit, after years of persistent vacancies, they have finally filled the huge holes in their first floor (and upper floors, for that matter, which were vacant for years following the departure of St. Luke’s). However, having worked with small businesses that were interested in locating in the property, I know that the developer was willing to sit on vacant properties for years rather than lower prices to attract a small, local business—a trend that is all too common (and unfortunately, makes financial sense). The types of businesses that can afford a large, unfinished storefront are few and far between.

So, the questions we need answered here: Are the developers working with specific local businesses on this project? How will they ensure that the first and second floor spaces meet the needs of actual businesses in our community and remain filled?

  1. Prioritize development of vacant industrial properties over demolition of historic properties.

This seems like an apt location for new development. Parking lots don’t add much to the neighborhood, and extending the commercial corridor along Third Street has been a goal of the City’s for a long time. No historic properties will be harmed in the construction of this building, so that’s always a plus!

  1. Encourage new development that does not exceed the size of surrounding properties and blends with historic architecture in order to create a cohesive sense of place and encourage walkability.

This is an interesting one. Once you get to Polk Street, Third Street becomes an eclectic mix of sizes and styles, particularly considering proposed structures for the many parking lots of the redevelopment area. There is no master plan for design for this area (that I’m aware of) to encourage developers to build in any consistent way. Here’s where something like a form-based master plan could have been helpful. But it’s too late for that, so let’s look at what we have in front of us.

Personally, I think the building is pretty ugly. The dark, set back retail spaces under the massive overhang of several stories of apartments do not look inviting. Ashley Development’s other project on Third Street made an effort to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood, probably because it was required to as part of the historic review process. But the Historic Conservation District ends at Polk Street (along Third Street), so I suppose they are going for a cheap look rather than one that blends with their next-door neighbor. What do you think?

When it comes to building height, most folks on the Southside seem to agree that this end of town is best suited for large buildings given the tall historic structures that already characterize the area. The project requires a significant number of variances due to the proposed density on such a small site, but the location within the industrial redevelopment area means that it will be easier to get these and that this site in particular would not be affected by proposed height reductions throughout the rest of the business district. At 85 feet, the building will be taller than most of the surrounding properties (existing and proposed), although the developers indicate that it will be similar to the Northampton Community College building.

I’m not thrilled about the building’s appearance and don’t think it fits very well into the surrounding area. But I want to hear the thoughts of other residents and business owners.

  1. Support projects that incorporate diverse residential and commercial offerings that are accessible and affordable to South Bethlehem’s population.

This project will offer a range of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments. I hope that the developer will indicate if these are intended to serve college students or another population. Given the small size of the units and the likely price range, I don’t see much of a market for these studios beyond students. A range of apartments in these sizes is needed in our community, but it is highly unlikely given construction costs that the developer will charge prices that would actually meet the affordable housing needs of our community. I look forward to hearing more about this point.

  1. Support adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

This is not an adaptive reuse project and doesn’t seem to have potential to be one.

  1. Support projects that incorporate green space and/or the development of public spaces into their design.

This project proposes covering 95+% of the lot with impervious surfaces and removing 17 12-foot sycamores from the property, so green space looks to be a net loss (not that there was much to begin with).  The second-floor commercial space and residential entrances will be located on the Mechanic Street-side of the building, so at least the view from the Greenway will be more than just dumpsters. Not much else to say here.

  1. Support projects that are developed in response to community needs identified by residents and stakeholders, and that engage residents and stakeholders in idea development and the design process.

There’s no indication that residents and community stakeholders were consulted in the development of this project. I know it’s not the norm, but I will continue to insist that the best projects require community input.

  1. Support projects that prioritize sustainable development practices and take proactive approaches to addressing challenges presented by our changing climate.

Thus far, this project does not address this point. I hope that the developer’s presentation will include an analysis of the environmental impact of the project.

  1. Avoid projects that cause displacement of long-time residents, low-income residents, and locally owned businesses

No businesses or residents will be displaced through this project, so that is definitely a plus.

  1. Do not use projects that are nearly universally considered planning and design failures as precedent for elements of new development (e.g. Urban Renewal projects like Rooney building, Litzenberger House, Lehigh’s Brodhead House; Rite Aid shopping center)

This doesn’t seem to be an issue in this particular case.

All in all, I’m not extremely excited about this proposal. I’m interested in learning more. I agree that this is an appropriate location to direct development, but I wish it were more attractive, and I hope the storefronts will be filled immediately with small, local businesses that serve Southside residents. I’m interested in hearing if this will be student housing. I’m also curious to see if the project will actually move forward, since the developer has been sitting on the property for years.

I hope that the Planning Commission will take the final point on the City’s letter seriously and condition approval on obtaining contracts for parking spaces at the specified Parking Authority lots. Given the explosion in development proposals on the Southside, it will be a race for developers to acquire a finite number of spots. I believe other developers have cited some of these same parking spots in their calculations, so we will need to keep an eye on approvals to ensure that spaces are not double-counted.

You may have noticed that my analysis is less robust than usual. This is a factor of time; as a community, we were made aware of this project on April 5 thanks to a Morning Call article. The actual plans weren’t published on the City’s website until late in the day on April 5, leaving the community three days to analyze the proposals in preparation for the only opportunity to provide input in a formal setting. I’m staying up far later than I would like to finish this analysis so that it can be published by The Gadfly and hopefully encourage a few folks to come out to the Planning Commission meeting. Do you see the problem here? I hope so. Responsible and community-oriented development requires doing a lot better.

Anna