[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6227687,"mediaKeyId","3485800-c25fcca0bee1edb2cf357737dab2b2cc","parentId",3485800,"title","Council approves submission of $9.075 million RACP award for Martin Tower redevelopment","audioSeconds",307,"startMs",2663000,"endMs",2970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3485800-c25fcca0bee1edb2cf357737dab2b2cc&start=2663&end=2970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3485800-c25fcca0bee1edb2cf357737dab2b2cc/thumbnail_2663000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227687/Bethlehem/Lehigh-and-Northampton-Counties/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-submission-of-9075-million-RACP-award-for-Martin-Tower-redevelopment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227687-a39d50ec1fe71961eef025d0427b97e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195438&Signature=AUBenL0sthCUNayLmPwN7DWyw-TPF7p3lPgSmr~FJ2HPIi-vB~y3rtQleyGd-1blV2juoO8Zz9PQUH5fBYdAmVklsGi08YYifR27GvrOAVkMEw1AkXrJ01GgzKHA9hGB4kwhXpzAEZPxPtYqiVHHPfyUNZxewFyAIeBAFzI7Xwluo8mykrgvKnWz-fOpf~--c~evkWpfyumWA7doB-RPMYNtTAmCpV96o2hzyzp0R0MTKE5S32yV4KvgJYGX8nIMyHf79kaRH3~X3H5-XZh-gafyIKvQ~xYIcGEshjOSOfEtkeaNg7w0XlVTP-IfvYbwYZtPHhbaainxlQV5DhnrEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bethlehem, PA","date","2025-05-24T04:54:53.817Z","article","The Bethlehem City Council authorized city officials to execute applications and cooperation agreements needed to submit a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant application for $9,075,000 for the Martin Tower redevelopment project.

Sean Ziller, deputy director of economic development, said the RACP award traces to February 2009 and has been amended multiple times; the current action represents an administrative step to finalize the funding flow for construction. \"This original RACP award goes back to 02/2009,\" Ziller said, noting the file has reached amendment No. 12.

Council members clarified how the funds will be used and what remains on the site. City staff confirmed the $9,075,000 will be applied to the two medical office buildings at the front of the property; residential development on the rear acreage has not moved forward at this time. Officials said the zoning for the site permits up to roughly 1,085 residential units, a limit established by prior zoning changes.

Mayor Reynolds and Mr. Ziller also said the Martin Tower project is a rare case in Pennsylvania of a property using both RCAP/RACP assistance and CRIS benefits because the RACP award predated the CRIS program (2013) and has been carried forward with state approvals. Councilwoman Grimsey Smith recused herself from the vote, citing a conflict — she said a family member is employed by Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), a project beneficiary — and the resolution passed 6–0 with that recusal.

The council’s vote authorizes the mayor and controller to execute the required forms and cooperation agreements for the RACP pass-through. The action was framed as part of a long-running redevelopment effort and a procedural step to secure previously committed state funding rather than the start of a new funding request.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05212025 Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council authorized city officials to execute application and cooperation agreements to pass through $9,075,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding for the Martin Tower project; the resolution passed 6–0 with one member recusing due to a family connection.","taxTitle","Bethlehem, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania","taxId",9659,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227692,"Council orders downtown sidewalk inspection and advances lamppost funding discussions",372,1992000,2364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3485800-c25fcca0bee1edb2cf357737dab2b2cc&start=1992&end=2364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3485800-c25fcca0bee1edb2cf357737dab2b2cc/thumbnail_1992000.jpg","/articles/6227692/Bethlehem/Lehigh-and-Northampton-Counties/Pennsylvania/Council-orders-downtown-sidewalk-inspection-and-advances-lamppost-funding-discussions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227692-5b01c01aeec223f560518c6c20a4408d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195438&Signature=GYD3maapjLz7wkdBxFmj3pFPiDywFm8DL3Mmtr7SJ4tBOYVZr8CFltAmxjIvmTzt7fg7t-e8c1sRGPBdCUT98gnHqil23eTtHZILlWEnve4vVwl6ayajYWtkAg9KJycvLGGJ6gbxC0xI0Vf6MayVkZoajkj59oINig2OIPO2lH7eAqjo~deZJSItaGaMEJIAG4hyzpkj1ri7qdP6NWKSIesrhRXnWvNiqSK7GHPr6AcXWQIPbXTIEAKSgFqhiAniNUVOOrHrchAR5h8jO8mM6PMflH8PiR~STUmIOXMpl~~~Q-YiBWkYnkoCOJmFDZF8iy6k7TRhqERJuadU4TeLFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members and city staff agreed to inspect downtown sidewalks after council members and at least one councilor raised concerns about deteriorating brick and slate walkways in Bethlehem’s historic business district.

\"I've already asked engineering to inspect the sidewalks downtown, identify areas of safety concerns so we can sit down and look and see what we may do,\" said Michael Alkal, public works director. He said property owners would be notified if repairs were needed and that quick fixes would be evaluated separately from larger projects.

Council members debated whether the city should require or encourage property owners to replace historic slate or brick with modern stamped concrete or other uniform materials. Staff noted the city has historically sought to preserve the historic aesthetics downtown and that permit requests for standard concrete have not been approved in the past. Council members also warned cost-sharing programs can stall when property owners do not pay assessments, creating enforcement or lien situations.

Mayor Reynolds said the city had located funding to purchase new, heavier lampposts that would allow the downtown to safely hang decorations and that an announcement about the funding source should be possible \"in the next couple weeks.\" He and council members said the Downtown Bethlehem Association (DBA) has not agreed on keeping decorative lights on year round; the DBA did not reach consensus at recent meetings about the proposal.

The council asked engineering to prioritize identifying immediate safety hazards downtown and to report back; enforcement and property-owner notifications were presented as the preferred path for longer-term repairs rather than the city replacing privately maintained sidewalks by default. No new citywide sidewalk policy or ordinance was approved at the meeting.","Councilmembers asked city engineering to inspect damaged sidewalks in historic downtown Bethlehem and discussed a plan to buy new, heavier lampposts; the Downtown Business Association has not reached a consensus on year‑round decorative lighting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227697,"Residents ask Bethlehem council to act after repeated crashes on Pennsylvania Avenue",1157,133000,1290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3485800-c25fcca0bee1edb2cf357737dab2b2cc&start=133&end=1290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3485800-c25fcca0bee1edb2cf357737dab2b2cc/thumbnail_133000.jpg","/articles/6227697/Bethlehem/Lehigh-and-Northampton-Counties/Pennsylvania/Residents-ask-Bethlehem-council-to-act-after-repeated-crashes-on-Pennsylvania-Avenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227697-c7838f65d777db898609097e0f6704d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195438&Signature=ceH9gyzq2vO2ajTlGhAZEjfW0hdPsG9hVDwzxlxOS-wvWyRM9drLRUQYvQuBD9RCVKsrcEvvglfe-m3dCYueaHattmkQm4Kf6wSfXOm8cRzulmPOXzSdP6QYcqJqZsyRSwUcSEx9-VeQR5ieMejXF~3fev5jIj8fc1A7gZSpEylqJaOCV7wrUDVDyB5olyEIg8zwtoaYA51agA7d1K0XmqCxR7YyzmXUubDsdKnD4jMRgmc6xmo8fXjNPFnxeKToC1YJzYcfylf24mLTHKROzF5hdcy-XsKzTpVYcMKMSJy4rirD-SdNaLoazDcPHpNdQ7r7sAHDTXtTDwW8PZutkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Reverend Bruce Stevenson, who lives at 1216 Pennsylvania Avenue, told the Bethlehem City Council that his household and neighbors have had multiple cars hit and totaled on the 1200 block and nearby streets.

\"This is an issue of safety now,\" Stevenson said, describing three vehicles lost by his household and two additional crashes since he last spoke to the council. Maritza Figueroa, a neighbor, said her son’s car was totaled in front of her home last month and asked the city for a painted white line similar to Eaton Avenue to remind drivers the street is single-lane.

The council treated the concerns as both a short-term enforcement question and a longer planning issue. Councilwoman Leon asked how a traffic study could be triggered and whether a painted line would qualify; city staff said past evaluations were not convinced a painted line alone would solve the problem and noted ongoing resource constraints. \"We weren't convinced that a white line is going to solve the safety concerns,\" a city representative said.

Mayor Reynolds said the city has executed a federal contract that requires a Complete Streets plan for major corridors and that the consultant Kittleson has been hired to produce a framework for handling collector roads across the city. Reynolds said the plan will provide a \"lens\" to determine which treatments — from line painting to bump-outs — are appropriate for particular streets, but that the city would not wait to consider urgent, localized fixes.

Staff and council members discussed several near-term options: targeted speed enforcement, additional patrols, a field visit by the traffic engineer with council members and residents, and the possibility of painting lane lines on a trial basis for a short stretch. Deputy Chief Mike (police) was present and council members asked whether extra patrols could be scheduled. Public works staff agreed to provide an estimate for line painting and to revisit the site with the traffic engineer.

The council did not adopt a formal ordinance or vote specifically on Pennsylvania Avenue at the meeting. City staff were directed to inspect the area, provide cost and maintenance information for a painted white line, and report back to council; no formal policy change was approved at the meeting.

Next steps the council identified were a walk-through with the traffic engineer, a memo/estimate from the public works department on line-painting cost and maintenance, and consideration of short-term increased police presence while the Complete Streets plan is finalized.","Residents described multiple vehicle crashes on the 1100–1200 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue and urged the council to pursue measures such as painted lane lines, targeted enforcement or other short-term fixes while the city develops a larger Complete Streets plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves submission of $9.075 million RACP award for Martin Tower redevelopment

Council orders downtown sidewalk inspection and advances lamppost funding discussions

Residents ask Bethlehem council to act after repeated crashes on Pennsylvania Avenue