UPDATE: $15M high-end apartment plan in Bethlehem clears 1st hurdle



A team of developers announced plans Thursday to transform a hillside "island" into 50 luxury apartments in Bethlehem.

Skyline West is proposed south of the 100 block of West Broad Street, directly east of Route 378, on the eastern slope of a ridge between the four-lane highway and Monocacy Valley. Each of the luxury apartments will have balconies with views of the Monocacy Valley, home to Bethlehem's Colonial Industrial Quarter, and South Mountain, according to Thursday's announcement.

"This is an island basically," said Jeffrey Parks, the Musikfest founder and former executive director of ArtsQuest who is a partner on the project. "It was created by Route 378."

Parks is working with developers Dennis Benner, Garrett Benner and Brandon Benner. They own one property that would be developed into the new building, at 143 W. Broad St., and are looking to buy an adjacent 1.3 acres from the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority.

"We hope to be able to start construction some time in late fall of this year and be available for rental some time in the third quarter of 2019," Parks said Thursday.

The proposed five-story building is billed by the newly formed Skyline West LLC as "the first multi-family market-rate housing project in Bethlehem's Historic District in over 30 years," according to a news release announcing the project.

Dennis Benner's projects include the six-story office building anchored by St. Luke's University Health Network and Lehigh University at Third and New streets on South Side Bethlehem. His sons, Garrett and Brandon Benner, are behind the One 6 Flats project in Downtown Easton.

Residents would enter through a gated access off West Broad Street. An unenclosed parking deck is proposed on site for residents and guests. Each apartment would include a washer and dryer and modern kitchen with gas stovetops. The building is described as pet-friendly, with a pet washing area, in addition to a fitness center, community room with outdoor deck, bicycle rack and a package receiving system.

"The Skyline West team intends to maintain as much of the native plantings on the steep hillside as possible as it is critical to the character of the project," Thursday's release states. "With the sloping hillside and limited level land, the construction of the project has been described by the construction manager as 'putting a ship in a bottle.'"

Parks says in the release: "The natural environment of the hillside is a paramount issue for us, both for the residents of the building and those who will see the hillside from the Monocacy Valley."

The developers were scheduled to appear Thursday afternoon before the redevelopment authority on their request to purchase the needed parcel for $30,000, contingent on final approval of the project.

The proposal also needs a rezoning of the redevelopment authority's land from Institutional to Commercial Limited, the same as the 143 W. Broad St. property. Then the developers need site approval from the city planning commission, additional zoning approvals and the OK of the Bethlehem Historical and Architectural Review Board, according to Parks.

"Our goal is to attract residents who are accustomed to more contemporary amenities and will support the retail stores, restaurants, professionals and non-profits in the downtown," Parks says in the release.

The release also includes words of support for the project from city officials and business leaders:

"The Skyline West project will add additional attractive residential options to our north side," Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez states. "This will go a long way in fulfilling the goal of providing opportunities for folks to live, work, shop and dine in our downtowns."

Neville Gardner, chairman of the Downtown Bethlehem Association, states: "The DBA board has endorsed the Skyline West project in part because it will add 50 to 100 people who can patronize the downtown daily, and also because it will add a very cool contemporary residential option to the downtown."

Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chairman Bob Begliomini states: "The Bethlehem Chamber Board has endorsed the Skyline West project because it is good for the city and it is good for our members that are attracting employees who are interested in living in this type of development in a vibrant downtown."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.