BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Racecar driver and property owner Marco Andretti should ease off the gas with his proposed West Broad Street apartment project, city planners agreed Thursday.
Andretti plans a four-story, 18-unit building for the area to the rear of 823 W. Broad St. He also owns the homes at 817 and 821 W. Broad St., which also are planned to house four and eight units, respectively.
The new building would include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from 508 to 802 square feet, according to project drawings.
And the question on everyone’s mind if it's ultimately approved: Would they be affordable?
While no figures were shared Thursday, since the project is in the preliminary sketch-plan stage, the developer envisions market-rate pricing and up to three of the total units being “affordable.”
The four-story, 18-unit building at 823 W. Broad St. would include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from 508-802 square feet, according to project drawings.
But to get to the point of building the complex and moving in tenants, the developer also has to get over a number of zoning hurdles — a few of those including density, lot area per dwelling and parking.
For example, such a structure in the city's Limited Commercial district would typically require 45 parking spaces, but the developer has proposed 25 spaces for a total 30 living units.
'It's massive'
Gary Lader, president of 4/4 Architecture, who spoke on behalf of Andretti, said the preliminary plan is a bit dense, but they’re open to exploring different design options.
“Admittedly, that rear addition, it’s massive. We tried to at least break up the mass of it into two sections.”Gary Lader, president of 4/4 Architecture
“Admittedly, that rear addition, it’s massive,” Lader said.
“We tried to at least break up the mass of it into two sections.”
The east side of the rear addition would be set back to respect the landscaping behind 817 West Broad St., while it and the addition’s west side also would feature full-height glass windows.
Beloved architecture
The current plans call for at least some demolition at the rear of 821 West Broad St., including two garages on the property.
But the developer intends to make use of the homes fronting the thoroughfare, and later look to consolidate the lots at 817 and 821 West Broad St.
“The city does acknowledge and commend, actually, the applicant for preserving these two structures."Bethlehem Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning Craig Peiffer
“The city does acknowledge and commend, actually, the applicant for preserving these two structures,” Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning Craig Peiffer said.
“They’re proposing no changes to anything from the front porches at the duplex — or what used to be the duplex — or the single-family, which has a porte-cochère and a driveway and an extensive porch.”
'Too dense'
Commission Chairman Robert Melosky said he understood conversations would continue between the developer and city staff regarding the design — but for now, he wasn’t a fan of the preliminary plan.
It “kind of looks like we’re just trying to throw something in there and throw it in, and it really doesn’t blend or meld … with the current feel or vibe of West Broad,” Melosky said.
Demolishing at least one of the buildings planned for preservation would make the rear addition easier to swallow, he said.
“[It’s] great to see some investment in these two properties and to have them better maintained. But I think what’s proposed right now is out of context with the neighborhood and too dense.”Bethlehem planner Matthew Malozi
It's “great to see some investment in these two properties and to have them better maintained,” planner Matthew Malozi said.
“But I think what’s proposed right now is out of context with the neighborhood and too dense.”
Nearby homes, businesses, parking
Kathleen Russo, a resident of Eighth Avenue, lives near the area in question and was concerned her landscaping could be at risk with the proposed project.
“My home stands to be the most impacted by this,” Russo said. “I believe our neighborhood, our block, will be severely impacted.”
Douglas Jones, who lives just down the block, said overflow parking on the surrounding streets could become an issue with the new development.
And as someone with 15 years of experience with a fire brigade, he said, access along Schaffer Street (an alley) wouldn’t suffice in an emergency situation.
“If I were a fire chief, I would have no idea how to set up and stage my equipment in order to fight against a four-story-high fire; it would be impossible,” Jones said.
“I don’t know how long this thing would take to construct, but it’s not very far from the walls of my counseling practice. And I can only imagine how problematic that would be over an extended period of time.”Nearby business owner Fred Chamberlain
While nearby business owner Fred Chamberlain said he appreciated the consideration of preserving structures on site — specifically 817 West Broad and its “invaluable image” — the proposed addition behind the frontmost homes would be a “monolith.”
“I don’t know how long this thing would take to construct, but it’s not very far from the walls of my counseling practice,” Chamberlain said.
“And I can only imagine how problematic that would be over an extended period of time.”
