BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh University has officially finalized its purchase of three Lutheran churches in Bethlehem first revealed in January, the real estate agent overseeing the transaction said.
- Lehigh University finalized the $3.75 million purchase of three Lutheran churches in Bethlehem: St. John’s Windish, St. Peter’s and Light of Christ
- The congregations recently merged into Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church
- The package deal includes one of the largest tracts of undeveloped land in South Side Bethlehem
The sale of buildings belonging to St. John’s Windish, St. Peter’s and Light of Christ Lutheran churches was completed May 23, according to a release from Lucy Lennon, a residential and commercial concierge Realtor with Morganelli Properties.
The sale also included the block-sized St. John’s parking lot, one of the largest undeveloped spaces in South Side Bethlehem.
The three congregations, facing dwindling church attendance and expensive building repairs, recently merged into Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church.
Money from the sale will go toward a new building for Blessed Trinity.Cash sale, '
'Extremely good community neighbor'
Lehigh paid $3.75 million cash for the package of real estate, outbidding the City of Bethlehem, which offered $3.5 million.
The university has not shared its plans for the properties.
“Lehigh has been an extremely good community neighbor,” and "will continue to show that with its plans for the properties."Lucy Lennon, residential and commercial concierge Realtor with Morganelli Properties
Lennon said in the release, “Lehigh has been an extremely good community neighbor,” and said she "expects it will continue to show that with its plans for the properties."
Lehigh paid cash and no financing was needed, Lennon's release said.
The sale briefly ground to a halt in January when the Bethlehem Parking Authority said it intended to take the St. John's parking lot through eminent domain, according to church leaders.
The authority said a few days later it would not pursue eminent domain proceedings.
Until the newly minted Blessed Trinity finds a new building, the congregation will meet at the former Light of Christ campus in Northeast Bethlehem.
