BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh Valley Health Network on Thursday announced plans for two new medical facilities, including its first women’s health center, at the former Martin Tower site.
The Women’s Health Center at Tower Place and Health Center at Tower Place will be at the former location of Bethlehem Steel’s Martin Tower, with a combined 100,000 square feet of medical space.
“Martin Tower was a longstanding landmark in our community and as the region’s health leader. We are looking forward to bringing new life to the site and providing patients with more services close to where they live, work and play.”Jim Miller, CRNA Regional President, Jefferson Health–Lehigh East Region.
The sizable redevelopment project for the site also includes plans beyond LVHN — which recently partnered with Jefferson Health. It is being referred to as Tower Place.
“Martin Tower was a longstanding landmark in our community and as the region’s health leader," said Jim Miller, CRNA Regional President, Jefferson Health–Lehigh East Region.
"We are looking forward to bringing new life to the site and providing patients with more services close to where they live, work and play.”
According to a release from LVHN, the Women’s Health Center at Tower Place will include a 40,000-square-foot facility providing specialized and dedicated care for women.
Services would include preventive gynecology care, breast health services, dermatology (in partnership with Advanced Dermatology Associates) and gynecology specialty programs.
'Women care about their health'
Other services would include women’s heart and vascular center, obstetrics and midwifery, maternal fetal medicine, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.
Furthermore, the center would offer women’s rehabilitation services, primarily pelvic floor therapy.
The center also would offer facial esthetic services and a café, and include on-site childcare for patients while they get care at the facility.
“Our Women’s Health Center is revolutionizing the way we provide care to the women in our community, and we are proud to be leaders in this space.”Medical Executive, Women’s Health Service Line’s Dr. Amanda Flicker
“We know women care about their health," Medical Executive, Women’s Health Service Line’s Dr. Amanda Flicker said.
"But they are often also caring for others in their lives, so we want to make access to world-class, specialized care as easy and convenient as possible to meet their unique needs and preferences.
“Our Women’s Health Center is revolutionizing the way we provide care to the women in our community, and we are proud to be leaders in this space.”
Health Center at Tower Place would be even larger, at 60,000 square feet.
It would include HNL Lab Medicine, Rehabilitation Services, Imaging Services (X-ray, MRI, Dexa Scan, Ultrasound), ExpressCARE, Primary Care, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Endocrinology, Bariatric Medicine and a Diabetes Metabolism Center.
Both LVHN facilities are expected to open this summer.
In the summer of 2023, Bethlehem’s Redevelopment Authority supported classifying the Martin Tower site as a “deteriorated area,” a step it said was a prerequisite for a potential tax abatement incentive to stimulate development.
At the time, Director of Community and Economic Development Laura Collins said the move would be necessary to encourage a project.
“I will say that there’s a long history of public support but, unfortunately, little movement advancing any master plan that really addresses our planning goals,” Collins said.
Redevelopment Authority Chairwoman Tracy Oscavich portrayed the plan as a means to expand growth in the area beyond the immediate municipality.
“This is one of the biggest opportunities beyond just the city of Bethlehem,” Oscavich said. “It's 55 acres in an urban area next to great infrastructure; it’s a site with so much potential.”
This is a developing report.
