BETHLEHEM, Pa. — After the Bethlehem Parking Authority backed off earlier interest in taking a local church's parking lot by eminent domain, city officials on Tuesday night reaffirmed their interest in buying a package of Lutheran churches for sale in the city.
- Bethlehem officials indicated at a City Council meeting Tuesday that they are still interested in buying three city churches
- Bethlehem's parking authority previously had backed off a proposal to take the St. John's Windish parking lot by eminent domain
- The churches have not indicated their next move
The package of St. John’s Windish, St. Peter’s and Light of Christ churches also includes the parking lot at St. John’s Windish, one of the largest undeveloped tracts of land in the city’s South Side.
At a City Council meeting Tuesday night, Mayor J. William Reynolds read a letter addressed to congregants of the three churches, emphasizing that his administration wants to work out a deal the churches will accept.
“Unfortunately, our mission and other information has been lost in the process or misunderstood,” the letter reads. “We are writing in response to that confusion in hopes of starting a dialogue about who we are, what we believe, why we got involved, and how we can find a path forward.
“The city has the cash on hand to pay for the properties. We are ready to work with you to move this forward quickly while addressing your needs, as we have always been.”
Answering questions from Councilwoman Rachel Leon, city solicitor John Spirk said he thought a deal with the city would “look about the same as if Lehigh [University] were the buyer.”
Church leaders previously said they took Lehigh’s offer over the city’s because the city couldn’t offer good terms.
Reynolds said he sent the letter to the churches Tuesday afternoon and doesn’t know how it was received. It is not yet clear whether they are interested in negotiations with the city.
“We are writing in response to that confusion in hopes of starting a dialogue about who we are, what we believe, why we got involved, and how we can find a path forward."Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds
Church leaders postponed a vote to accept an offer from Lehigh University earlier this month after the Bethlehem Parking Authority said it was considering filing to take the St. John’s Windish parking lot through eminent domain.
The authority has since said it doesn't intend to pursue eminent domain; representatives for the churches have not indicated whether the deal is back on.
For the deal to be accepted, a majority of the members of each of the three combining churches must vote to approve it.
Councilwoman Dr. Paige Van Wirt read a letter from the authority’s Executive Director Steven Fernstrom explaining the reversal.
“While not easy, our decision to begin the eminent domain process in the St. John's Windish property was necessary because of what losing that parking option would do to the surrounding neighborhood," the letter said.
"What caused us to pause the eminent domain process is our belief and confidence that the next buyer will have productive conversations with us to ensure that the neighborhood's parking system will stay in balance.”
