BETHLEHEM, Pa. — City officials submitted a new offer to buy three Lutheran churches and a parking lot on the South Side, exceeding the high bid church officials said Lehigh University submitted for the same properties.
- Bethlehem officials submitted a higher offer for a package of three Lutheran churches in the city
- The city’s new bid is $25,000 higher than the current high bid from Lehigh University, according to city officials
- Church members will vote on whether to accept Lehigh’s offer on Sunday
An agreement of sale dated Feb. 3 and digitally signed by “Mayor Reynolds,” offers $3.725 million for St. Peter’s, Light of Christ and St. John’s Windish Lutheran churches.
The package also includes St. John's acre-plus parking lot in the 600 block of East Fourth Street — one of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in South Bethlehem.
Bethlehem’s counteroffer comes less than 48 hours before church members are scheduled to vote on accepting Lehigh University’s offer for the properties, potentially closing the door on negotiations with the city.
According to city officials, Lehigh University submitted a $3.7 million bid for the properties. A real estate agent representing the churches, Lucy Lennon, disputes that figure, but did not disclose another.
According to church documents, the churches’ real estate agent is required by law to share all offers with church leadership, who then decide whether to bring the offer before the whole congregation within 48 hours.
After Sunday morning services at St. Peter's on Feb. 5, congregants are expected to vote on the sale, along with a plan for the churches' final merger. Majorities of each congregation must approve a measure for it to take effect.
A previously planned vote on the sale was postponed after the Bethlehem Parking Authority said it was considering filing to take the St. John’s Windish parking lot through eminent domain.
The authority later abandoned those plans, clearing the way for the sale to proceed.
