BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Cathedral Church of the Nativity, with help from area nonprofits, intends to offer six affordable housing units nearby along its West Third Street property.
The city Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday approved two special exceptions and a variance to let the church convert its two rowhomes at 230 and 232 W. Third St.
A local collaboration of the church and social services partners Community Action Lehigh Valley and New Bethany will rehabilitate the “vacant, blighted” properties and provide three units of affordable housing apiece, each with 15-year affordability commitments, according to project officials.
The church is at West Third Street and Route 378, with its pair of longtime-vacant rowhomes adjacent to another seven similar structures owned by private individuals.
“These homes will start to enhance this really unique row."Christine Ussler, local architect with Artefact firm
Located in the Central Business District currently as a non-conforming use, a three-unit multi-family building would be permitted based on zoning rules.
“However, given the historic nature of this row of townhomes and their location at a key gateway to South Bethlehem, the church would prefer to renovate the existing home into three units instead of demolishing and building new housing,” according to a project statement provided on the city website.
'Win-win'
Current project plans include converting the two-family home at 230 W. Third St. into a three-unit multi-family structure, and the existing single-family semi-attached dwelling into a proposed three-unit structure at 232 W. Third St.
Lee Snyder, a Nativity Cathedral church parishioner, called the arrangement with New Bethany to serve as property manager and leasing agent a “win-win situation.”
Resident parking would be located nearby along church land at Shawnee Street and include some alleyway spots, he said.
To date, project officials have secured $540,000 in grant funding.
Christine Ussler, an architect with Artefact Inc. of Bethehem, said she assisted Lehigh University students in developing the current project schemes for the “moderate-cost” offerings.
“These homes will start to enhance this really unique row,” Ussler said.
