BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A developer has new life in mind for a dilapidated single-family home on the South Side.
Nicholas Youssef envisions an all-new three-story building at 330 E. Fourth St., featuring four two-bedroom apartments in the upper floors and about 1,800 square feet of ground-level commercial space.
The project, located near Touchstone Theatre and Parham Park, also would come with eight off-street parking spaces.
“We’re planning to basically remove that building, raze that structure, and rebuild it almost in place."Joseph Rentko of Black Forest Engineering
The city Planning Commission unanimously approved the project last week.
“We’re planning to basically remove that building, raze that structure, and rebuild it almost in place,” Joseph Rentko of Black Forest Engineering said.
“We’re actually going to slide it a bit further off East Fourth Street because right now the sight distance at the corner is very bad.”
Youssef said he was not sure just yet what tenant would set up shop in the retail space.
Already approved for demolition within a local historic district, the property at the southwest corner of East Fourth and Polk streets will be back before the Historic Conservation Commission review board at some point regarding finishes and the like.
The property currently has a garage abutting the nearby alley and other shed-type structures that would need to come down, too, Rentko said.
'A good infill project'
The proposal is a permitted use based on the property’s Limited Commercial zoning classification.
Northampton County records show the home on site was built in 1916. The property was bought for $113,000 in May 2024.
Bounded by Fourth, Polk and Morton streets, the structure is among other mixed uses nearby, including a laundromat and barber shop. It’s about half a block to the west of Schweder Fire Station.
City officials said the emergency access road to the property needs to accommodate a fire apparatus weighing 84,000 pounds.
“Obviously it’s an improvement adding a newer residential component,” Planning Commission chairman Rob Melosky said. “I think it’s a good infill project.
“I’m anxious to see what retail" goes in.
