BETHLEHEM, Pa. — City planners on Thursday unanimously approved a new vision for the former Wells Fargo site on West Broad Street, complete with an "experience center," a five-story addition with 61 apartments and a restaurant next door.
But there’s still a ways to go before developers know what will be going inside the historic bank building at 52 W. Broad St., according to property owner Plamen “Rocco” Ayvazov, head of Monocacy Builders.
Ayvazov said he has made note of public feedback during his time on the Downtown Bethlehem Association Board of Directors, which is made up of local business owners who promote downtown business areas in the city.
“Something that is kid-friendly — I hope we can find something like that. But right now, it's too early, so we don't have any commitment yet.”Plamen “Rocco” Ayvazov, owner of Monocacy Builders
“A lot of the comments we get back from the people visiting the city [are] there was not much to do downtown or there was nothing for kids,” he said.
“Something that is kid-friendly — I hope we can find something like that. But right now, it's too early, so we don't have any commitment yet.”
Planning Commission Chairman Robert Melosky said, “Certainly it’s a large undertaking, big project for our downtown in an area that more and more improvements are occurring, especially on that Broad Street corridor.
“This would meld with the current building you have in the Boyd."
Busy corridor
The site in question is at West Broad and Guetter streets, a couple of blocks east of Main Street and just west of the Boyd Dream Theatre apartments — another project spearheaded by Monocacy Builders.
The Wells Fargo building and its ornate facade with large columns and engravings will not see demolition, according to project documents.
Plans show 28 one-bedroom apartments ranging from 654 to 841 square feet, and 33 two-bedroom apartments ranging from 976 square feet to 1,080 square feet in a metal-clad and glass addition built atop and to the north of the former Wells Fargo.
The project at the former Wells Fargo site on West Broad Street is planned to be a similar height as the Boyd Dream Theatre apartments next door, which is about six stories tall.Monocacy Builders
A 12- to 15-foot setback will help accommodate a rooftop terrace on the old bank.
The project is planned to be close in height to the Boyd next door, which is about six stories, developers said.
Site design engineer Kevin Horvath, of Keystone Consulting Engineers, said the property’s Central Business Zoning District classification does not come with a requirement to provide parking for the site.
Project officials said they are in conversation with the Bethlehem Parking Authority about tenants using adjacent parking garages on North and Walnut streets.
Bird-safe glass could be part of new build
Project architect Todd Chambers, of MKSD Architects, said the design is meant to contrast the classical-style architecture currently on site with a bit of a more modern look featuring the metal and glass.
Ayvazov said he and his team are even working with experts on using bird-safe glass in the new build.
He said the measure would come with an increase of 30-40% in glass costs compared with a more standard choice in window.
“The see-through effects are really a rather modest mortality factor for birds. It’s the reflective glass."Dr. Daniel Klem, director of the Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College
Daniel Klem, director of the Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College, said 3.5 million birds nationwide die each day from flying into windows.
“The see-through effects are really a rather modest mortality factor for birds," Klem said. "It’s the reflective glass.”
Klem said he would be happy to share his extensive research on bird-glass collisions with Ayvazov and his team, and the developer said he would be happy to work alongside the professor in choosing the right windows for the building.
“I commend you for looking into this and hopefully implementing it,” Melosky said to Ayvazov and crew.
