10 East Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Welcome
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2021 OF THE
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM
A next regular meeting of the Board of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Bethlehem will take place at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
This meeting will be held using a hybrid format with in-person attendance occurring in Town Hall at Bethlehem City Hall; 10 East Church Street; Bethlehem, PA and virtual attendance occurring using GoToMeetings.
An agenda for this meeting has been posted below as has the details to participate in this meeting virtually.
If you have any questions, please contact our office at (610) 865-7055.
NOTICES
and
UPDATES
PRESS RELEASE - 06/30/2021
Blight Elimination Funding Awarded to the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority
$700,000 Awarded for Blight Elimination
(Bethlehem, PA, June 23, 2021) The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Bethlehem (RDA) has recently been awarded $700,000 of funding for blight remediation projects. Funds were awarded through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund and the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s (CFA) new Blight Initiative funding.
On May 26, 2021, recipients of the CFA’s Blight Remediation Program were announced. The Redevelopment Authority was awarded $300,000 to acquire and stabilize three blighted properties in the city. The Authority will work with partnering organizations to assist the development process.
On June 10, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf announced the recipients of $44.9 million in funding for housing programs made available through PHARE funding. The Redevelopment Authority was awarded $400,000 to support the redevelopment of two blighted properties in the City of Bethlehem and provide additional support to the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Program.
“The City of Bethlehem is happy to work in cooperation with the Redevelopment Authority toward the goal of blight remediation. We have long recognized that stable and well-maintained housing conditions are a strength for the community. Blighted properties adversely impact the neighborhood and erode the value of surrounding properties. Therefore, repairing blighted properties is an essential function of the Redevelopment Authority” Said Mayor Bob Donchez.
"The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Bethlehem has been an active partner with the City of Bethlehem in combating blight for almost 70 years. While the size and scope of our activities has become more modest in recent years, they are still very important to our shared goals of neighborhood preservation and improvement. These recent grants will continue to support our efforts and we thank the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for this critical funding." Said RDA Executive Director Tony Hanna
“Cleaning up blighted properties and assisting with new projects will help Bethlehem continue to grow. Many times these properties are costly to redevelop and need investment from public entities. I know these projects will have a positive impact on Bethlehem.” Said Senator Lisa Boscola
“These state funds will improve neighborhoods and assist the City of Bethlehem’s efforts to repair and remediate blighted properties in our community,” said Representative Steve Samuelson.
The Redevelopment Authority of Bethlehem is a state-incorporated redevelopment authority located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The RDA was created in 1953 as a government agency with the powers vested by Pennsylvania Urban Redevelopment law.
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HOOVER-MASON TRESTLE
OPEN TO VISITORS
The Hoover-Mason Trestle (HMT) is a public walkway, owned by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Bethlehem. It is located at the SteelStacks Campus at 711 First Street, Bethlehem, PA and provides visitors with the opportunity to experience views and history of Bethlehem Steel while walking along the blast furnaces at the site.
After being closed for over a year due to the pandemic, the Hoover-Mason Trestle is open to visitors as follows:
Sunday to Wednesday - 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Thursday through Saturday - 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Due to the current pandemic, all visitors to the Hoover-Mason Trestle are encouraged to properly wear masks and maintain social distancing of 6' from others on the trestle.
For everyone’s safety there are a few rules for guests - the following are prohibited:
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Walking on rail tracks, gravel, or plants
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Picking flowers or plants
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Throwing objects
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Sitting on railings or climbing on any part of the HMT
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Bicycles, skateboards, skates and scooters
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Performances or amplified sound, except as authorized
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Solicitation
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Commercial activity, except as authorized
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Littering
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Glass bottles
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Obstructing entrances or paths
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Drinking alcohol
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Feeding birds or squirrels
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Dogs
Access: Stairs and elevator located between the Bethlehem Visitor Center and the Levitt Pavilion. With the use
of the elevator, the HMT is handicapped accessible for its entire length.
Stair access is also available on the west end of the Gas Engine Blowing House near PBS 39 and on the
east end of the Gas Engine Blowing House at the Wind Creek parking lot.
Parking: Visitors can park for free in the lot outside the Bethlehem Visitors Center located at 711 East 1st
Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015 or outside Wind Creek Bethlehem located at 77 Wind Creek Boulevard,
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Tours: Guided tours of the HMT and/or the areas around the former Bethlehem Steel Plant are available as
well. At this time, these "Steelwalker" tours are limited to six (6) people per tour to maintain social
distancing. Properly worn face masks are required.
Additional information about these tours can be found here:
Closure: The trestle may be closed for inclement weather or for a special event
More information about the opening of the HMT can be found here: