The future of the South Side to the north of Lehigh University is on the minds of some Bethlehem City community leaders and citizens.
Dr. Karen Beck Pooley presented a lecture Tuesday evening at Bethlehem City Hall titled "Planning for the Western Gateway in South Bethlehem: Building from Strengths to Get Feet on the Street."
Pooley is a senior associate at czb Associates, LLC, Alexandria, Va., an urban planning and neighborhood development consulting firm. She also teaches courses on neighborhood and housing issues at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, and Lehigh University, Bethlehem.
Pooley's discussion focused on the process community members, business owners, students and others are pursuing to develop a plan for the Western Gateway section of the South Side. Specifically, invigorating the neighborhoods and retail shops.
The section involves Adams, Broadway, East Morton, East Third, East Fourth, Polk, South New, West Third and Wyandotte streets.
"The South Side in general and its Western Gateway in particular are artsy and eclectic," Pooley said. "It's one of its strengths, it's one of the things this neighborhood has."
According to Pooley, early findings of the South Side Bethlehem Master Plan indicate people in the area of the Western Gateway point to the many amenities the area offers and to its walkability as positive attributes.
The findings, she said, recommend a signage system, adding more green space and trees, safety initiatives and a neighborhood meeting place.
"There needs to be more meeting places and centers," Pooley said.
She also said development in the Western Gateway would benefit from mixed uses and should use the area's history and link it to other parts of South Bethlehem.
"You build on the identity it already has," she said.
Those in attendance stressed the need to put pressure on Bethlehem City Mayor Robert Donchez.
Andy Po, who spearheaded the development of the Bethlehem Skateplaza, recommended citizens not give up on turning the Western Gateway into a reality.
"This is about community at large," he said. "I just hope that people keep fighting."
"This is a step toward the future," added lifelong South Side resident Samuel Nazario.
Discussions and planning continue regarding the Western Gateway.
"The rest is yet to be determined," Pooley said.
Breena Holland, professor of political science at Lehigh University and director of Lehigh's South Side Initiative, said community participation is key.
"Our effort is to get the community more involved in what happens in that area," she said.
A work session for the public is scheduled for this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at La Lupita, 4. W. Fourth St, Bethlehem to discuss the Western Gateway further.
Tuesday evening's presentation was made possible by the Friends of the South Side Initiative.
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