Lehigh and Bethlehem expand their partnership

Lehigh University joined with the City of Bethlehem in announcing their effort to expand the revitalization of the Southside through the new Downtown Coordinator position. The announcement was made in a late morning press conference on New Street in South Bethlehem.

The new position will be held by former Los Angeles-based live events producer and community programming director Dan Friedman, who will be tasked with stimulating growth in the area. The position will be funded by Lehigh for three years. The new Downtown Coordinator position will implement the Main Street Approach, a comprehensive commercial district revitalization strategy used by many towns and cities that focuses on four points of sustainable efforts: organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring.

It follows the South Side Ambassador program, a partnership between Lehigh and the City of Bethlehem to provide the necessary clean and safe environment essential to the Southside’s revitalization. One year into the program, it is having a positive impact on the city, speakers said. However, the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO) has recognized the need for a staff person to coordinate the various aspects of the revitalization efforts. The new Southside Bethlehem Downtown Coordinator is tasked with stimulating growth in the area.

“The parents of our prospective students want to know that the community where their son or daughter will be living for four years is one they can be proud of,” said Lehigh President John Simon.  “The success of the Ambassador program is a major reason why Lehigh is again partnering with the City for this latest initiative.”

Changes in South Bethlehem over recent years – including the addition of new venues such as the Steel Stacks, the Sand’s Casino and the South Bethlehem Greenway -- have added to the vibrant mix of businesses, residents, cultural and educational institutions, recreational amenities and places of worship within the community.

“We have seen a recent renaissance on Third and Fourth Streets,” said Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez. “We have grown the bond between Lehigh University and the city. We know that to draw residents, visitors and students to this business district, we needed to keep the momentum going and make this district appealing and safe.”

Lehigh and its partners aim to improve the Southside commercial business district’s “sense of place”.  The goal is to make the Southside an area that complements its other attractions and allows visitors to take advantage of the amenities it has to offer.

 

While the Ambassador program and other stakeholders have donated planters, additional garbage cans and cigarette receptacles, among the Downtown Coordinator’s goals will be to install bike racks and implement other streetscape improvements such as pedestrian crosswalks and to generate funding for coordinated marketing and branding of the Southside.

Donchez said it’s time to refocus efforts and direct the program’s energy to existing small business and in the process attract new shops and restaurants.

“We look forward to working with our partners to further strengthen South Bethlehem as a destination we can all be proud of,” said Simon.