On and off again plan to allow office at Bethlehem’s 2 W. Market St. back on again

The question was, Should a house that’s now an office be converted back to a single family house, and then after an undetermined amount of time, be converted back to an office?That was some of what was argued for nearly four hours Wednesday night before the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board, which in a unanimous vote granted a special exception to Quadrant Private Wealth to operate its office in a house at 2 W. Market St. at the corner of New Street.“I hope that we could move forward and continue to keep the neighborhood’s historic character …. and develop a relationship with all the neighbors. I thank the city and the board for their support,” Quadrant partner Kori Lannon said after the board’s decision.While Lannon was pleased with the outcome, Quadrant and the property owner, Morning Star Partners LLC., have had similar victories in the past, but later suffered serious enough setbacks that it was questionable whether they could use the house as an office.The latest was in 2018, when Commonwealth Court reversed a city zoning variance that allowed Quadrant to operate and ordered the company to cease operations in about a month.Morning Star appealed the court’s decision and then dropped it to instead seek the special exception.The issue surrounding the 19th century Italianate-Victorian house has been several neighbors who believe the house should not be allowed to be an office because it is a commercial use in a residential zone, will ruin the character of the neighborhood and does not comply with the rules of an ordinance allowing corner properties to become businesses in a residential district.In her testimony to the board, Lannon outlined the many nonresidential enterprises on both West Market and New streets that included other financial firms, law office, a Verizon operations building behind the house, churches, cemetery and Moravian Academy.Morning Star attorney Jim Preston argued before the board that the zoning amendment allows conversion of single family dwellings to another use by special exception. Among the rules to make the switch is that the property has to be a single family house with a retail store.The home, built in 1840, has had about $700,000 in renovations, none of which altered the exterior. Lannon testified some interior renovations were completed but none that would prevent it from becoming a home again.Additionally, the property has a carriage house in the rear with a second floor apartment and also a pair of storefronts on New Street.The New Street building dates to the 1820s and has an apartment and clothing store. It was once a brass foundry that produced Moravian trombones.Beill Fowler, a Center Street resident opposing the project, testified that because the house is already being used as an office, it violates zoning rules that say it needs to be a single family house first.“You have to abandon the office use and make it a residence to obtain a certificate of occupancy,” he testified.Preston asked Fowler if he believes Quadrant should move out, then have people move in and use it as a home, and after an unspecified amount of time, reapply for a special exception and if granted, move the people out and then allow it to become an office again.“Yes, that’s what should be done,” Fowler said.“Is it good use of government funds to have these people move out, convert it to a residence and then convert it back to an office? That would be conduct that ends up in the same place,” board member Linda Shay Gardner asked Fowler.“Yes I do. This is a really bad ordinance,” Fowler responded.City solicitor Matt Deschler testified that the city administration supports the project and called the back and forth of converting “an absurd waste of resources.”Under questioning from Allentown attorney Tim Stevens, representing Fowler and West Market Street resident Martin Romeril, Romeril testified the implications of allowing this “will change the nature of neighborhoods … and affect hundreds and hundreds of corner properties in the city.”“Your job is to make sure residential [zones] are residential and commercial [zones] stay commercial. This is a detriment to the city,” testified resident and Hotel Bethlehem owner Bruce Haines.New Street resident Suzanne Virgilio, who opened the city’s first bed and breakfast 30 years ago, called the testimony from other residents “bizarre” and praised the property owners for making the needed repairs and renovations that have made the home a showpiece.“This is a small minority that’s bringing a mob mentality. It’s a crime and a waste of time. We’ve been hearing this issue over and over. The entire neighborhood has moved on,” she said.After the special exception was granted, Stevens said he would need to confer with his clients to decide whether they will seek to appeal the decision.Charles Malinchak is a freelance writer for The Morning Call.
Source: Morningcall