30-unit apartment building proposed for Bethlehem parking lots

A multistory luxury apartment building could be built over two long-dormant parking lots near Moravian College in Bethlehem.

The city’s zoning hearing board approved variances for a 30-unit apartment building project proposed by Peron Development LLC.

The site is at 1325 Chelsea Ave. and would include one- and two-bedroom upscale units in a three-and-a-half story building, said Robert De Beer, director of development for Peron Development. The company is based at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, a law firm in Bethlehem.

The 22,750-square-foot site is behind Roosevelt’s 21st, a bar/restaurant on East Elizabeth Avenue.

De Beer said Peron Development is under agreement to buy both the Chelsea Avenue property and 35 E. Elizabeth Ave., an office building next to Roosevelt’s that Peron would keep as an office property and aim to attract more tenants.

The owner of the Chelsea Avenue property is RJR Property Management Associates LLC of Danielsville, according to Northampton County property assessment records.

The apartment project, tentatively called Chelsea Commons, would face Chelsea Avenue, with rents possibly ranging from $900 for one-bedroom units to $1,100 for two-bedroom units. The rates are not set, De Beer said.

One-bedroom units would be 700 square feet and two-bedroom units 1,000 square feet.

The building would have an additional loft space on the top floor, De Beer said.

“We still have to go through the land development review process, but we expect to move forward shortly,” De Beer said.

The project is not yet scheduled to go before the planning commission, said Darlene Heller, city planning director.

Heller attended the zoning meeting on Wednesday and said the city supports the project.

“The parcel … [is] in a very nice, neighborhood commercial area, so it would be great to see that parcel reused,” Heller said.

The developer would also need to landscape to create more green space, she added.

“I think we are certainly motivated to do something that has good architectural appeal,” De Beer said.

The developer is hoping to bring market-rate apartments to the site.

“We think we’ll get a healthy interest from a good pool of renters,” De Beer said.

He did not disclose a cost for the project.

Source: LVB.com