— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown may have found a way to attract and retain teachers: provide housing for them.
The Diocese is asking the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board to approve its plan to use a property at 1220 Prospect Ave. for housing for as many as 13 teachers. The exterior of the property won’t be changed. When the building was used as housing for old people, it held 16 residents.
The property has been vacant since 2019. For full details on the proposal, see this pleasantly concise and clearly written proposal from Spillman Farmer Architects on behalf of the diocese.
The property is a couple blocks from the Rose Garden in Bethlehem, and a block south of West Broad Street.
Housing for teachers — in public and private schools — has been an issue in many cities, so providing a residence could help recruit and keep them.
The Diocese’s application to the city contends that the property was a “non-conforming use” before and thus this plan, with fewer residents, should be approved.
The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23 in Town Hall. The meeting will also be shown on a webcast.
Meeting agendas are subject to change. Check the city website.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 