Bethlehem to Hear Atiyeh Appeal to Build Townhouses Off Eaton Avenue, and for Apartments on Market Street Sometimes Used by Phillies

Dec. 2, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Another Abe Atiyeh plan is up for review by Bethlehem’s Zoning Hearing Board on Dec. 17.

Atiyeh is a big name in development, but another appeal has Major League ties.

The board will also hear an appeal about apartments at 250 E. Market St. that the owner says have been used by, among others, Philadelphia Phillies on loan to the Iron Pigs. So maybe next year, residents might look out for Phillies strolling around on nearby Main Street if the appeal succeeds.

The city contends that use for transient rentals at the home is prohibited by zoning. The owner disputes the term “transient.”

Atiyeh’s PAJ Venture LP plans to put up two buildings, each with three homes, behind a home at 1224 Eaton Ave. The site is next to Heckenberger Dental, which is on the corner of Eaton Avenue and Primrose Lane. Atiyeh seeks three variances for the site.

At 250 E. Market St., East Market Living LLC is appealing “a Zoning Enforcement Notice alleging applicant proposes to utilize the property to provide housing for transient occupants contrary to” the zoning ordinance.

According to the appeal, the apartments have served not transients, but high-profile people moving to the area or here temporarily. That includes major league ballplayers from the Phillies who were playing briefly with the Iron Pigs, the team’s Triple A franchise in Allentown.

From the appeal:

“We have been renting the apartments as FURNISHED MID TERM RENTALS with stays no less than a week to people relocating to the area. Up until now we have had the following examples tenants
Twice to Philadelphia Phillies players on loan to the Iron Pigs
Pediatric Ophthalmologist – there are currently none that specialize in
surgeries on children in the Lehigh Valley
Traveling nurses
New site manager for Evonik Corporation – based in Germany
Lehigh University, Moravian and Muhlenberg visting professors
Franchise owner opening a Pizza franchise in the Lehigh Valley
Victims of fire and flooding who needed a temporary place to call
home
Founding employees opening up a industrial cryogenic firm in the
Lehigh Valley

The board will also hear an appeal to convert a hair-cutting business as 1235 Pembroke Road into an office.

The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board will meet 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the City Hall Rotunda, 10 E. Church St.

Meeting agendas are subject to change. Check the city website before going downtown.

Here is a link to the complete agenda, and below, a cut-and-paste version I abbreviated:

1.) 1224 Eaton Avenue (CONTINUED) (CID# 113-010139) (PID# 642802745755 1)
Appeal of Abe Atiyeh on behalf of PAJ Venture LP for three Dimensional Variances to permit the
construction of 6 Single-Family Attached Dwellings on a lot hosting an existing Single Family Detached Dwelling. Total lot area per all dwellings (30,500 SF required, 25,897 SF existing); width of a two-way parking aisle (24’ required, 20’ and 21.2’ feet proposed); and Driveway Setback from a residential property line when in a front yard (2.5’ required, 2’ proposed).

2.) 1235 Pembroke Road
Appeal of Thu T Nguyen for a special exception to convert a legally non-conforming Personal Service (Hair Cutting) use to a non-conforming Business Office use.

3.) 250 East Market St. (CID #206-003845) RT-High Density Residential Zoning District
(PID # P6NE1C 29 5 0204) Appeal of Evette Rios, on behalf of East Market Living, LLC, of a Zoning Enforcement Notice alleging applicant proposes to utilize the property to provide housing for transient occupants contrary to the provisions of Section 1304.01(b) of the Zoning Ordinance. (Sections 1304.01(b), 1324.01, 1325.05 and all associated Variances, Special Exceptions, and Interpretations). Tract Size: 19,800 SF (.4545 AC)

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