Bethlehem to See Plans for 61 Apartments at Site of Wells Fargo Bank on Broad Street

Dec. 11, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Bethlehem’s Planning Commission will review tonight a plan for 61 apartments at 46 – 52 West Broad St., site of a closed Wells Fargo Bank.

Monocacy Builders’ proposal includes a seven-story building with amenities for residents of the 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, a restaurant and retail space, according to documents filed with Bethlehem.

The Greek Revival-style bank will not be demolished, according to the plans. There will be construction on top of it and on the parking area behind it.

Monocacy Builders, led by Plamen ‘Rocco’ Ayvazov, also is the developer for the Dream Boyd Theatre apartments, just east of the old bank.

The Bethlehem Planning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. tonight (Thursday, Dec. 11) in Town Hall.

The bank plan is No. 4 on the agenda, and there’s a Lehigh University plan for a new dormitory at No. 5.

The Planning Commission is an advisory body that takes an early look at preliminary plans, known as “sketch plans.” Developers present early renderings to get feedback from the commission.

The bank property was acquired in March for $1.6 million, according to Northampton County property records.

Here’s a link to the meeting material, which includes webcast information, and below is a cut-and-paste version of the agenda:

AGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION
Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 5:00 pm
Town Hall
10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem PA
The Meeting will be livestreamed for viewing purposes only on:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4HYHr4C6mVbfhRXhWYXaJw
Applications can be viewed at:
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/calendar-planning-zoning, or in Bethlehem City Hall.

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 13, 2025
2. (25-003 MLD) – 25100015– 902 East Macada Road (St. Thomas United Church of
   Christ) – MINOR LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN – Ward 14, Zoned RR, Plan
   dated October 17, 2025, last revised November 17, 2025
   The Applicant proposes to expand the parking lot on the southern end, adding 29 new
   spaces, increasing the count from 61 to 90, and adding 9,574 SF of new impervious
   coverage.
   The Applicant seeks a deferral from SALDO Sections 1349.14 and 1349.15 for the
   installation of concrete sidewalk, curb and driveway apron along the East Macada Road
   frontage.
3. (24-008 LD) – 24110002 – 330 East Fourth Street – LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN –
   Ward 3, Zoned CL, Plans dated June 13, 2024, last revised September 30, 2025.
   The applicant proposes demolishing the existing structures and constructing a 3-story
   mixed use building with ~1,800 SF of Commercial space on the ground floor and four
   two-bedroom dwelling units (apartments) on the upper floors; 8 off-street parking spaces
   and site improvements on a 0.1648 acre or 7,182 SF lot measuring 40’ along the front lot
   line by 179.55’ in depth.
4. (25-006 LD) – 25080003 – 46-52 West Broad Street (formerly Wells Fargo Bank) –
   LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN – Ward 7, Zoned CB, plans dated August 18, 2025,
   last revised November 7, 2025.
   The Applicant proposes to maintain the existing structure and redevelop it into an
   experience center; the below grade police training center will remain as-is. To the east of
   the bank, the applicant proposes to develop the parking lot into a 2,212 SF, two story
   structure to contain a Commercial Restaurant (Note: the rendering shows this as a three
   story structure). To the north of the bank building and above the bank building the
   applicant proposes to construct a seven-story structure to contain 61 dwellings (28 one
   bedroom units and 33 two-bedroom units), with ground floor lobby and loading area, and
   second floor amenity space. The parcel is a corner lot and a through lot, bounded by West
   Broad Street to the south, Guetter Street to the west, West Raspberry Street to the north
   and the redeveloped Boyd Theatre site to the east. The parcel measures 95.5’ along Board
   Street and 193.24’ along Guetter Street. Per Deed, the parcel totals 18,145 SF or 0.4166
   Acres. The existing building, originally known as the Union Bank & Trust Company, is
   identified as an historic resource, individual landmark.
5. (25-012 Sketch Plan Review) – 25110001 – University Drive, known as 110
   Mountain Drive South (Lehigh University) – SKETCH PLAN REVIEW – Ward 3,
   Zoned I, plans dated September 10, 2025.
   The site is located within Lehigh University’s Main Campus and is between 67
   University Drive (McClintic-Marshall Hall) and 64 Quad Drive (Drinker House). The
   parcel is irregular in shape and totals 97.81 acres, or 4,260,604 SF. The parcel is sloped
   and is ostensibly wooded. The Applicant proposes to construct a 23,394 SF residence hall
   to be known as East Hill Residence Halls.
6. GENERAL DISCUSSION ITEMS