A Bethlehem real estate firm is planning to convert a downtown Bethlehem building into nine luxury apartments and three retail shops.
Iconic Real Estate LLC, a family-owned real estate firm, said it has purchased 523 Main Street, which had been White Swan florists years ago and most recently was Domaci and Designer Consigner.
The firm said it hopes to complete renovations and open the apartments by the fall. Iconic Real Estate has not announced the new retail tenants but said two will be new to Downtown Bethlehem.
The purchase price for the more than 12,000-square foot property was not disclosed.
Lucy H. Lennon of Morganelli Properties in Bethlehem represented the buyers. Funding was provided by Fidelity Bank in Bethlehem.
St. Luke’s Anderson Campus officials cut a ribbon to open the expanded and renovated emergency room – PHOTO/PROVIDED –
St. Luke’s Anderson Campus has opened a new emergency room.
A spokesman for the hospital, just off Route 33 at 1872 St. Luke’s Boulevard in Bethlehem Township, said the new facility has a Level II Adult Trauma Center and has increased capacity from 31 to 45 beds.
The waiting area was designed for comfort and safety, incorporating ideas for improvement that were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The expansive three-bed state-of-the-art trauma bay has dedicated radiology services, including an integrated built-in x-ray arm that extends over all three bays and is adjacent to the GE CT scanner, decreasing the time needed for testing, diagnostics and results.
St. Luke’s Anderson’s Emergency Department has seen an increase in patients due to changes in the healthcare landscape, the spokesman said. Individuals who delayed care during the pandemic are now experiencing complications from serious chronic conditions.
In addition, as the region has grown, roadway traumas have increased, behavioral health needs have escalated, and the aging population requires a higher level of care.
“This enhanced and enlarged emergency department will allow us to accommodate the robust patient volume we experience at St. Luke’s Anderson in a much more efficient manner,” said John B. Wilson, chief of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke’s Anderson Campus. “Due to overwhelming demand, the original emergency department quickly outgrew its space, so additional beds were added in 2013. Now we have moved into an even larger, brand-new space to continue meeting that demand.”
Ed Nawrocki, president, St. Luke’s Anderson Campus, said, “St. Luke’s is committed to providing access to high quality health care. We will continue to enhance our facilities, train and recruit the best physicians and clinical staff and incorporate state-of-the-art technology to meet the ever-changing needs of families in the communities we serve.”
A special feature of this new facility is the ER kids’ space that includes artwork from many children who were patients including a painting by 8-year-old Vincent Papa – PHOTO/PROVIDED –
St. Luke’s University Health Network opened its expanded and renovated emergency room to meet growing need for urgent care at its hospital at Hamilton and 17th streets in Allentown this week.
The renovations include the relocated ER entrance to improve patient access and the addition of a new waiting area and treatment areas.
The ER patient entrance was moved from the north side of the hospital, facing Hamilton Street, to the southeast corner, on Maple Street and adjacent to the hospital’s main entrance.
Bill Moyer –
“In keeping with St. Luke’s mission of treating our patients as our first priority, this location will make access easier for those who are coming from the parking deck to find either the ER or main hospital entrance,” said Bill Moyer, president of St. Luke’s Allentown Campus. The ambulance entrance will remain on the hospital’s north side.
The 20,000 square-foot expansion of the ER, costing $6.3 million, adds 14 private treatment areas to support the rapidly growing department.
Advanced LifeAire technology will purify the air and create negative air flow, adding yet another measure of safety from infections for patients, visitors and caregivers, St. Luke’s said.
A special feature of this new facility is the ER kids’ space that includes artwork from many children who were patients including a painting by 8-year-old Vincent Papa.
“Creating artwork is so much fun and I wanted to donate my painting to make other children happy when they are sick,” he said.
Vincent and his brother Giovanni were both born at St. Luke’s Allentown campus.
Moyer says the upsized ER will accommodate as many as 70,000 patients per year.
“By expanding patient treatment space, we will seek to improve the emergency care experience for our patients who come here during some of the worst days of their lives,” says Ryan Kloss, the department’s patient care manager.
A plan to enhance amenities at Allentown’s Coca-Cola Park received a $500,000 financial boost from the state Tuesday.
State Reps. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh County and Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh County and state Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh County helped secure the funding.
The project entails expanding the clubhouse, male and female locker rooms, training facilities, hydro space, and center field entrance to accommodate the shift in the parking situation due to the development of adjacent land/lot.
“The inflation that is being experienced by everyone at the gas pump and the grocery store also has driven up the construction costs for the stadium improvements,” Schlossberg said. “We were fortunate to acquire this additional funding for the project.”
“Coca-Cola Park and the Iron Pigs are true community partners, providing our kids the opportunity to go to camp and catch pop flies with pro ball players, funding ball field improvements for our little leagues and investing in our communities overall,” Schweyer said.
“Coca-Cola Park, the IronPigs and baseball are all fixtures in the Lehigh Valley,” said Browne, Senate Appropriations Committee chairman. “These funds will help to ensure that Coca-Cola Park will continue to be one of finest ballparks in the country, providing our residents a place to enjoy America’s favorite pastime for many years to come.”
The grant was acquired by the lawmakers through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The lawmakers previously secured $2 million for the stadium project.
The RACP is administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvements.
The Berks County Nonprofit Development Corporation received $1,1 million Section 8 loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to renovate the property at 590 Oley Road, Berks County.
The property at 590 Oley Road, Berks County will undergo renovations with loan from HUD PHOTO/PROVIDED –
The Redevelopment Authority of Berks County will use the funds to renovate the commercial complex into four separate commercial spaces from the current three spaces, which will retain current jobs and create new employment opportunities, a HUD spokesperson said.
The Berks County Nonprofit Development Corporation (BCNDC) is the owner of the complex. The property currently contains a commercial building divided into three separate commercial spaces and one three-bedroom single-family house. The house is not part of the rehabilitation project, the HUD spokesperson said.
According to HUD, eligible special economic development activities funded with the loan proceeds will meet a Community Development Block Grant national objective by creating and retaining jobs that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
The commercial spaces are occupied with one space leased by the prior owner of the property who will be closing his auction business in approximately six months, according to BCNDC.
The other two businesses will continue to lease spaces. BCNDC said a bingo hall that has been operating for 15 years has a steady flow of customers. A caterer has been in business for 5 years.
According to the catering business’ owner, the business continues to grow and thus needs additional space, which will be part of the project, BCNDC said.
The project is expected to attract one new business and retain and create jobs, BCNDC said.
The house is currently rented under the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Capital Blue Cross President and CEO Todd Shamash addresses the crowd to celebrate the completion of Capital’s $4 million renovation of its Lehigh Valley headquarters. PHOTO/PROVIDED –
Capital Blue Cross cut the ribbon Friday on a $4 million renovation to its regional headquarters in Allentown.
The makeover features a Capital Blue Cross Connect health and wellness center on the ground floor of the facility at 1221 Hamilton St., Allentown. It is Capital’s second Connect center in the region, joining the one at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.
“This is more than an investment in a building,” said Capital Blue Cross President and CEO Todd Shamash. “It’s part of our continuing investment in a vibrant region we consider home. Capital has built a trusted relationship with the Lehigh Valley by going the extra mile to improve the health and well-being of the region’s people and communities.”
The latest Capital Blue Cross Connect provides street-level entry where visitors – members and non-members – can access a variety of services, including one-on-one consultations on health plans or Medicare options, a health coach, biometric screenings and seminars.
The renovations include an interior remodeling and a fresh façade featuring Capital Blue Cross’ new logo. The renovations highlight Hamilton Street’s gateway to center city and are in keeping with what Capital Blue Cross Lehigh Valley President Anne Baum has called “a renaissance in downtown Allentown.”
“We’re so happy to play our part in the redevelopment of the Lehigh Valley’s largest city,” Baum said. “Our commitment to this community’s health and well-being continues to grow, and this unique Connect center provides an open, flowing space to meet a broad variety of the community’s health plan and wellness needs.”
The Allentown facility is the fourth Capital Blue Cross Connect in Capital’s 21-county service region.
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