BETHLEHEM STEEL WILL DISCLOSE ITS IDEAS FOR REUSING PLANT LAND - * MASTER PLAN DUE ON THURSDAY TO PUT

MUSEUM ON EASTERN HALF, WHILE SKATING RINK, THEATER COMPLEX, SWIMMING POOL, RESTAURANTS LIE WEST.
Morning Call, The (Allentown, PA) - November 19, 1997 Author: SUSAN RUIZ PATTON, The Morning Call Bethlehem Steel Corp. will unveil its master plan for the Bethlehem Works site at a public meeting Thursday. The plan for the area called Bethlehem Works doesn't stray far from what has been discussed for a year: skating rink, movie complex, swimming pool and restaurants proposed for the western half of the 160 acres and the National Museum of Industrial History on the eastern half of the property. At the meeting, the company will open for discussion the master plan, potential uses for the site, the condition of the site, those who worked on planning it, and why Bethlehem Steel thinks the project will be successful. "It's nothing radically different than before." said Bethlehem Director of Planning Sam Guttman, who saw an overall plan Monday. In fact, it's very similar to the plan proposed by Bethlehem Steel Corp. in April 1996 before the mixed zoning for the land between the Minsi Trail and Fahy bridges was approved. That early proposal included as potential uses: an Olympic swimming pool, hockey rinks, a multiscreen movie theater, a museum, office space and light and heavy industrial areas. The plan has been "soft" marketed to gauge interest, but intense marketing hasn't been done yet, said Bethlehem Steel Corp. Vice President Stephen G. Donches. The consistency in the plan is "a good indication that the initial proposals are good," Donches said. "But we're not far enough along to move to development." The proposed 160,000-square-foot museum will have Smithsonian Institution artifacts on display, and is planned to open in 2001. The feasibility study on the proposed museum is due to be completed by the beginning of next year but won't be available to the public until after it is analyzed by Bethlehem Steel, said Donches. The many years of steelmaking have left their mark on the 160 acres, but work to clean that up hasn't begun, Donches said. "There is some work to be done under Brownfields," he said. "But we haven't filed notice to remediate yet." The public is invited to the 7:30 p.m. Thursday meeting at the Bethlehem Room at Comfort Suites on W. 3rd Street in South Bethlehem.

"I'm glad they're doing a public showing," said Bethlehem City Council President James Delgrosso. "It's important for everybody to understand."