West Easton Treatment Center Ready For Business

Atiyeh with Phillies Ace  Dickie Noles

Developer Abe Atiyeh has received a certificate of occupancy for his 100-bed West Easton DUI treatment facility, and hopes to begin operations within the next thirty days. Atiyeh made this announcement last night, while advocating a voluntary rehab center to Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board.

In February, Northampton County Council approved a 10 year lease with Atiyeh for a treatment facility housing DUI offenders and deadbeat dads. It's a $447,125 lease for a 24,500-square-foot facility at West Easton's former Chipman Mills. The lease includes 2 five-year renewals, as well as an option to purchase at the end of twenty years.

Executive John Stoffa is hopeful that treatment programs like West Easton will reduce recidivism below the current 69% level.

In February, Stoffa thanked both Atiyeh and West Easton. "I would like to recognize and thank Mr. Abe Atiyeh for his continuing support for this effort. To date, he has not received one penny from this County while spending thousands of his own dollars. Without his involvement, this would not have been possible. And also, to the Borough of West Easton, for their vision and willingness to approve this project. We need to prove to them that we will be a good neighbor and a good partner."