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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Wanna' Buy the Bechtel Building?

The Martin J. Bechtel Building, named after Northampton County's first Executive, is located at 520 E Broad Street in Bethlehem. It is a 29,000 sq ft facility, built in 1962, on 2.12 acres. There are 95 parking places. Purchased by the County in 1993 for $763,000, it houses 70 human services workers. It needs $1 million in capital improvements and repairs over the next 5-10 years. Would you like to buy it? It's for sale, according to a news release issued by Executive John Stoffa late yesterday.

"Northampton County has announced its intention to sell their Human Services building located at 520 East Broad Street in the City of Bethlehem to a developer offering at or near the $1,950,000 asking price, but as importantly offering the best redevelopment plan for the community.

* * *

"Northampton County is in the process of relocating all Human Services functions into a new centralized facility, located in Bethlehem Township, by March of 2014. The County already has their Easton Human Services facility, the Wolf Building, under agreement for sale.

"There will be a tour of the 520 East Broad Street facility for prospective buyers on May 10th at 10:30 AM. Interested prospective buyers are required to submit their proposal no later than 4 PM, June 3, 2013.

"Requests for proposal, or other information regarding the sale, can be obtained by contacting Ken Mohr, Mohr Management Resources at 610-282-1921 or KMohr@MohrMR.com or on line at http://www.mohrmr.com/"

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

I read the article and the way the county worded it, you have to wonder why they didn't keep it. they spoke of the great location parking and ease of expansion. sounds like it would have been better to keep it than build a new building.

Anonymous said...

That is an understatement. The building doesn't need much work at all and the county is offering it at a discount rate. To sell this building, no matter what they eventually do about the new building, is incredibly and pathetically dumb.
Council better take this off the table soon. After reading the ad, if it's true, they'd be smart to do so.

Wow, council, if it is easily expanded, why not bring Aging and Veteran's affairs up there also and find an old building in Easton for Children and Youth..They should remain close to the courts anyway. If I were running against anyone who agreed to sell this , I would crush them on this issue alone, so easily it would be laughable. Goodbye to all who agree to sell this.

Anonymous said...

Please 12:49,

Where did you see the article? Can't wait to see how incredibly stupid the County is. So let me understand this. They are paying millions of taxpayer dollars to lease a shell of a building while selling a great building in Bethlehem that is expandable..The workers at the bechtel building must be stunned.

Anonymous said...

I happened on the story on Lehigh Valley Live, the Easton Express site. I was looking up the Callahan, Reibman articles and saw this story myself. The county made the building sound great, especially the ease of expansion. It had me wondering.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Heckman, a candidate for Northampton County Council
Whom you endorsed, said that this idea to build the Human Service building , is crazy. Why? First and foremost it is a waste of millions of taxpayers dollars. You don't have the space for the rest of his reasons and I don't have the time.
My guess is that he will use this issue to crush Peg Ferraro in the General. No surprise here. He is not only wise in the ways of Human Services but is incredibly astute politically.
Aside from that , Callahan can't wait till the ink is dry to lease the building, so he can crush McClure with a mail piece about how McClure is wasting millions for a building no one needs. Wow, I'd like to write that !!!

Jim Gregory said...

Omg...You were right. It's on Lehigh Valley live. Amazing
The county is going to sell an excellent building that is expandable, according to Stoffa, while charging taxpayers millions to lease a shell? Ok, Council, you have some explaining to do. The workers love it there, the building is located right by a bus stop, and you can easily fit three or four departments in there prior to expanding. Once expanded , you can even fit Veterans services and Juvenile
Services, which is already there . Children and youth can find a nice old building by the courthouse and everyone, especially the taxpayers will be happy. Thank you John, , for letting Council know Bechtel is expandable. Maybe council should stop by the building on the tenth for the tour. They might learn more than they bargained for.. Please stop by, I'll personally take you on the tour.. Jim 8

Anonymous said...

I doubt Heckman will use it as a campaign issue. I know he cares about the future of Human Services, since it is very near and dear to his heart but he won't gloat.

He may have concerns over the building deal but he said his piece and I haven't heard him say much since then other than he hopes it all works out. I never heard him say it was "crazy' just ill timed, in his opinion.

However, it will be tough in light of the Federal and State cuts that will inevitably come.

Anonymous said...

If he doesn't, someone with brains will. Oops. He will win no matter what. However one of the executive candidates should take this up and they'd be a hero..If I were Seth Vaugn, I would chastise the conservatives on Council for even considering this. He'd then get votes from all sides.
Also, if I were in a crowded field of Democrats. I'd jump on this issue like a fly on honey, lol...ASAP! Go getm Jason!!!!

Anonymous said...

Go to sleep Ron, lol

Anonymous said...

Wow, when Bernie wakes up he will pull Heckmans endorsement for sure, lol

James Gregory said...

There is nothing wrong with this building. You are all a bunch of anonymous cowards. I am not hard to find. Want to "debate?" Come looking for me and we will "debate." I am not hard to find or will meet you at a place and a time of your choosing. Cowards!

Jim gregory said...

My name is Jim and that last post was not mine, but good try.8

Jim Gregory said...

Actually I want to thank the fool who posted at 839 under my name. He has proven how easy it is to post under an assumed name. I tried to explain that to my moronic boss, but she is so brain dead that she still doesn't get it. Oops, see you later today Kathleen. Hope you are not reading this on the county's time, lol. 8

Anonymous said...

By the way Bernie. I won't be using the sign anymore because even the moronic coward who posted at 839 can figure it out by now. Talking about cowards, two union pukes from Seiu will be at our building today to ask that Gregory be removed as a Steward. They went around in our building yesterday and violated HIPPA by entering folks offices unannounced . They should be fired for that alone. If an administrator allowed that , they will be fired.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Jim Gregory, You have already fought and lost this battle. A centralized human services building is coming. It is time to move on and make your next series of complaints.

Anonymous said...

Watch and wait Bernie

Anonymous said...

This council will not let this building go the way of the swaption....they are too smart. Eventually they'll agree with the wise and incredibly intelligent Mr. Werner. They will stop it before its too late. If they don't, they can say goodbye to their county council seats.

Anonymous said...

Remember, no one took a leadership role to stop the swaption. they watched it grow from profitable status when Reibman left office to A. 26 million dollar hole. This council will not let that happen. Even if it costs a little now to break the lease, it would avoid millions in wasted taxpayers dollars.

Bernie O'Hare said...

This Council has voted, 8-1, to lease a centralized human services building. The Wolf Building is now under agreement. The Bechtel building will be sold. Move on.

Anonymous said...

You're right. It is time to move on, however, Stoffa misled all of us to get his way. That sucks. Stoffa wanted regionalization of the County Human Services and that is exactly what he got. Now His friend and consultant comes up with a way for the consultant to make a small fortune on the County and he goes for the sweetheart deal. When are you going to admit that Stoffa is "just a nice guy" and next to Reibman, the "worst" County Executive we have ever had.

Anonymous said...

Actually I want to thank the fool who posted at 839 under my name. He has proven how easy it is to post under an assumed name. I tried to explain that to my moronic boss, but she is so brain dead that she still doesn't get it. Oops, see you later today Kathleen. Hope you are not reading this on the county's time, lol. 8

Anonymous said...

Watch and wait Bernice. The building is going down!

Bernie O'Hare said...

You all sound like spoiled brats, not human services workers.

Anonymous said...

If Ferraro supports this, she will lose her race for county council. If Mc Clure supports this, Callahan will crush him.
If Kraft supports this Gregory will run against him in two years and get labor support and coaf support. Besides the fact that that district is in
Bethlehem and Hellertown, where Gregory served on council. By the way, he never lost a council race Ken..Solidarity!

Anonymous said...

Ken voted for the Nazareth ambulance deal. Obviously, he doesn't care about reelection, lol

Bernie O'Hare said...

Doncha' just love one issue voters, who try to bully people with anonymous comments? Hey, I got a better idea. Why don't you just hold your breath until Council changes its mind?

Anonymous said...

Ok moron. I'll do that. I won't be holding it long though
Cause once they read Stoffas comments in Lehigh Valley live about Bechtel, they will be furious with him. Stop at Bechtel and take the tour with Gregory council. Talk to workers. You'd be amazed that they have opinions. If you ask. Geez

Anonymous said...

Yea, one issue voters who think its stupid to waste millions of taxpayers dollars on a building no one needs. Tell them Ron. Be a leader. Don't be like Callahan and Stoffa, speak out!

Maybe Abe Atiyeh said...

I plan to purchase the Bechtel Building and have it rezoned for a prison to house enemy combatants; replacing Gitmo.

Anonymous said...

Yes..he can take out his center street detractors from there. Look out Zebrowski

Anonymous said...

Yes..he can take out his center street detractors from there. Look out Zebrowski

Anonymous said...

Gregory, getting union support? HA

Anonymous said...

Unions have always supported Gregory and always will..Just sayin..

Anonymous said...

Yeah, oh sure! Gregory never posts anonymously. Imagine that one! Moronic coward. 8

Anonymous said...

Word on the street is that the blog mentor is so full of it and his farts smell like King Edwin. Just sayin'

Anonymous said...

To the anonymous punk coward that keeps impersonating me and antagonizing the blog mentor, why don't you go fuck yourself you piece of shit?! Look me up, I am not hard to find. I would welcome you with both arms and hands. I will love you to death. 8

Anonymous said...

Bernie, anon 1:36 just crossed the line. Not nice.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you are a free speech guy but you need to start cleaning up this blog. It is becoming nearly as disgusting and violent as the SPG site.

Jim Gregory said...

lol..I am Jim Gregory..What amazes me is that Bernie lets that trash on that was spouted by Bernie or who knows whom. I did not make the comment at 1:36. Not even close..I will no longer comment here if this crap is allowed. You are right, 1:52. It was way out of line. They tried to present themselves as me. Kind of funny though..Good impersonation, though..Who knows who is on this blog..Luckily I am on my 15 minute break and can respond..Wow, otherwise 1:36 would have me for blogging on county time..Then I'd have to face a firing squad..OMG..I'm shaking. $$

Anonymous said...

Dear 136. Get a life!!!

Anonymous said...

Pretty clever 136. If Gregory responds to your stupidity(oops, he did). Then you can say he blogged on county time. If he doesn't respond, Then the wild statement
Goes unchecked. If I didn't know better, I'd think your name would be John Stoffa

Anonymous said...

maybe commenting would be easier if we just put up a white board at the human services offices?

Anonymous said...

Nobody gave Eugenia a chance to tell her story, that is a travesty and all the assclowns on CC (except Peg Ferrari) should be ashamed of themselves. 8

Bernie O'Hare said...

We've been over this ad nauseum. Nobody prevented her from speaking. In face, I recall Gregory saying she was too upset to speak. Your claim is over the top. It's actually dishonest.

Jim Gregory said...

Bernie,

That was someone pretending to be me again, I assume. Eugenia was too upset to speak and still has disdain for how she perceived I was treated. It all doesn't really matter. I have no issues with Council as a whole. Most are well intentioned folks and a few are friends of mine. The gist of the story is that Eugenia and other clients can not afford transportation services. It's very little for the county to offer. And yet, under Ross and Kathleen theyse services are being stopped. I have the Email from Kathleen that backs that up. Ross supports her. My big issue is that the Stoffa administration is spending millions on a building and millions to providers for housing services while cutting basic services to those, like Eugenia who need it. I'm sure if Council did understand the issue , they would rightfully call for an investigation of the department and the pathetic way it is being run. However, I will not do that. It's up to them. As far as the building goes, I think it's an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars. However, if Council wants to charge into it blindly, so be it..It's their decision.

Bernie O'Hare said...

" two union pukes from Seiu will be at our building today to ask that Gregory be removed as a Steward."

This is long overdue.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"The gist of the story is that Eugenia and other clients can not afford transportation services."

That's not the gist of the story, but is how you misrepresented it. The reality is that the county believes it is better for the client to teach him to be independent. That bothers you bc you have your own obvious mental problems and want them all to be dependent on you.

Give it a rest already.

JSG said...

By the way, I'm going to bed, lol..So any comments with symbols , numbers or whatever after this time are not mine. This is what I was unsuccessfully trying to explain to my boss. No matter what blog it is, anyone can post as anyone and portray that person to be unhinged. I am certainly that at times, lol, but no more than you. Goodnight..Jim

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Bernie, you are a free speech guy but you need to start cleaning up this blog."

I do not hover around my blog every minute of everyday.

Anonymous said...

TOO bad Gregory " know it all " doesn`t work as hard at his job taking care of clients as he does on here criticizing everyone. He is as unprofessional as they come. Using clients as fodder , as pawns , is as disgraceful as one can get. Does he realize that their name goes into minutes kept for centuries ? Spread over the live streaming ? Their confidential status broken ? Why isn`t he fired ? He and Mezzacappa make a good pair.

Anonymous said...

Agreed the last time this nonsense happened with clients was some years back when the Director had her staff bring clients to a meeting to block a proposed change in policy.

It was wrong then and it is wrong now.

Jim Gregory said...

Too bad 1119 has absolutely no clue as to what they are talking about. Once more for the damn record for rock heads like 11:19,
My client went to the meeting because she was hoping her story would help her and others continue getting transportation services. The county is wasting millions on a building they dont need and also millions to house Mental Health providers. Yet , at the same time they are cutting services to the most needy. It is insane and morally wrong..Period. I honestly dont give a damn whether they try to fire me for speaking out. I've been there before. But seriously, to go after me for allegedly blogging on county time. Really??
Come on, you can do better than that? Is that all they got? The bottom line is whether my clients have been served well. They have. It's that simple. Even rock heads can understand that. If they choose to Bernie. ##

Jim Gregory said...

lol, they should house Mental Health providers. For theft.. What I meant to say was millions to house a handful of Mental Health clients. However, only council can investigate this if they give a damn. Having the administration look into it is like having the oil companies , as they do, investigate oil spills..Geez council..CMon already!!!

Anonymous said...

All,
Consumers have same rights as everyone else. When they come to council they are coming on their own free will. Enough already!! Some ppl on here are really ignorant to consumers. Stop

Bernie O'Hare said...

They do have the same rights as everyone else. They should not be used as props by a disgruntled employee who bends their will and literally drives them to a meeting so he can claim he is speaking for them, when he is really just speaking for himself.

Anonymous said...

While I agree that they should not be used, how do you determine that when the consumers are coming to advocate for their services and on their own free will?

It's easy to presume! But consumers are people and they have rights. What the Administration and Council did last night to these consumers is not only shamful but illegal.

Disappointed to how these consumers are being treated, period.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Based on what I learned last night, I now know that Gregory is using them.

Anonymous said...

Stoffa made the best argument as to why the Bechtel building would have been best for the county to keep at a fraction of the cost of the new Developer leased multi-0million dollar shell building.

What a sad waste of county money all based on a lie.