Benner Unveils $20 MM Greenway Park Building

Dennis Benner

Sometime early next year, a new building will start climbing for the stars in South Bethlehem, at the intersection of S. Third and New Streets. Developer Dennjis Benner, who is also a distinguished Bethlehem attorney, unveiled for a $20 million six-story office bulding that will house two very important tenants - St. Luke's University Health Network and lehigh University.

The ground floor of the 125,000 sq ft building, which will be linked to a new four-level parking garage, will consist of retail, with the remaining floors being occupied for office use.

St. Luke's will occupy at least one floor for clinical, teaching and administrative space. Lehigh University will move 140 employees from its Office of Advancement into the Greenway Building.

Construction is expected to start in the Spring and last a year.

Benner made the announcement On December 9 from inside a tent set up for the occasion, but the crowd of interested people was so huge that it spilled out around the perimeters. There were close to 100 people, including a panoply of business leaders like Mike Perruucci, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. CEO Don Cunningham, Bethlehemn Mayor Bob Donchez and other City officials, St. Luke's President Richard Anderson, Lehigh University President John Simon and a host of Lehigh engineering and business students.

Dr. Steve Thode with Mayor Bob Donchez

Donchez called the building a "major commitment to the future vitality of the South Side." Over the past several months, he has been engaged in what has been jokingly called "shuttle diplomacy" as he helped put together a deal with two major anchor tenants. Instead of being greeted by a vacant tract, visitors will now see the Greenway Building. Donchez, who grew up on the South Side, calls the building a "catalyst for additional development in South Bethlehem. It will also serve as a gateway into the City from Route 378 and provide much needed foot traffic for the businesses in South Bethlehem."

Benner himself has been a catalyst for in-city development. He has also proposed a nine-story building at 4th and Vine. He is thrilled at the building design prepared by architect Howard Kulp, which includes energy efficient glass, sunscreens and other energy eficiencies.

St. Luke's President Richard Anderson said its presence demonstates the hosp[ital's "long standing commitment to our neighbors ands the Bethlehem Southside ... ."Lehigh University President John Simon stated Lehigh is "proud to play a significant role in this gateway initiative for Southside Bethlehem."

I got there just as the show was starting. Instead of being someone inside the tent, pissing out, I was where I like to be, on the outside, pissing in. But there really is nothing negative about this project. A group of us sat outside and made wisecracks as each speaker waxed on, kinda' like Mystery Science Theater 3000. Instead of Crow T Robit, my partner was The Express Times Sarah Cassi, who tried to deny she knows me.

LU students have been studying South Side under Dr. Thode