Bethlehem's Comprehensive Housing Strategy
The Lehigh Valley is in the throes of an affordable housing crisis. Over the last three years in Bethlehem, the median sales and rental prices have jumped more than 50%.
Recognizing the crisis, the City of Bethlehem launched its Comprehensive Housing Strategy in mid-2022 to find data-driven solutions to this complex issue. The eventual final plan will leave the City with a toolbox of targeted strategies for its unique real estate market. The goal is to help as many people as possible with the City’s available resources.
The first phase of the study included an update of the City’s 2017 market value analysis – a deep data dive into local real estate factors – and a housing needs assessment. An extensive community engagement effort was undertaken this fall with more than 3,500 people taking a housing survey and participating in 11 pop-up engagement events across the city. The City also conducted focus groups and one-on-one interviews with the Lehigh Valley’s housing stakeholders, including nonprofits, major employers, financial institutions, Realtors and developers.
City staff, the consultant team and a Housing Strategy Committee, comprised of local stakeholders, have vetted the housing strategies best suited for Bethlehem’s real estate market to formulate the final plan.
If you have questions about the study contact Sara Satullo, deputy director of community development, at ssatullo@bethlehem-pa.gov.
Phases
Community Meetings
The City of Bethlehem, in partnership with The Reinvestment Fund, Atria Planning and Collabo Planning, presented an update on the City's Housing Needs Assessment at the February 7, 2023, Community Development Committee. The presentation can be found here.
On Wednesday Feb. 8, the City convened a meeting at Northampton Community College’s Fowler Family Southside Center to offer the community a progress update on this work. More than 100 people came to learn about the study via a presentation by the consultant team, the Reinvestment Fund, Atria Planning and Collabo Planning.
The City of Bethlehem, in partnership with The Reinvestment Fund, Atria Planning and Collabo Planning, presented an update on the City's Affordable Housing Strategies at the March 7, 2023, Community Development Committee. The presentation can be found here.