Whitehall Township's efforts to return the southern sector of MacArthur Road to its former splendor could become a reality soon.

A new restaurant may be moving into a long vacant, deteriorating structure.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. disclosed Monday at the commissioners workshop that the former Goodyear tire store will be converted into an eatery.

Hozza declined to name the company expected to purchase the site.

The mayor said a national franchise chain will set up shop with a new fast food restaurant. Until all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed, the township is expected to keep the identity of the new restaurant chain under wraps.

The township has accelerated its efforts to bring back the "Golden Strip" at the southern end of MacArthur Road.

Bottom Dollar last year undertook an extensive remake of a building which decades ago housed Food Fair.

The market is only one of several commercial enterprises there to be upgraded or newly constructed.

A defunct Hess Gas Station just inside township borders was razed for a new use, as was a former gas station located near the Jordan Creek which has since become home to White Castle, a miniburger eatery.

Today, Thursday, May 9, Hozza and other township officials will greet a Lehigh Valley based economic group whose bus tour includes the former Lehigh Valley Dairy site. For decades, the township has been promoting the site and pushing to revitalize it.

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In other business, the commissioners set this coming Monday's agenda to includes a vote on increasing membership of the Whitehall Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority from seven to nine members.

Mark Molchany, a Realtor and authority member, said the authority has recently begun making great strides. Increasing the authority's membership is a positive step since it has many committees with various functions it performs, he said.