Whitehall Township officials say promising offers are in the mix for the long idled Lehigh Valley Dairy property.

"As of today, there are two offers on the two parcels equaling a combined 23 acres," Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. informed township officials last week.

The township over the last 30 years did everything in its power to reuse the dairy property, a portion of which currently is being used by a manufacturer and a retail pool business. The township went as far as rezoning the tract in an attempt to attract developers to the land, located off MacArthur and Mickley roads.

"Both bids are from developers that the township is familiar with," Hozza said.

Should the properties be sold and development plans brought forth, Hozza said, he would want Penn-DOT to "be at the table" when proposals are submitted. Hozza did not divulge who the developers are and if the property would be utilized for business or residential use or a mix of both.

Hozza and the commissioners do not want a repeat of what happened 10 years ago when Regency Development, an out-of-state corporation, offered plans for mixed commercial and residential development at the site, but then bowed out.

Once labeled as America's most beautiful dairy, it was very active in the 1950s and 1960s.

With its art deco entrance, the Lehigh Valley Dairy property was viewed as the gateway to the township on its south sector, although it has taken on a deteriorating appearance over the years.

The dairy featured ice cream and milk shakes and produced milk, flavored milks, creams, cottage cheese, fruit drinks and other products.

At one time, it was the township's largest tax payer, generating more tax proceeds than the cement companies.

Production was moved to Lansdale in the 1980s.