For two and a half hours, members of the Southside Historic Architecture Review Board, community and developer Dennis Benner debated the demolition of 24 W. Fourth St. in Bethlehem and the construction of a nine-story mixed use, commercial building in its place. The meeting took so long that the Banana Factory, where the meeting was held, closed, and the fates of the issues were left to a continuance.

When asked how the lack of a decision affects a construction schedule, Benner initially said the project has taken so long a little more time wasn't important, but upon reflecting on it further changed his mind.

"It will affect me in major ways," he said.

Benner came to the board wanting to expand the building to cover both 24 and 30 W. Fourth St. Demolition of the latter property had already been approved. He also asked to increase the height from the previously approved seven stories to a nine-story building.

"This is a very high class project," Benner said in place of how much the building would cost to construct. He said he wants to use the CRIZ (City Revitalization Improvement Zone) tax incentive to help with funding of the project.

At the meeting, Benner told the board, "I want to take you folks to a new place… to a renaissance, to the Southside renaissance."

He told the board he doesn't want to try to recreate something that is long gone.

"I want to have a town that starts at 5 o'clock, not stops," he said.

Benner believes a night life in Southside will jolt the economy. He wants to construct buildings that will attract people to the businesses and create a college town where the business district and university flow into one another. And students commonly patronize the businesses.

Beth Starbucks, chair for the historic board, said, "We definitely want a vibrant downtown on the Southside," but she stressed it was the strict standards of historic preservation that has enabled the north side to maintain its historic look.

"The north side has 15 percent higher (property) values because of the strictness," she said.

In reply, Benner said, "Why is it that the north side has developed and the south side hasn't? There are grand old homes over there."

The building plans at issue would include a commercial front on the first floor, followed by several floors of multiple apartments and a penthouse on the top. Board member Christine Ussler read a description of the ninth-floor explaining that it would be recessed by five feet on all four sides in order to reduce the perception of height.

Board member Greg Lader explained that the height of the building would be 85 feet to the edge where the recess begins. The overall height would be 96 feet tall. The length of the building would be approximately 120 feet with a narrower width. The former Bethlehem Steel SGO building is 13 stories, Ussler said, and the Bethlehem Steel building that now houses Northampton Community College's Fowler Southside Center is 75 feet tall. In the area of the proposed building, the church spire nearby reaches a height comparable to the height of the proposed building, she said.

Starbucks explained to the community members attending the meeting that this height was being considered because of the history of tall buildings in south side Bethlehem.

Seth Moglen, a professor at Lehigh University, addressed the board and Benner saying, "The renaissance of south side Bethlehem has happened. We are actually making it happen. I suspect there's a pretty strong consensus know the future vitality of the community is tied to the historic preservation. Is there anyone on the board who thinks nine stories might be right for that spot?"

No one on the board spoke up in favor for that height.

As far as preservation of the building considered for demolition, Ussler read a description that noted that the property is condemned, the foundation is crumbling and the floors are not stable.

Jim Eck, president of Quadratus Construction in Allentown, spoke to the board on behalf of Benner about the condition of the building. Eck said there is deterioration inside and out, joint issues and insect damage. He ventured to the second and third floors, but did not go onto the floors because they are not stable.

Starbucks asked him if the building could be repaired, and he answered yes.

"The biggest challenge is what we uncover as we work," he said.

Eck said the base price for refurbishing the building is about $360,000.

Board member Carolyn Facchiano said she thinks they should consider that if Benner would be able to get his money out of the investment by not only paying for the property, but also refurbishing it. The completed building would only have a couple apartments.

"I'd love to see this building renovated, but it's never going to make any economic sense," said Ken Loush, board member.

With the closing of the Banana Factory imminent, the board voted to demolish 24 W. Fourth St. only to have it challenged by members of the community, who said they weren't given an opportunity to speak on the motion before the vote was taken. With time running out, the board moved to continue for another day.