City officials an-nounced Nov. 11 that the Steelworkers Veterans Memorial at East Third and Fillmore Streets will soon be moved to a move visible location in the proposed Greenway Commons development.

Tony Hanna, executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of Bethlehem, said investigating the feasibility of a parking garage at the current site, a lot used by Northampton Community College but owned by Sands BethWorks Retail, LLC, made it clear construction and parking would only congest the area further. The memorial committee approached the city to find a solution.

Hanna said, "We proposed to the Steelworkers Veterans Memorial Committee that they consider a relocation of their present monument to a new plaza to be constructed as part of the parking improvements and Greenway improvements rather than being overwhelmed by a new large structure to be built adjacent to their present site.

"They liked the idea and it would allow them to make the monument larger to accommodate more recognition of Steelworkers who fought in [wars] subsequent [to Korea]. "

The authority has agreed to pay the costs of relocation as part of its overall development improvements, Hanna said.

In comments he made on-site during his Veterans Day appearances, Mayor Bob Donchez said the move is necessitated by the continued efforts to redevelop the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. lands, but the new space will allow for additional commemorative wings to recognize Steelworkers and their participation in the conflicts in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Donchez said the new memorial plaza should be complete for next year's Veterans Day ceremonies.

Hanna said the Greenway Commons will include apartments, retail, office space and restaurants as well as offer a new parking arrangement for the neighborhood.