Bethlehem

Northeast Bethlehem sits just moments out of downtown Bethlehem yet offers a completely different vibe. “There’s always something to do downtown,” says Jennifer Schimmel, associate broker and part owner with Keller Williams Real Estate. But many residents settle into the neighborhood thanks to peaceful, tree-covered lots, excellent schools and access to major routes nearby that allow for commuting throughout the region and beyond. “You kind of have it all,” Schimmel says, a cliché but a very apt one for the neighborhood that sees homes move fast when they hit the market. Offering something for commuters as well as folks who want to have everything yet have the downtown at a convenient arms’ length, Northeast Bethlehem continues to be a desirable neighborhood in the Lehigh Valley. Covering a range of generations of development, tidy blocks of closely spaced single-family homes spread out into planned developments along winding streets and larger, older manors that have stood as bulwarks for the years. Tall oaks, elms and poplars hang over the neighborhood, providing shade for many properties and splashes of color into the fall. Some apartment buildings are mixed in, but the neighborhood is mostly homeowners, and turnover is relatively quick, Schimmel notes – homes stay on the market for only half the national average time. Townhomes and smaller single-family homes, mostly mid-century bi-levels, split levels and Cape Cods with conservative yards and off-street parking, generally fetch between $225,000 and $425,000. Custom-built single-family homes, particularly with more than 2,000 square feet, get from $450,000 to $750,000 and generally fit the Colonial revival and modern traditional vibe of the area, although unique estates with European influence can be found. Historic homes and manors, some built for Bethlehem Steel executives that used to live in the area, can break through $1 million. Students in Northeast Bethlehem are part of the Bethlehem Area School District and generally start out at Spring Garden, Governor Wolf or Asa Packer for elementary school, which earn a B-plus, an A-minus, and an A-minus respectively from Niche. From there, students may attend East Hills Middle School before heading to Freedom High School, both of which earn a B grade. Freedom High is home to The Freedom Forum, recognized by the American Scholastic Press Association in 2020 as a top high school newspaper. Some students may instead head to Nitschmann or Northeast Middle School, both graded a B-minus, before moving up to Liberty High School, which gets a B grade. Liberty is home to the unique Grenadier Band, patterned after military bands, which includes a bagpipe section. A number of parks feature throughout Northeast Bethlehem, from small pocket parks to forested hiking havens. The North Bethlehem Little League and Pop Warner football teams head to Sell Field for regular games – it’s also home to the community pool and a basketball court. Northdale Park is also home to Little League games and has play areas for younger children. Monocacy Park, set along the Monocacy Creek, features peaceful hiking along Monocacy Way and in Illick’s Mill Park, along with the Memorial Pool, an off-leash dog park and the Municipal Pool. Duffers can swing away at the adjacent Bethlehem Golf Club. Residents in Northeast Bethlehem are spoiled for choice when it comes to the necessities – a Weis, an Aldi, a Wegman’s and multiple Giant grocery stores are nearby, while Bethlehem Square Shopping Mall just north of the neighborhood is home to The Home Depot and a number of big box and national retailers. Along Linden Street, local restaurants star – residents can order pizza by the slice and grab a dessert from the counter at Vincenza’s Italiana Pizzeria and Trattoria or get a taste of Turkey at Anatolian Kitchen with Mediterranean-style wood and stained-glass décor. Azar Supermarket is a local favorite for harder-to-find gourmet and international meats and packaged foods, as well as garden plants. Residents with a sweet tooth swing by Josh Early Candies, run by a family of confectioners now in their fifth generation of serving the Lehigh Valley. “You’re close to the hospitals. You’re close to Route 33. The commute to New York and New Jersey would be a draw,” says Schimmel. While the neighborhood is somewhat walkable, and bicyclists can enjoy riding along the side streets, residents need a car to get around. The hospitals Schimmel refer to, Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg and Good Shepard Specialty Hospital, are mere moments outside of the neighborhood, a 4 mile drive at most. Lehigh Valley International Airport, offering commercial flights throughout the region, is only a mile further, usually 15 minutes or less from any point in the community. Schimmel says a major draw for homebuyers in the whole region is the attractions at SteelStacks in the center of Bethlehem. Entering its fifth decade, Musikfest is a 10-day event that has developed into the premiere free music festival in the country, welcoming international stars to perform yearly. In the winter, the grounds are home to the Christkindlmarkt, celebrating the holidays with an open-air market full of festive cheer, a reflection of the area’s German roots. The Southside Arts District is also nearby, hosting monthly First Friday events and annual draws like the ChiliFest and restaurant week. Founded as a Moravian mission community, the history of the Bethlehem region constantly hangs over the neighborhood, with the Moravian Star a common sight in decorations. That said, it is a neighborhood that welcomes all, and numerous congregations are supported throughout the community, along with religious institutions like Bethlehem Catholic High School, at the bottom edge of Northeast Bethlehem.

Sandwiched between Hellertown and the vibrant historic South Side of Bethlehem, South Bethlehem is a mish-mash of industry and education, with limited housing opportunities. As large as the neighborhood is, much of that ground is taken up by the extensive Lehigh University campus, as well as the distribution centers looking to make use of the convenient location along Route 78. These are busy neighbors, and have an impact on the neighborhood – there are plenty of student rentals, and the traffic of the distribution centers runs around the clock. However, they are major jobs providers for the region, Lindsey Kleinberg, long-time resident and President of the nearby Emmaus Arts Commission says, “There are a lot of great places that bring people here to work - Lehigh Valley Health Network and St Luke’s, factories, lots of distribution centers.” The neighborhood is varied due to the housing being scattered around the fringes, and it mixes apartments and other rentals in liberally. A number of homes across the northern edge of South Bethlehem are set into the mountainside, featuring single-car garages that sit at street level while the rest of the home – often featuring Dutch and other European design influence – sits above it. Those without garages have concrete stairs and retaining walls. Flatlands around the other portions of the neighborhood lead to more conservative homes with traditional and Colonial features, while town houses and apartment complexes fit to the same motif. Most homes in the neighborhood sell for between $175,000 and $375,000, although new builds can break through to $500,000 and above. The community’s students may start out at one of three Bethlehem Area School District elementary schools – Freemansburg, Fountain Hill or Donegan Elementary, all rated a C-plus by Niche. From there, students may move on to either Broughal Middle School and then to Liberty High School, rated C-plus and B respectively, or to East Hills Middle School followed by Freedom High School, both earning a B grade. Liberty High School still operates on the same campus that opened in 1922, once hailed as “one of the greatest achievements of the City of Bethlehem.” Freedom, meanwhile, is home of The Freedom Forum student newspaper that has received national accolades over the years. A handful of bus routes service the South Bethlehem neighborhood, but most residents will need a car – it’s not walkable, nor is it bikeable, and amenities require traveling outside of the neighborhood. However, as Kleinberg points out, the nearby highway network is a boon for the area - “Lehigh Valley is so easy for commuters, it’s had a huge boom in the last few years with people moving from Philly, Baltimore and New York.” Lehigh Valley International Airport, with commercial service around the region to hub airports, is roughly 10 miles outside of the neighborhood. Emergency care, meanwhile, is less than 10 minutes away for most residents, with St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem Campus just outside of the neighborhood. Within the neighborhood, Machu Picchu Peruvian is the star, serving traditional roast chicken with yucca fries and arroz chaufa. National chain spots are prevalent, although nearby Hellertown offers the opportunity to eat at interesting locally owned joints like Vassi’s Drive-In. Most residents are served by small, local grocery stores like CTown Supermarket and Rite-stop Deli and Grocery, while retail is limited – residents will need to head out of the area and into Hellertown or across the river into the heart of Bethlehem for their everyday needs. While the neighborhood is home to the forested hillsides of South Mountain, much of it falls under the purview of Lehigh University and is off-limits. Instead, residents may head to Saucon Park, home to three baseball diamonds as well as a soccer field, walking trail and a playground. Further up Saucon Creek, itself a prime spot for fishing, Southside Little League has their home fields with three more baseball diamonds. The expansiveness of the neighborhood means that residents head out in different directions for holidays and events. Some may make the short trip north to the SteelStacks, and enjoy the Bethlehem MusikFest or the annual Cristkindlmarkt, while others find Hellertown’s spooky Halloween parade to be up their alley. Lehigh University also hosts numerous events throughout the year, from homecoming and football games to artists and musicians, many of which are open to the public. Founded in 1865, Lehigh University spreads thousands of students across its three campus locations, all in South Bethlehem. This means plenty of traffic for the neighborhood as students go about their business, and it can be even busier when the Philadelphia Eagles set up training camp in the summer on the Mountain Hawks’ field. Kleinberg notes that Lehigh is part of the unique Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges where “they have a reciprocity program, children and spouses can go to school or take classes at any of the six colleges in the valley if their parent works at one of them.” It’s a unique educational opportunity that is a rare find in the college world.

For those who want to be close to the attractions of downtown Bethlehem but prefer a slower-paced residential community or quicker access to bigger shopping and Allentown, West Bethlehem provides. Encompassing a region north of the Lehigh River and west of Monocacy Creek, West Bethlehem developed as a suburban area focused on maintaining natural green spaces and giving its residents a quiet community area. In 2003, when the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, the communities of Bethlehem ensured that new businesses and venues would have a chance to flourish. “When big industries leave, people usually find a new city to move to, but people here reinvented themselves so they could stay,” says Realtor Lenore Mohr, owner of Pure Light Reinvest, who has been selling homes in the area for eight years. With a quick bike or car ride across Fred B. Rooney Highway, residents can be right in the heart of Bethlehem. With residential streets lined with sidewalks and gardens carefully attended to, West Bethlehem offers a small-town, suburban vibe. Trees shade green front lawns and little community library boxes on street corners, residents out walking their dogs in the cool mornings. The Kaywin subdivision has plenty of three-bedroom ranch homes, typically selling in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. Meanwhile, areas like the Clearview Manor subdivision and the Mount Airy Historic District by the river have larger homes, with Craftsman foursquares and brick Colonial Revivals selling between $350,000 and $400,000. Most properties in the area are detached homes, but there’s still an almost equal mix of renters and owners in the neighborhood. Most schools in the area fall under the Bethlehem Area School District, and kids can start at Calypso Elementary School, which receives a B from Niche. It incorporates the evidence-based “Leader in Me” learning model, enabling children to take charge of their actions and learning. Students move on to Nitschmann Middle, which receives a B-minus, before finishing basic education at Liberty High. With an overall B on Niche and an A-minus for clubs and activities, Liberty High is in the top percentile for best high schools in Northampton County. At Clearview Park, residents volley on the tennis and pickleball courts while kids run around the playground, and everyone is welcome to cool off in the community pool in the summer. For scenic strolls, the Bethlehem Rose Garden welcomes visitors and volunteers. It was first planted in 1931, and the 500 roses and perennials are in most robust bloom during Rosefest in June and July. For cyclists, the Delaware and Lehigh Trail at the Sand Island Trail Head is a popular starting point for miles of paved trails. There are a few main commercial areas around the neighborhood, giving residents access to big-name stops like Aldi, Weis and Target, alongside chain retailers, national banking locations and more. Community personality can be found in the local businesses that line West Broad Street, where cyclists go to Action Wheels Bike Shop for tune-ups, and people take Pilates classes at SteelCore Studio. MINT Gastropub specializes in indulgent bar food and game day dishes while offering patrons vegan options. Meanwhile, the family-run Orizaba Mexican & Costa Rican Kitchen offers Latin American fusion, with people chatting over shrimp tacos and drinks at their outdoor patio. As West Bethlehem directly borders downtown Bethlehem, residents can access all of the trendy breweries and venues downtown offers in just a few minutes. “If someone’s looking for bigger events, they would go to downtown Bethlehem,” says Jennifer Schimmel, associate broker and part owner with Keller Williams Real Estate. “To be near downtown is a huge draw for homebuyers.” In the summers, the 10-day Musikfest is the place to be, featuring hundreds of music performances, comedians and local artisans on the 10-acre steel mill turned music venue, SteelStacks. From June to October, the Bethlehem Rose Garden Farmers Market features local produce and live music. West Bethlehem is bordered by Lehigh Valley Thruway and Fred B. Rooney Highway, and there are several bus stops along the main thoroughfare of West Broad Street.

The Downtown Bethlehem community is as strong as the steel once produced here. For years, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation supplied steel for iconic American landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. After closing in 2003, city residents rallied to bring new life to the plant and ultimately, it was transformed into a lively entertainment venue for music concerts and festivals. “When big industries leave, people usually find a new city to move to, but people here reinvented themselves so they could stay because they loved living here so much,” says Realtor Lenore Mohr, owner of Pure Light Reinvest, who has been selling homes in the area for eight years. <br><br>Bethlehem hosts so many celebrations that locals refer to this Pennsylvania city as “Fest-lehem.” In addition to the festive events, downtown residents relish living in a highly walkable neighborhood that’s home to a wealth of restaurants, shops and two universities. <br><br>Main Street and Broad Street intersect to greet residents with a multitude of eateries offering outdoor seating. Apollo Grill, which is regularly voted as Bethlehem’s best restaurant by Lehigh Valley Style magazine, has been a mainstay for 25 years. Customers can expect upscale favorites, such as shrimp limoncello and short ribs. <br><br>A stroll along Main Street leads to eclectic shops such as Donegal Square, where patrons can rent a kilt or purchase Irish whiskey, and Cigar International Store which boasts a worldwide collection. For the full Bethlehem experience, stop by Moravian Book Shop, the oldest continuously operating bookstore in the world, which opened in 1745.<br><br>A grocery run can be easily handled at C-Town Supermarket on East Third Street. <br><br>The northern section of downtown features an abundance of Craftsman-style homes and Cape Cods with rooftop dormer windows. It’s a bit leafier and quieter than other parts of downtown with more yard space and sidewalks for a peaceful stroll through the neighborhood. <br><br>For those who prefer to be close to the action, the commercial part of town known as the historic district offers a mix of well-maintained Colonial Revivals and colorful Victorians from the late 1800s and early 1900s. When residents step outside their front door, they’re on sidewalks leading to all of downtown’s local shops and restaurants. “The historic district has strict building codes, so they’ve maintained a high level of consistency over the years,” Mohr says.<br><br>The average sale price hovers in the high-$200,000s and homes are snatched up a few weeks after being listed. A cozy two-bedroom, one-bath may sell for $225,000, while a six-bedroom, four-bath Victorian could fetch $900,000. <br><br>The community gathers at the iconic SteelStacks on Founders Way for dozens of year-round celebrations, including Peepsfest, where locals ring in the New Year with a giant Peeps chick that drops for the countdown, followed by fireworks. It’s put on by Just Born Quality Confections, a candy manufacturer in Bethlehem that makes the popular marshmallow candy.<br><br>Christkindlmarkt, a German-inspired holiday market, has been named one of the best of its kind in the world by Travel + Leisure. The event takes place over several weeks during November and December on First Street and features thousands of handmade gifts. <br><br>Situated next to the Lehigh River, on River Road, Sand Island Park is a popular spot among walkers and bikers alike. In addition to its trails, the park features a playground, basketball and tennis courts. Payrow Plaza, on East Church Street, offers scenic views of the city and the towering “Symbol of Progress” public art sculpture. <br><br>Public school students may attend William Penn Elementary, Northeast Middle and Liberty High. Part of the Bethlehem Area School District, the elementary and high schools earn B Niche grades, while the middle school scores a B-minus. Home of the Hurricanes, the high school offers dozens of extracurricular programs ranging from Latin ballroom to jigsaw puzzle clubs. <br><br>Downtown Bethlehem is home to Moravian University and Lehigh University. Established in 1742, Moravian is the sixth-oldest college in the country and the first to educate women. Lehigh University prides itself as one of the country’s top research institutions.