For Immediate Release

Public Relations Division
Public Affairs Department
1170 Eighth Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18016-7699
(610) 694-3711 - Phone
(610) 694-1509 - Fax

LACKAWANNA, N.Y., November 7, 1996 -- Bethlehem Steel Corporation has reached an agreement to sell five parcels of vacant land here, totaling 17 acres, to the Lackawanna Community Development Corporation (LCDC). All of the land is located in the City of Lackawanna's First Ward.

"This agreement means that essentially all Bethlehem Steel property east of Route 5 has been sold and is destined for, or has been put to, reuse," said Stephen G. Donches, Bethlehem's vice president for public affairs. "This is another step in Bethlehem's continuing efforts to return its vacant property to productive reuse for the benefit of the entire community."

Nicholas Monafo, executive director of the LCDC, said the agency plans to use the newly purchased land predominantly for new housing construction. "The acquisition of this land from Bethlehem provides us with additional space for new housing construction in an area of our city where there had been no new housing since the 1940s. This is a major economic shot-in-the- arm for Lackawanna."

Nancy Shelton, housing specialist for the LCDC, said current plans are for the construction of mixed housing in the area, including income-eligible housing and market rate homes. "We're looking at individual homes of mixed architecture for all types of families."

Ms. Shelton, who noted that the LCDC's Housing Development Corporation just recently sold the last of 16 other newly built homes in the area, said the land just purchased from Bethlehem Steel will provide space for an estimated 30 more homes. She said development could begin as soon as next year.