BETHLEHEM -- A group of more than 40 people who met Wednesday night want to see historic Bethlehem Steel buildings preserved want a say in the development of Bethlehem Works.
The informal, two-hour brainstorming forum at Trinity UCC Church at North and Center streets was hosted by Friends of the Steel, a grass-roots group dedicated to preserving the Bethlehem Steel site.
Friends of the Steel members expressed concern about the preservation of former Steel buildings and said they wanted the community to be involved in every step of Bethlehem Works development.
"This site represents the industrial age of the 20th century and resonates around the world," South Bethlehem Historical Society member Meg Sharp Walton said. "This site is a voice of the community."
However, Friends of the Steel has no control over the land it is dedicated to preserving. Bethlehem Works, a 160-acre tract of former Steel land that includes the defunct industrial giant's blast furnaces and machine shops, was recently purchased by a consortium of New York investors known as BethWorks Now.
BethWorks Now, headed by local attorney Michael Perrucci, paid more than $3 million for Bethlehem Works, and while the group's members have said they are sensitive to historic preservation, they have also made clear that business is their top priority. BethWorks Now is considering vying for a slot-machine parlor license.
A show of hands at Wednesday's Friends of the Steel meeting indicated that attendees generally agreed on two things: no gambling and no gated environment.
A "gated environment" at the site was proposed by Jeff Parks, head of ArtsQuest, the Bethlehem-based nonprofit that puts on Musikfest. Parks pitched the idea of moving Musikfest to a gated arts park at Bethlehem Works -- an idea BethWorks Now investors have rejected, though they say they are still interested in working with Parks in some capacity.
"My students don't know what happened here," said first grade teacher Kurtis Freimuth. "Once we talked about it, students came back saying, 'My grandfather worked there.' "
After nearly two hours of discussion, table captains reported their respective group's consensus.
Among projected suggestions: several museum sites, a steelworkers archives, an oral history project and an interactive teaching exhibit to highlight the significance of the steel-making industry and how the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. was a pivotal player.
Additional ideas included commercial and residential development, large tourism attractions, perhaps an IMAX theater, band shell, water park, bike routes, convention center, bowling alleys, riverboat rides and a light show.
Further suggestions tapped upscale shops, restaurants, affordable housing for families and seniors, hotels, and lots of open space and recreation for the South Side.
But above all were good-paying jobs.
For 12-year-old Eduardo Daniel Toro, preserving the buildings and their history, and open space and activities to draw young people are key.
"We need to protect these buildings," said the Broughal Middle School student. "We also need to have fun things for kids to do."
For more information visit www.friendsofthesteel.org