From The Morning Call

Casino design doesn't honor Bethlehem's history

August 12, 2005

I witnessed a strange and enlightening moment a month ago, while attending the Don Quixote Project in South Bethlehem. The character Don Quixote (played by Mark McKenna) demanded of the audience during the play why it is, exactly, that they do or do not want a casino in South Bethlehem. I was amazed by the overwhelmingly negative response, and the reasons for either side. People tend to be ''for'' the casino because it will give them a tax break, and ''against'' it because it might bring crime.

This moment came back to haunt me when I visited the tent for the Sands Casino at Musikfest. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I was appalled. Not only because the design is hideous, but also because there is a blatant disregard for the existing condition of the site and for Bethlehem in general. For the first time in my life, I am truly ashamed of Democratic politicians, since they are primarily responsible for pushing this project through the local and state governments. I was on the fence about this project before, but now I am fully against it, for a series of reasons.

The casino builders are promising millions of dollars to help renovate and refurbish remaining Bethlehem Steel structures to become something of museum quality — a very noble promise, indeed. But here's where it gets disturbing: In what I have read in articles and proposal documents for the project, there is minimal to no mention of architects or historic preservationists. And, after seeing the display at Musikfest this past Sunday, I realized that my biggest fears about the Sands company turning our beautiful, historical town into a giant mall were coming true.

With the possibility of the casino, Bethlehem has the opportunity to create a piece of architecture that could truly add to the definition of the city as a destination. We have the chance to create an experience of city planning and mixed-use infrastructure that could make the casino an asset to the South Side, rather than a detriment. For instance, I truly believe that if the casino is realized correctly, it will create a public space that could pull the burgeoning arts community of Bethlehem in tighter, as well as give the South Side an additional economic and social boost.

However, the developers of the casino project are making the grave mistake of including uninspired ''mall and casino'' architects whose primary solution for any problem of form is to stick a big concrete wall in front of it and call it a day. The project completely lacks the fine-tuning, thought, and sensitivity that are so necessary for its success. There is more at stake here than aid for schools and relief from taxes. The implementation of this casino is a disaster in the making, and it will squash the quaint beauty of this town and its burgeoning arts community.

The way to make good architecture is not to simply put lots of glass everywhere and pretend that it creates a window into the surrounding urban condition. Good architecture is created when that urban condition is embraced and utilized to inspire the new installations of architecture, not isolated and ignored because it is too much to deal with.

That's what the struggle of the architect is all about. And truly good architecture would not destroy the historic buildings (as the Sands architects seem to want to do) to make way for their architectural nightmare. Architecture, city planning, landscape, and historic preservation today have gained the ability to inspire and channel emotion into physical form. They are capable of analyzing the sociology, psychology, history, emotion and physicality of a site to attain a plane of understanding that allows people from all backgrounds to interact with the site and the architecture.

How could Bethlehem use the opportunity for this project wisely? Well for one thing, it could create a competition for international architects and planners. This project could be something like the competition for the World Trade Center site, but without the antics of under-inspired developers putting a stop to the creative vision of the people who have to live with the outcome. I know of many an architect who would jump at the chance to work with a project like the former Bethlehem Steel site.

Many of us in Bethlehem have grown up under the shadow of the Steel. We can remember the plumes of blue flame shooting from the top of the blast furnaces late at night and the roar of a furnaces being charged, audible across the river. The Steel has become an emblem of our city, and rightfully so. I think we should honor it by doing something truly spectacular, rather than constructing a behemoth that will tear this city apart.

Jessica H. Brams-Miller, a Bethlehem native, is in the master of architecture program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design.