The Northside neighborhood of Bethlehem is a community of just over 5,500 residents located directly north of the city’s historic downtown district. A mere .4 square miles in area, it is a characteristically urban neighborhood in that it is conveniently located and walkable with short, dense blocks. It is physically separated from neighborhoods to its west by Monocacy Creek, which runs southward towards the Lehigh River, and the four-lane roadway that runs adjacent and parallel to the creek. Adding to the sense of physical separation is a dramatic grade change caused by the creek and a lack of continuous street grid where the neighborhood meets the creek.
The Northside has historically been a stable residential community, but it has shown signs of potential weakening and decline in recent years. Taking precedence from the successful revitalization of the SouthSide neighborhood on the other side of the Lehigh River, the City of Bethlehem chose to embark on a community-driven planning process to identify necessary actions and investments to bring positive momentum to the Northside.
