One long step forward … a step which took nearly six hours Feb. 6, when city council voted in favor of a new parking structure on Walnut Street, with 527 parking spots, replacing the one currently being torn down.

The vote was at the end of a second consecutive meeting on the Walnut St. Garage project in less than 10 days, both lasting well over five hours. City administrators and representatives from THA Consulting could be seen anxiously watching the meeting unfold.

Residents spoke out against both plans, requesting council members back HARB’s recommendations against going forward with either proposal, and pointing to lack of transparency on project intentions about an area referred to as “the white box.”

Most in attendance held “Support HARB” signs, including those who sat directly behind Mayor J. William Reynolds.

Hotel Bethlehem’s Bruce Haines challenged the data used for determining the number of parking spots for both projects. He also questioned the possible apartment building at the site of the white box, and how both projects could hurt the city’s bid to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, saying, “When you have a wall 150 feet away from God’s Acre, you are jeopardizing our nomination.”

Those supporting the projects looked at the numbers and how much Bethlehem residents would save, seeing it as an investment for the future.

In reply to Councilman Bryan Callahan’s question, “Is there any question right now about having to raise meter rates, parking rates, garage rates or fines to help support or fund the new garage?”, Reynolds explained at some point, incentivized rate structure will have to be discussed in terms of market realities.

Before the vote, HARB’s former chairwoman Marsha Fritz said, “Parking garages are, by their nature, modern buildings. This is outside the known universe of the people who built the 18th and 19th century architecture of Bethlehem. And that is the paradox of the Historic District. We seek to preserve and appreciate history, but we cannot be entirely bound by its limitations because they cannot serve the needs of the current and future residents of our city.”

Two public hearings related to the Walnut Parking Garage project, one on zoning and the other to vacate, were held at the beginning of the evening, with dozens of residents voicing their concerns.

City Planning Director Darlene Heller explained the vacate ordinance would make the Walnut Street corridor more pedestrian friendly, providing more walkability.

A final vote on the related ordinances will take place during the next city council meeting, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.