Bethlehem's skyline is about to undergo a major change when the Lehigh Valley's tallest building comes down.
The owners of the 21-story Martin Tower have informed the city they plan to demolish the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. headquarters at 1170 Eighth Ave.
The building's cruciform shape -- reportedly meant to maximize the number of corner offices and stellar views -- have made it too costly to redevelop.
Crews have been working for two years to remove all of the asbestos from the iconic tower as part of a $4 million environmental remediation project. Ancillary buildings have come down and historic elements have been removed.
What's left is a concrete and steel shell. The owners of the property -- local developer Lewis Ronca and Norton Herrick of Boca Raton, Fla. -- and their representative Duane Wagner have not responded to repeated requests by lehighvalleylive.com for comment on the 53-acre site's future.
Back in 2017, their company HRP Management Inc. shared these historic photos of the tower's construction that were unearthed during the environmental work. They show it rising in West Bethlehem starting in 1969 through 1971. It opened for business in 1972 and was last occupied by tenants in 2007, the year Ronca and Herrick bought the properties.
It has sat vacant ever since with several redevelopment plans starting and stalling. In 2015, a controversial rezoning made way for the tower to come down. The new zoning permits a mix of office, residential and 380,000 square feet of retail on the Eighth and Eaton avenues site. The developers must submit a master plan for the site to the city.
The developers will have to apply to the city for a demolition permit and give the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection a 10-day notice of demolition as part of a dust control plan for DEP to review. Nothing has been submitted to the DEP at this time, according to a spokeswoman.
Martin Tower rises in September 1970 alongside this newly-finished stretch of Route 378. The building opened in 1972.
Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleyl
Debris from demolished, ancillary buildings surrounds the long-shuttered Martin Tower Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, in West Bethlehem. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower is to come down.
These photos give a glimpse back in time to the construction of the 21-story former Bethlehem Steel Corps. Headquarters.
The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
An aerial view from inside Martin Tower, looking down to the north parking area. The photo is dated Dec. 10, 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower rising
The future of Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s former headquarters at Eighth and Eaton avenues in West Bethlehem is in limbo as its owners weigh its future. This Jan. 14, 1970, photo give a glimpse back to Martin Tower's beginning. The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007. (Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.) EJA
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower rising
The future of Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s former headquarters at Eighth and Eaton avenues in West Bethlehem is in limbo as its owners weigh its future. This Feb. 18 1970, photo gives a glimpse back in time at the construction of the 21-story Martin Tower. The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007. (Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.) EXT
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower rising
The future of Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s former headquarters at Eighth and Eaton avenues in West Bethlehem is in limbo as its owners weigh its future. These photos give a glimpse back in time to the construction of the 21-story Martin Tower. The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007. (Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.) EXT
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
This Jan. 14, 1970, photo give a glimpse back to Martin Tower's beginning. The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower rising
The first floor view looking east from the west wing.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower rising
The future of Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s former headquarters at Eighth and Eaton avenues in West Bethlehem is in limbo as its owners weigh its future. These photos give a glimpse back in time to the construction of the 21-story Martin Tower. The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007. (Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.) EJA
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The eleventh floor slab of Martin Tower on Sept. 21, 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower's mosaic artwork goes on public display (PHOTOS)
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower seen from the roof of north building June of 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Construction gets underway.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Martin Tower rising
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
A view of a sample curtain wall on the second floor of Martin Tower looking southwest. The photo is dated March 1, 1971.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The southeast view from Martin Tower penthouse number two in this photo from Jan. 12, 1971.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The southeast view from Martin Tower penthouse number two in this photo from Jan. 12, 1971.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
A look at Martin Tower as it was under construction Sept. 21, 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The seventh floor view looking west from the east wing on June 29,1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The southeast view from inside Martin Tower as it was under construction Oct. 26, 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
A view of the electrical equipment room in this Jan. 5, 1971 photo. The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
A view of the electrical equipment room in this Jan. 5, 1971 photo. The building opened in 1972 and was last inhabited in 2007.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
This Feb. 18 1970, photo gives a glimpse back in time at the construction of the 21-story Martin Tower.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
A view of the electrical equipment room in this Jan. 5, 1971 photo.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The southeast view of the southern portion of the south parking lot from inside Martin Tower as it was under construction Oct. 26, 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
A look at Martin Tower on June 22, 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
Escalator frames in the basement area of Martin Tower.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The view from the twelfth floor of Martin Tower looking down at the northeast plaza area.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The view of the south parking lot from the twelfth floor of Martin tower on Sept. 21, 1970.
Courtesy of HRP Management Inc.
The southwest garage area on Nov. 9, 1970.
Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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