Tear Down Old Jack Jones Buick?
Developers have plans to demolish the old Jack Jones Buick building and replace it with offices
The former Jack Jones Buick dealership at 321 W. Broad St. has been vacant since the end of 2005.
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Developers have submitted plans to city officials to tear down the familiar 1921 Jack Jones Buick building and put up a three-story medical office building in its place.
The city supports the project because the aging structure will be difficult to preserve and because developers Lou Pektor and Ed Novak are known for their quality endeavors, according to a Lehigh Valley Live report.
Bethlehem Patch asked readers what should go in the iconic building. Several readers said a grocery store or food co-op would benefit the neighborhood.
The building has been vacant since the Buick dealership closed in 2005.
James Schlener
11:40 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Tear it down before it completely falls down. Place is a mess
Dana Grubb
8:31 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I say retain the brick facade and rebuild the interior, much like was done at Riverport. Get it listed on the National register if it is eligible and pursue federal tax credits to help underwrite the cost. The demolition strategy that seems to be more prevalent in Bethlehem these days (Broughal, No. 8 Hammer Shop, Colonial Root Cellars, south end of Main Street parking proposal, etc.) defies the fact that Bethlehem has much history to preserve in the form of historically significant architecture. How many urban automobile showrooms remain from the 1920s, so why not seek to preserve at least the outward appearance of the Jack Jones Buick building?