2018 Commonwealth Awards program celebrates steel town revitalization.

Harrisburg, PA (January 2019) – The Commonwealth’s leading voice for smart growth, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, has honored Bethlehem, PA innovators and projects in the statewide nonprofit’s annual awards program. A mayor, social entrepreneur, planner and developer were recognized for their individual and collaborative efforts of alternative economic development strategies that helped revitalize the deindustrialized city. Also recognized were projects spearheaded by Lehigh University, Moravian College, Bethlehem DOT and others.

“This city has more than its share of visionaries,” said Stacie Reidenbaugh, President and CEO of 10,000 Friends. “On our 20^th Anniversary, it was 10,000 Friends’ great pleasure to celebrate the extraordinary individuals and development projects that are making Bethlehem a walkable, sustainable, equitable, and healthy community.”

The 2018 Commonwealth Awards program, held on December 6 at the ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem, honored these individuals:

 John Callahan, former Mayor of Bethlehem, received the Mark Schneider Friend of Pennsylvania Award.

Tony Hanna, executive director of the City of Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, received the Public Sector Excellence Award.

Michael Perrucci, owner of Peron Development and counsel at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Cappelli, received the Louis J. Appell, Jr. Leadership Award.

Jeffrey Parks, founder of ArtsQuest, received the Joanne Denworth Founders Award.

Christopher Terlizzi, former treasurer and Board member of 10,000 Friends, received the Board of Directors Award.

“Creating great places to live and work is the mission of 10,000 Friends,” said Reidenbaugh. “Beginning with SteelStacks ten years ago, these projects and others have breathed new life into Bethlehem.”

The winning projects include:

New Nitschmann Middle School (Bethlehem Area School District)

Follett Family Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Northampton Community College)

Bethlehem Commerce Center (Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, Majestic Realty, Liberty Property Trust)

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts

Southside Commons (Lehigh University)

Five10Flats (Peron Development)

Gateway at Greenway Park (Ion Development Group)

Commerce Center Boulevard (Northampton County)

Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Center for Health Sciences / Moravian Book Shop (Moravian College)

South Bethlehem Greenway / Bethlehem Skateplaza

Route 412 Rehabilitation (PennDOT)

Sands Bethlehem

“Smart growth is more than just smart,” said Reidenbaugh. “It is our only means of guaranteeing that our urban, suburban and rural communities remain livable, prosperous and healthy. Along with affordable housing, public transit, stormwater management – these form the foundation of our Healthy Communities Initiative, and are essential elements of 2018’s winning projects.”

About 10,000 Friends

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is the leading statewide and regional voice for creating great places to live and work. Founded in 1998, we advocate for policies and investments that build and sustain walkable, healthy communities for all Pennsylvanians. As a recognized authority on responsible land use, we partner with and provide technical assistance to government officials, non-profit organizations and the private sector on development and policy solutions that protect the natural and built environments, strengthen local economies, provide access to economic opportunity for all, and improve community health and quality of life in our state’s diverse cities, towns, older suburbs, and rural communities. Visit www.10000friends.org.

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Photo caption (L-R):

Stacie Reidenbaugh, president and CEO, 10,000 Friends of PA; Jeff Parks, founder of ArtsQuest; Mike Perrucci, owner of Peron Development; John Callahan, former Mayor of Bethlehem; Chris Terlizzi, former treasurer and Board member of 10,000 Friends; Bert Cossaboon, Board Vice Chair, 10,000 Friends of PA at the 10,000 Friends’ Commonwealth Awards.