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Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez vows to work with the eventual new owners of the Sands casino to fulfill the redevelopment promises the Sands made at the former Bethlehem Steel property. Donchez spoke of that commitment Thursday morning during his annual State of the City address at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, in the shadows of the former Steel blast furnaces. The remarks were made as part of the Business Leaders Breakfast, hosted by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce. The comment was the only brief acknowledgement of the pending casino sale that Donchez made during a speech focused on Bethlehem's stronger financial footing, its continued investments in its downtowns and quality of life issues, such as its fight against blight. The Sands is in negotiations with MGM Resorts International over the sale of the nearly-eight year-old Sands Casino Resort Bethelehm. Sands Bethlehem President Mark Juliano emailed employees last week to alert them of a possible sale. While the Sands is the most successful casino in the state, there's been little non-gaming redevelopment of the property, such as the former Steel General Office building and No. 2 Machine Shop, as Sands first promised. And the fate of a $90 million casino expansion announced in November remains in limbo with the potential sale to MGM Resorts International. Sands officials did not respond to a request seeking an update on the expansion plans. MGM owns casino resorts worldwide, including the Borgata in Atlantic City. In his fourth year as mayor, Donchez said he is proud to say that Bethlehem is a much stronger city financially. He pointed to the city's recent upgrade to an A bond rating and the 2017 zero tax-increase budget. "I am pleased to announce that the state of the city is strong," said Donchez, who is running for re-election this year and is the only candidate on the May 16 primary election ballot. Overall expenses have been cut by $15.4 million, while revenue is up $4.2 million. "We are leaner, stronger and it is our ability to work together, with city council, that has made this progress possible," Donchez said. Donchez plans to work to bring further development to the former Steel property as well as invest in both of the 275-year-old city's downtowns. During the speech, he announced Lehigh University's $645,000 commitment to continue to sponsor the South Side ambassadors, who pick up trash, clean graffiti, pull weeds, offer directions and take on other beautification efforts, for another three years. The program launched in 2014 and the funding was set to expire later this year. The city's 2017 budget invests in the downtowns through streetscape projects and capital improvement aimed at enhancing visitors' experiences in business districts, Donchez said. A downtown market analysis will help the city hone in on the market demand and existing gaps, and then work to recruit the sorts of businesses that can succeed in Bethlehem, he said. Donchez is known for focusing on the not-so-sexy city services that residents rely upon, like road repaving, strong public safety and blight remediation. Keeping in line with that, Bethlehem is exploring implementing a 311 line, a non-emergency 24-hour number where residents can report complaints, like potholes or graffiti, Donchez said Thursday. The city is studying the 331 line as part of its state-mandated 911 center consolidation with Northampton County. Donchez also touted his hard line toward blighted properties, pointing to the city's takeover as conservator of the former Goodman Furniture building on Third Street. Bethlehem is currently soliciting proposals from developers interested in rehabbing he anchor building. "This will end years of negative impact it has created for the neighborhood," Donchez said. "Let me be clear: if blighting a building is not enough to get the attention of the property owner, the city is prepared to take control of these buildings and facilitate their redevelopment." Read the original article here.