Industrial Drive Data Center (Boyle Construction, Paxos and TensorIQ, Bethlehem)

A 120 MW, two-story data center beside Route 22 in Bethlehem is exempt from the city's new rules

Developer

The Industrial Drive Team: Boyle Construction, Paxos and TensorIQ (an advisory and operations firm for data center development in Newark, Delaware). WFMZ says Boyle and Paxos have Lehigh Valley roots.

Tenant

No tenant named

Current stage

The proposal was submitted August 13, 2026 and is being reviewed under the city's zoning as it stood then. City Council passed its data center ordinance, Bill 28-2026, 7-0 on first reading on October 6 after a public hearing, and listed it for final passage on October 20; the city has posted only the recordings of that meeting, so the final vote isn't confirmed here. The ordinance would bar data centers in this Planned Industrial district, but the project is exempt because it was filed first. Lehigh Daily reported that the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission has reviewed the plans, and the project still needs the city's engineering, water and sewer reviews.

Decision body

City of Bethlehem Planning Commission and city departments (land development review under the zoning in place in August 2026); Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (advisory)

Top issues

Homes about 200 feet away across Route 22, with 99 single-family lots within 1,000 feet; on-site natural gas generation and diesel backup; a 60-foot building; water and glycol for cooling; electricity prices and grid demand

Key opponents

None identified among groups or officials in the record we opened

Key supporters

None identified in the record we opened

• 2026-07-15The planning director sent City Council a draft zoning amendment that defines data centers and sets standards for them. City of Bethlehem
• 2026-08-11The committee reviewed the data center zoning amendment and voted to refer it to City Council. WFMZ
• 2026-08-13The developers submit the two-story data center proposal for 2184 Industrial Drive to the city, according to the planning director. WFMZ-TV 69 News
• 2026-08-25The Planning Commission advanced the data center zoning amendments, which allow data centers by special exception in the Industrial district. WFMZ
• 2026-09-10The Brown and White reported that a 130,000-square-foot, two-floor data center at 2184 Industrial Drive had been presented at a recent Planning Commission meeting. The Brown and White
• 2026-10-06City Council held its public hearing on the data center rules, Bill 28-2026, and passed them 7-0 in the first of two votes, according to NBC10, Lehigh Daily and the Lehigh Valley Press. NBC10 Philadelphia

• 2026-10-13 Lehigh Valley PressCouncil heightens data center hurdles, maybe too lateCouncil passed the data center rules 7-0 on October 6, but the Industrial Drive proposal, filed August 13, won't have to meet them, and a public hearing on the project is set for November 12.
• 2026-10-06 NBC10 PhiladelphiaBethlehem passes new rules for future data center developmentReports City Council unanimously passing the data center rules, including water, energy, noise and vibration requirements.
• 2026-10-04 Lehigh DailyBethlehem data center would fail proposed zoning rules, but project is exemptThe site is within 1,000 feet of 99 single-family lots and would be barred under the new ordinance, but the project was filed first.
• 2026-09-22 Lehigh Valley Public MediaData center debate moving to Bethlehem: Officials to review proposed regulations at public hearingBoyle Construction and partners plan a two-story data center near Routes 22 and 378 as the city prepares its data center rules.
• 2026-09-10 The Brown and WhiteBethlehem residents voice concerns over proposed Route 22 data centerDescribes the Industrial Drive proposal and residents' and a Lehigh economist's views on size, power, water and noise.
• 2026-08-28 WFMZ-TV 69 NewsDevelopers tout 'industry-changing' double-decker data center proposed for BethlehemBoyle Construction, Paxos and TensorIQ propose a two-story, 120 megawatt data center on six acres in LVIP I, submitted August 13.
• 2026-08-25 WFMZBethlehem planners forward new data center regulationsReports the Planning Commission advancing the rules and sets the October 6 council hearing.
• 2026-08-11 WFMZBethlehem proposes new zoning regulations for data centersLays out the city's proposed data center rules as a council committee sends them to City Council.