BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 In October, Steel Ice Center owner Keith Krem told Bethlehem City Planning Commission that business was booming and space was running out at 320 E. First St.<\/p>\n
Youth teams were scheduled for practice on site as early as 5:30 a.m., Krem said, while adult programming was running until after midnight.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are saturated in every way, shape or form.”<\/p>\n
Steel Ice Center owner and Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth Vice President of Hockey Operations Keith Krem<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are saturated in every way, shape or form,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, representatives of Steel Ice Center will be back before city planners with the latest on a proposed expansion for the site<\/a> at East Second and Polk streets, west of SteelStacks.<\/p>\n Currently offering two professional-sized ice surfaces, Steel Ice Center plans for a 34,000-square-foot addition that would include the facility\u2019s third ice rink.<\/p>\n It also would include 6,000 square feet in a fitness center with gym space, a stretch-and-recovery lab and other support facilities.<\/p>\n The project is set to feature St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network branding; the health system also operates a gym within the current building that\u2019s slated for improvements, too.<\/p>\n The proposal is allowed by right in the city’s Industrial Redevelopment District and would require no zoning relief.<\/p>\n This past Saturday, more than 150 first-time skaters stepped onto the ice at the Bethlehem rink<\/a>, according to the Steel Ice Center Facebook page.<\/p>\n