Plans approved earlier by Northampton Borough Zoning Board of Appeals allowing a vacant Washington Avenue building with historic significance to be utilized as a religious social outlet never materialized. Borough council has now been informed there is another proposed use for the site - a day care center.

The five-member zoning board on Feb. 9 will meet in council chambers at the municipal building to hear the appeal of Michael Makhoul, MGMJ Holding Company, Allentown, to use the structure at 1464 Washington Ave. as a day care facility.

The property is in an R-3 residential district. The building is owned by Abraham Atiyeh, Brobst said.

Makhoul was the principal party granted permission for the religious social outlet, but no specific plans were outlined, and the project failed to come to fruition.

The last occupant of the structure was a day care facility, but the building has long been vacant.

“I think [a day care center] would be a more acceptable use to the neighbors,” borough Manager LeRoy Brobst told council members at a previous meeting. “To have it sit vacant does no one good.”

Brobst added, “But I don’t want to prejudice the zoning hearing board. I’d rather not comment and let them make a decision.”

“The day care was a nice use for the building. I would support it,” Councilman Ed Pany said.

The structure has been home to the Israel Hebrew Synagogue, a post office, Catholic War Veterans Post 454 and, more recently, a day care facility.