As a Southside Arts District committee member, Darlene Heller asked the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission for input on a public art installation scheduled for the upcoming Southside Arts and Music Festival. Heller, the Bethlehem director of planning and zoning, was accompanied by Karen Beck Pooley from Lehigh University and Stacie Brennan, senior director of visual arts at ArtsQuest at the April 17 meeting at the Banana Factory.

Up for discussion was a stee worker-themed mural by Dripped on the Road, a traveling mural artist residency program for a 48-foot by 32-foot portion of a wall at 24 E. Third St. Five artists will work on the wall facing a parking lot which can be viewed from New Street. The board was supportive of the proposal as long as the artists did not paint on unpainted brick and stucco surfaces. Brennan assured them that the mural is going over a previously painted stucco wall and it would be maintained by ArtsQuest.

Keenya Mathis, owner of Keke’s Beauty Supply at 711 E. Fourth St., was granted a certificate of appropriateness to replace a box sign on the front of the building owned by Louis Calixto. Although Mathis’ request was approved, historic officer Christine Ussler recommended removal of the old box sign, as well as several window security bars if the shop owner’s landlord agreed to it. Board member Craig Evans stipulated that if the box sign structure was left in place, the new sign could not be internally lit.

Greg Salomoni, owner of the Broadway Social at 217 Broadway, accompanied by architect John Lee Jr. and contractor Keith German, proposed to expand his restaurant and nightclub from the renovated 1885 firehouse into an adjacent building at 215 Broadway, which would require major demolition and reconstruction work. The façade of the 1920s storefront would be retained, but altered, with window openings raised to balance proportionally with the windows on the attached firehouse structure and still work with interior design requirements of aligning the second floors of both buildings. “We are not seeking approval for anything here tonight,” said John Lee Jr., as he proposed to send revised plans to the board before the next hearing for feedback. The proposal was tabled with a line item list provided to the applicants, including a request for a tile sample, color choices and more detailed drawings of the façade showing the raised windows and cornice.

Before adjourning, the board nominated residents and business owners who have successfully rehabilitated their properties to receive awards from BHCC during the Preservation Month of May. Included is the retail property owned by Campbell Real Estate at 128 W. Fourth St., Bonn Place Brewing at 310-314 Taylor St., the Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust for rehabilitating three sets of twins at 424-426, 428-430 and 432-434 Hayes St., and Touchstone Theater at 321 E. Fourth St. for extensive work to the enclosed fire escape in back. The awards will be given out at an upcoming city council meeting.

The Bethlehem HCC is charged with the task of determining if new signs or other alterations to a building’s exterior would be an appropriate fit for the neighborhood in one of three designated historic districts. Hearings are regularly scheduled on the third Monday of the month.

Obtaining a certificate of appropriateness is only a first step for business owners and residents in a designated historic district who wish to make alterations to a building’s exterior. The BHCC’s recommendations are later reviewed, then voted on by city council before any project is allowed to proceed.