The Community Action Development Corp. of Bethlehem (CADCB) was granted certificates of appropriateness for façade renovations for five houses by the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission at the June 18 meeting in the Rotunda. CADCB Director Anna Smith and Lynne Holden represented South Side homeowners who had been awarded grants for façade work.

The owner-occupied properties include 715-721 E. 4th St. with a house with side yard owned by Lenore Hughes, a row home at 322 Fillmore St. owned by Charles Reiman, attached row at 324 owned by Richard and Diana Butler, and row homes at 326 – 328 Fillmore St., the contiguous halves owned respectively by Maria Castillo, and Nertha Castro Diaz.

The approved renovations for each of the properties involve power washing the siding, roof replacement with GAF Slateline shingles, entrance door replacement or rehab, black wall-mounted mailboxes, house numbers, motion-activated porch lights and a small porch hood for over the entryway at 721 E. 4th St. and the shared entryway at 322-324 Fillmore. The board approved removing inappropriate decorative stonework from the façade of 324 Fillmore St.

Smith said the grants were available to low and moderate income homeowners. CADCB then handles the design, hiring of contractors, and supervising the façade repairs. “Typically, we select a focus area because we try make the most impact as possible on the same block, “ she added.

Larry Eighmy and Larson Lovdal from the Stone House Group, accompanied by architect Bret Peters, were granted an additional COA for the next phase of work on their project located behind the Flat Iron Building. Joined by tenants Seven Sirens Brewing Company owners Jordon Serulneck and Joshua Divers, Peters and Lovdal presented updated plans to convert the Wells Fargo Bank’s parking deck at 327 Broadway and 324 W. Fourth St. into a magistrate’s office and courtroom with secure parking, a microbrewery, and commercial space.

The structure had its start as a large circa mid-1880s general store, became the J. M. Degnan Company department store, and was converted into an auto sales and service location in 1929. The building’s former decorative department store façade on W. Fourth St. had been completely obliterated and the Broadway façade and west wall had been significantly altered as well over time.

Eighmy, owner of the property through Sycamore Hill Farm Development, was approved for installation of new fixed steel thin line profile windows with aluminum mullions for both upper levels of the three-story building facing Broadway. Hydraulic lift windows with similar architectural components for the entry level of 327 Broadway was permitted. Other components approved for that side of the building include continuous aluminum with bronze finish flashing for between the first and second levels, wall-mounted brass signage with bronze letters for tenants at the far right pilaster at street level, and up lighting installed in concrete.

A steel rollup garage door and egress entrance for the magistrate’s parking area was approved for the west wall that connects the two building façades.

The 324 W. Fourth St. entry level storefront of brass-finished aluminum windows and recessed main entrance in the center with double doors, along with an egress door and hydraulic lift window at the western end of the façade were approved. New stairs leading to the recessed main entrance were okayed, but since they would intrude into the pedestrian right-of-way, the city engineering department was to be consulted for this, and for the hydraulic lift windows for the same reason.

Stucco on all three sides is to be cleaned, repaired and repainted to match existing colors.

The applicants were instructed to return with a handrail proposal and for any additional lighting.

Joseph Dippolito from Philadelphia-based Campus Apartments was given the OK for installing two new egress windows and altering the front picture window to fit a stock replacement at 419 Adams St. The modern-looking mid-twentieth century building is currently student rental housing and is considered non-contributing to the historic nature of the district. Approval was granted pending the applicant submit product cut sheets to the historic officer.

BHCC reluctantly granted approval for the demolition of a roofless and dilapidated detached garage behind 832 Hawthorne Rd. to homeowner John Peters. The concrete foundation is to remain for the property located in the Elmwood Park development. The wooden garage was deemed a non-contributing structure and beyond repair.

Contractors Francisco Lopez and Angel Gonzalez were directed by the board to replace the unapproved medium brown architectural shingles they had previously installed with GAF Slateline gray shingles on any part of the roof that could be visible from the street. The two had neglected to seek BHCC approval or a city permit before replacing the roof of the combination commercial and residential building at 702 E. 4th St. owned by John Gross. If practicable, the new shingles may be overlaid on the gambrel part of the roof.

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.