Hardball Cider manager Madeline Scarinzi hit a home run for her employer with a successful signage proposal at the July 11 meeting of the Historical and Architectural Review Board in the Rotunda. Representing Geoffrey Deen, owner of the establishment at 553 Main St., Scarinzi received a certificate of appropriateness for a double-sided hanging sign featuring the business’s colorful logo of a stitched apple and crossed baseball bats. A pinstripe is to be added and the words “Gastropub and Craft Bar” are to be changed to a serif font for the 24-by-16-inch sign.

Approval was also granted for storefront window signage that featured a decal of the logo for two large window panels in addition to a frosted stripe with “Gastropub and Craft Bar” with additional wording to run across all windows in the storefront, as well as for posting business hours on the door. The COA was given, pending consultation with city zoning regarding proportion of signage to glass compliance.

HARB recommended the applicant return for approval for replacing an existing awning. Hardball Cider is located in the Woolworth building owned by Rubel Street II, L.P.

A proposal to repaint the white façade of the building at 81 W. Broad St. with hues chosen from a palette of historic district approved colors was given a unanimous thumbs-up. Representing her husband Domenic, the building’s owner, Linda Villani secured a COA to change the color of the former city hall to Sherwin-Williams craftsman brown with trim in rockwood red, rockwood medium brown and colonial revival gray. The Coal Lounge & Grill, a new Ghanaian restaurant owned by Kofi Armah, is scheduled to open there soon.

Approval for the installation of 23 storm windows with screens was quickly given to Frank and Beth Boyer for their brick and shingle home at 234 E. Market St. The energy efficient units are to be painted almond.

Contractor Ben Maderic successfully applied for a COA for rehabbing a four-bay garage behind 55 W. Market St. Approval was given for replacing the two short and one long, mismatched steel garage doors with four cedar carriage house style doors. “These are reminiscent of some of the Moravian doors,” remarked board member Beth Starbuck. The one missing pier, the remaining piers, and the area above the doors are to match existing brickwork on the house, with a sample to be given the historic officer. Three black carriage lamps will accent three of the piers. Permission was also provided for installing a black, 12-foot long aluminum alloy driveway gate for the property owned by Donald Kaas.

Robert Vidoni was authorized to replace a deteriorating stockade fence at 51 E. Wall St. with a built-in-place wood fence similar in style and color to a neighbor’s fence at 57 E. Wall St. The house and lot are owned by Vidoni and Beth Careyva.

As a walk-in, historic restoration contractor Andrzei Masik of 324 W. Broad St., sought board advice on what he could do to stop the demolition of the Masonic Temple adjacent to the Elisha Packer Wilbur mansion on the South Side. The concerned citizen, who owns Quality - Andy, expressed dismay at plans by the developer to tear down the circa 1924 structure to make way for a hotel.

Noting that neither HARB or the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission have any authority over that part of the city, the board advised Masik to contact city director of planning Darlene Heller regarding his concerns.

The Historical and Architectural Review Board meets the first Wednesday of every month to review all exterior changes proposed to buildings in the Bethlehem Historic District north of the Lehigh River. When a proposed project receives a certificate of appropriateness from the board, applicants must wait for city council to vote on it before proceeding.