John Skerpinias was granted another certificate of appropriateness from the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission for the building he owns at 203 E. Third St. at the Aug. 17 meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘virtual’ hearing was conducted through gotomeeting.com.

Approval for removing the awning, signage and exterior light fixtures for the Essence Hookah Lounge is similar to what had been previously approved by the board in June for the Flying V Poutinerie, the building’s other tenant.

The new signage will feature the company logo with off-white lettering on a black background and maximum 3-inch thick, off-white pinstripe around the panel. Black gooseneck lamps were chosen for illuminating the sign at the front and sidewalk, as well as the side of the one-story commercial building.

Representing 530 E. Fourth St., ExpressSign Outlets contractor Mike Psitos scored a COA for a new blade sign with decorative bracket, and a window sign for Limberia Tropical Algarete. The blade sign was approved with the condition it be moved to the west side of the two-story brick façade away from the residential access door and a pinstripe be added around the shaved ice shop’s name and smiling sun logo. Three panels hang below the blade sign listing menu items “Frappes,” “Limbers” and “Bocadillos.”

The shop’s name in black and gold letters and logo in digital vinyl for the window was approved pending a scale drawing be sent to the chair and historic officer for review.

The three-bay circa 1920 structure is owned by Lucy Ramos.

The commissioners granted Alison Leaver approval for a vinyl door sign for “The Other Side” at 14 W. Fourth St. The clever design features “The” and “Other” with a hand-held label maker look and “Other” in various letters that appear as if they were cut from magazine pages. Chairman Philip Roeder cheerfully described it as “one funky sign,” and the board agreed that there was no need for a pinstripe, as it already worked well as presented.

The circa 1900 Queen Anne style house with a storefront addition is owned by Linda Villani.

Business owner Consuelo Gomez, assisted by building owner Charles F. Buck, won conditional approval for her signage proposal for 17 E. Third St. “Santiago Cigar Lounge” is spelled out in serif capital letters on a gold background in three pinstriped panels across the signboard above the entrance. The black, red and gold logo is featured on a blade sign that will hang from an existing decorative bracket with attached gooseneck fixtures. The same graphics on the blade sign were approved as vinyl window decals for each of the two vintage 1940s curved-glassed display windows.

The applicants agreed to submit accurate dimensional drawings for the signs to the chair and historic officer for review.

John Trapani was given permission to extend the time he can keep the awning up at his ZEST bar+grille. Under normal conditions, he was to close his sheltered rooftop outdoor dining area by Oct. 31. Trapani explained that he needed to keep it open longer to help him recoup some of his lost business from the COVID-19 shutdown. The restaurateur was permitted to use the awning until Dec. 1, weather permitting.

Votes were unanimous on all proposals.

Two new construction projects were up for discussion, but not for a vote.

Dallas Basha requested advice on his most recent proposal for the vacant lot at 13 W. Morton St. he owns through Lehigh Properties, LLC. His plan for building a residential over retail structure had undergone multiple design changes since first presented to the board in 2017. This time, assisted by architect Christine Ussler, Basha proposed erecting a four-story residential building with apartments on the upper floors and a common area on the ground floor. He informed the board that while maintaining a storefront-like look for the first level, he has abandoned plans for retail space due to the pandemic’s impact on commerce.

Chairman Philip Roeder suggested reducing the building to just three stories of apartment units by eliminating the common area. Besides being a better-proportioned structure for the lot, it would save on construction costs, he advised.

Developer Lawrence Eighmy and his son Jackson tapped the commissioners for feedback on their project for 409-411 Wyandotte St. Historic Officer Jeff Long described the two circa 1880 buildings as part of what was once known as “Palace Row” which had been anchored by the Globe Theater, which burned down in 1983.

Eighmy proposed demolishing the badly deteriorated rear portion of 409 and replacing it with new construction for a stair tower and balconies for the three-story building. Beth Starbuck expressed disappointment that this section of the building had not been stabilized after a COA was issued during a 2010 HCC meeting.

Father and son explained they were looking to develop the structures for mostly residential use, citing the Lehigh Valley’s need for affordable housing. They proposed replacing damaged vinyl siding with Hardi-plank lap siding for the north wall facing the parking lot, with Lumos Solar canopies to be installed over a new sidewalk with ADA-compliant ramp and outdoor plaza in the back.

ATAS Inspire Wall ventilated panel cladding was proposed for the back balconies and stair tower. The transpired solar collector siding and canopies would help make the buildings energy-efficient, as well as solar panels for the roof.

Starbuck requested the applicants perform “exploratory surgery” to see what is behind the existing non-historical siding and said she needs to see examples of the various solar products.

Lawrence Eighmy’s stated goal for the project, “is to restore the historic character to the front of the buildings, while infusing them with some tasteful modern designs in an effort to be sustainable.”

Roeder encouraged the applicants to return with an expanded set of plans and examples of materials that “mimics a more historical look.”

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. Previous to the pandemic, hearings were regularly scheduled on the third Monday of the month at city hall.

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 commission’s recommendations are later reviewed, then voted on by city council before any project is allowed to proceed