Still concerned about the height of the proposed new construction, the Historical and Architectural Review Board took no action again on the Ironside Lofts project for 33 Walnut St. at their lengthy Dec. 3 meeting in the city hall Rotunda.

Larken Associates CEO David Gardner and architect Stuart Johnson returned with revisions to their proposal for a seven-story mixed-use building on Block 14, adjacent to the controversial Walnut Street Garage. They explained they had incorporated board and public feedback they had received when the project was critiqued at the Aug. 13 hearing.

The Bethlehem Parking Authority’s recently-completed parking deck had been built after city council overruled HARB’s refusal to grant a certificate of appropriateness for it due to height and massing concerns. While the entire aging city-owned garage was razed to make room for new construction, the new parking facility does not fill the old footprint, leaving the western end of the property open to development.

Although they liked the overall design of the residential over commercial spacing proposed for this tract, Chairperson Connie Postupack and fellow board members had requested the applicants explore lowering the building’s height to better conform with historic district guidelines at last summer’s meeting.

The proposed building would align with, and attach to the west wall of the parking garage on a hill that slopes downward toward Main Street. Johnson explained that this is what makes the west façade of the new building appear taller.

While Johnson did not eliminate the seventh story, he did step it back from the western façade in order to make the top story “not visible” to someone looking up at the structure from street level. The north and south façades of the top story had already been stepped back for the same reason. He explained that the total number of apartments was reduced to 105, with 67 of them as one-bedroom units and 38 with two bedrooms to accommodate the redesign and still be financially viable.

To also address massing, the building’s footprint would be U-shaped, where some apartments would face a private courtyard. An alley road connecting to West Walnut would provide access to garages belonging to the homeowners living on nearby West Market Street.

Hotel Bethlehem Managing Partner Bruce Haines, Bethlehem resident Michael Bianco and West Market Street resident Martin Romeril provided public comment. Like the board members, they were impressed with the overall look of the structure and said they appreciated the applicants’ willingness to work with them.

All were critical of the city’s and parking authority’s decision to erect such a tall structure on what is now a designated World Heritage site and the precedent it may set for future proposals.

As the height and massing of the proposed building’s west side was still a stumbling block for most board members, Gardner expressed a willingness to explore ways that could address the commissioners’ concerns. “We understand that you may still vote no,” said Gardner. “Let’s give it the college try.”

As before, no vote was taken on the proposal, with the applicants agreeing to return with modified plans in an attempt to address the additional feedback they received.

Ken Grieshaber from Trinity Episcopal Church, assisted by Ben Maderic from Alvin H Butz Inc., scored a certificate of appropriateness for an elevator and tower addition at the rear of 38-44 E. Market St. The new structure, clad with a brick veneer with style and color to closely match existing bricks, would face the historic church’s parking lot on Milton Street.

Four fixed windows on the addition’s south side and a steel entrance door on the tower’s west façade were also approved, along with square scuppers and downspouts.

The Historical and Architectural Review Board regularly 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. Meetings can be viewed on YouTube.