The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission voted to table a newly-modified plan for demo and new construction on the site of five adjoining buildings along South New Street at their Feb. 23 meeting at city hall.

Architects Eric DeLong’s and Anthony Civitella’s proposal to raze an entire row of attached buildings containing 319, 321, 323, 325, 327 S. New St. and construct a new seven-story mixed-use building with ground floor retail and tenant amenity space hit a speed bump with the commissioners.

A previous team representing the developers had been successful in their bid to gain a certificate of appropriateness for demolishing most of the grouping of buildings after a series of HCC meetings from 2020-21 and replacing them with a 9-story mixed use 92-foot tall high-rise. Part of the new building would have been constructed over E. Graham Place, a city-owned alleyway, with columns abutting the South Bethlehem Greenway to support the upper stories.

That COA had called for retaining the façade of the existing building at 321-323 with its original architectural details being incorporated into the new construction. It was determined the other structures had lost their defining architectural details over time.

Asking for approval to demolish all the structures, the new team of applicants provided engineering reports that declared that, even with temporary bracing, the historic building’s older masonry façade, supported by wood infrastructure, was too “distressed” to preserve. DeLong remarked “This wall will not survive.” He explained the brick wall on the upper stories of the existing building is supported by a wood beam, making it impossible to incorporate it into the new structure.

Craig Johnson with North Star Construction, backed DeLong with, “There is no way to separate the wood from the brick and make some other structure to support it.”

The applicants’ plans for the redesigned building eliminates two stories, as well as the portion of it hovering in the airspace over E. Graham Place. At its tallest, the new structure would be 78.5 feet tall. Commercial and common areas for tenants would be on the first level, with a mix of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments on the upper floors.

Todd Chambers expressed his preference to preserving the existing building. Vice President Craig Evans made the motion to table the proposal, saying the board needs additional information on the project, including scale renderings on how it fits into the streetscape with the neighboring buildings.

According to Long, the single story wood frame building at 319 dates from circa 1900. The painted brick Italianate building at 321-323 is three stories with residential over retail. It dates from 1885 and rear additions were built during the 20th century. Its neighbor at 325 is a heavily altered three-story stuccoed building also built around 1885. A single story retail building at 327 and its rear addition are circa 1900.

Owned by 325 S. New Street Development, LLC, the block was once home to J.C. Jewelry & Gifts, Car Village Title & Notary, Lara Bly Designs, and Pat’s News Stand.

Returning to modify a COA that had been approved in August 2025 for 305-307 E. Fourth St., real estate agent Chad Jarrah represented the circa 1890 buildings owned by Fulton Row Properties, LLC.

Approved changes include replacing a picture window on the west side of the second-floor bedroom with a single double-hung one and cover the openings with siding to match the previously-approved Hardie siding on the front façade at 305 E. Fourth St.

The applicant’s proposal to paint the briquette on the front and side of the adjacent building at 307 the same color as the Hardie siding was also permitted. Previously, power-washing the brick masonry had been approved, but during renovations the contractors discovered what they thought were full bricks were actually briquettes applied to the front and side façades.

Representing 1506 Calypso Ave., Ed Wolford from Nature Valley Landscaping was granted a COA for a fencing proposal in the Mount Airy district. The new fencing is intended to match the 3-rail wood fence on a neighboring property.

Historic Officer Jeffrey Long noted the vacant lot on Calypso Ave. serves as an extension of the back yard of the stone residence located at 1505 Prospect Ave.

The 48-inch-high split rail spruce fence will run for 650 linear feet along the sidewalk and side yards fronting Calypso Ave. A 48-inch-high wire mesh, coated with black plastic, installed along the wooden posts and rails is needed to make the fence be “pool compliant,” as there is a swimming pool behind the house.

The gate allowing access to the property from the sidewalk is to be of the same materials as the rest of the fencing.

The connecting properties are owned by David and Jeannine Wyke.

All voting was unanimous.

With the January meeting canceled due to weather and without the full board at this hearing, the election of officers was postponed.

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.

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, and then voted on by city council before any project is allowed to proceed.