With the applicants’ consent, the Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission voted again to table a tweaked plan for demo and new construction on the site of five adjoining buildings along South New Street at their March 16 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 again hit a speed bump with the commissioners.

Assisted by Craig Johnson with North Star Construction, DeLong and Civitella faced pushback against the total demolition of one of the more historically-intact buildings in the grouping, as well as the height of the new construction.

The original COA granted at a previous meeting had called for retaining the facade of that 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.

The applicants again argued the historic building’s older masonry facade, supported by wood infrastructure, was too “distressed” to support the additional stories of new construction above it.

Todd Chambers expressed his preference to preserving the existing building and suggested the new construction be designed to wrap around the one preserved existing building.

The applicants agreed to explore design solutions that would preserve the one “contributing building” and provide additional data regarding the viability of those possible architectural designs.

The grouping of properties is owned by 325 South New St. Development, LLC.

Representing 34 E. Third St., contractor Mihir Patel’s proposal to install a 15-foot by 24-foot channel letter sign featuring the new restaurant “Pink Pistachio Café” was also tabled pending additional information. The new eatery, owned by Ishrat Ilyas, is located in the renovated Goodman Building.

Property owner is listed as Collaboration 3 LLC.

During an information only session, owner Scott Bartkus and architect Brett Webber sought board advice on their proposal to renovate the facade of a former appliance store at 209-211 Mechanic St. The two-story, three-bay brick and cement block structure was built circa 1916 with many original architectural details lost over time.

Doors and windows would be replaced, as well as a folding storefront system that would be installed on the first floor retail/commercial space. The second floor would be residential.

The applicants were looking to paint the building dark gray with the window trim and doors black.

The property is owned by 210 East 3rd Street LLC.

With the full board in attendance, elections of officers was held with President Gary Lader and Vice President Craig Evans being unanimously returned to respective posts.

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.