The Historical and Architectural Review Board provided advice at its May 6 meeting, held at city hall’s Rotunda.

Assisted by architect Christine Ussler, Bethlehem’s World Heritage Site Manager Dr. Katherine Faull, from Moravian Church Settlements and City of Bethlehem Chief of Staff / World Heritage Coordinator Stephanie Augello consulted with the commissioners on a proposal to install two custom designed freestanding signs for World Heritage visitors. One would be on Main Street adjacent to the entry to the gardens and the other adjacent to the stone wall on the walkway down to the Colonial Industrial Quarter (CIQ) from Main Street and the Smithy. This path is also known as Ohio Road.

The proposed illuminated informational signs would measure 5.5 feet wide and 6 feet high to the top of a pair of sign panels where small solar panels would power them. An area in front of these would be paved with bluestone to provide visitors a place to stand away from pedestrian traffic to view the posted historical information.

Chairman Joe McGavin suggested that a motion detector be installed for the lights as, in his experience, leaving the light on constantly overnight will drain the batteries before sunrise. This way the sign would be illuminated only when there is someone present to read it.

Bill Shafer and Seth Cornish from the Sun Inn Preservation Association were granted a certificate of appropriateness for painting the rear of the buildings of 91 and 97 W. Broad St.

The Benjamin Moore “Colonial Brick” red was chosen to match the color painted on the rear of a neighboring building that faces the Sun Inn Courtyard.

The Sun Inn Preservation Association is listed as the owner of the two W. Broad Street properties. Representing 56 E. Market St., Connie and Mark Yoder scored a COA for repainting the main house from white to Sherwin Williams “Roycroft Vellum” yellow and the trim “Alabaster” white to restore the building to its original colors. The shutters remain a flat black.

The circa 1900 residence is owned by Margaret Fulmer.

HARB granted approval for Dennis Murphy’s proposal for installing a Federal Style brass light on the front façade of 36 E. Wall St. adjacent to the entrance door.

Dennis and Sheri Murphy own the circa 1900 brick house.

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.