The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission granted a certificate of appropriateness for restoration work on church property at 312 E. Fourth St. during their Aug. 17 meeting at city hall.

Joseph McCarthy from Holy Infancy Church, assisted by Andrew Gehringher and Joseph Sedler, was able to get permission to repair and modify a stone retaining wall along East Fourth Street and the side wall between the church and rectory, as well as removing a rotting non-original wood porch enclosure while restoring the side entrance to the rectory and installing an entrance to the rectory basement.

The applicants were instructed to use hard coat stucco parging over concrete block walls for the basement entrance. They are to return after removing the deteriorating enclosure around the rectory porch if there are more than “in kind” repairs needed.

They were allowed to reduce the height of the stone retaining wall to a minimum of 30 inches above the public right of way.

The proposal had been tabled at the May 2026 meeting for lack of details and a few other factors.

After getting a COA to remove modern elements at a previous meeting for 115 W. Fourth St., architect John Lee returned and was approved to rehabilitate the exposed front façade with a traditional hard stucco finish on the exposed sign band panels and install a man door flanked by new folding doors that align with the recessed sign panels.

It was stipulated Lee provide supplemental details including the storefront system specs. material samples, exterior lighting, parapet coping, paint and signage for the one-story “infill” building.

The circa 1945 commercial building had originally been divided into a print shop on one side and a photo shop on the other, each with their own entrance. GFY Development is listed as the owner of the building that was once occupied by Ritter Pharmacy.

Decisions were unanimous for these agenda items.

Representing 308 E. Third St., contractor Chuck Hawley was unable to score a COA for replacing old asphalt shingles with GAF Pewter HDZ asphalt shingles. Although the existing roofing had replaced slate long ago, the GAF Pewter HDZ asphalt product was rejected as not resembling slate.

The voting was 3-to-1 to deny granting the COA with Todd Chambers as the dissenting vote.

Hawley was told that GAF Slateline asphalt shingles or similar product would need to be used in order to secure approval.

The circa 1880 half twin building is residential over commercial with Gina Masotto and Jeff Hopkins listed as owner / applicant.

The commissioners tabled a proposal by Abraham Saloum, Terik Shehab and owner Rikin Patel to remove infill windows due to conflict with a newly installed floor plate and install new vinyl picture windows with faux divided lite at 127 E. Fourth St.

Built circa 1925, the brick structure was the former home of Bethlehem Catholic High School, then later became Holy Infancy School. After that the school moved the elementary students to another location, it was sold and the buyer received a COA in 2022 to convert the building into residential units.

With the property changing hands again, the new team of applicants came to the meeting unprepared. They cited ignorance of the previously-issued COA in their proposal to subdivide the gymnasiums into additional apartments by adding another floor.

Chambers remarked that a copy of the COA should have been given to the new owner. Vice President Craig Evans mentioned there may be a covenant that was tied to the property during the sale by the diocese that states the building retains its original Bethlehem Catholic façade.

The proposal was unanimously tabled until November to allow the applicants enough time to better prepare. They were also informed that vinyl picture windows with faux divided lites would be immediately rejected.

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.