The Historical and Architectural Review Board refused to award certificates of appropriateness for two projects that had been installed prior to seeking permission at the ‘virtual’ meeting held Oct. 7.

The first to face disappointment was homeowner Andrew Brown at 217 E. Church St. His contractor had completed a free-standing ground level deck at the side of the residence with materials the board considered “historically inappropriate” for the district. The directors objected to the Trex composite decking covering some of the basement windows and not being of tongue and groove construction, among other concerns.

Marsha Fritz considered it to be “out of scale” in a “very visible” area.

Although Brown requested an exemption for this project based on the high cost of building it and the extra expense of a re-do, Chairman Fred Bonsall, backed by the others, said the board is bound by certain guidelines and must abide by them.

He did remind Brown that he could present his case to City Council, if he was dissatisfied with the advisory board’s ruling.

Contractor Rick Gower from Fritch Fuel, representing 77 W. Broad St., was denied permission to continue using a HVAC unit that had been installed without a COA over the summer. Gower explained that when the existing, central building system failed and replacement equipment was not readily available, they needed to install the independent unit on the building’s first floor façade to service Ripper’s Pub, owned by Charles Kovacs.

The applicant was instructed to remove the “inappropriate” new unit and repair the original system.

Two separate proposals for the historic building owned by Jay Brew at 523-525 Main St. were granted certificates of appropriateness.

Vinyl window signage for “Domaci Design Studio” and “Domaci Means Home,” in off white letters and graphics, along with a few words with serif letters describing what’s “Available Inside,” were approved for the innermost storefront display window measuring 46 inches x 80 inches. An additional Domaci Means Home” logo was approved for the 22-inch wide glass panel facing the street.

Board member Derrick Clark recused himself from voting on this agenda item as he is a co-owner of the home décor and design business at 523 Main St.

A new first floor, storefront treatment was given the go-ahead for the façade of this venerable brick building at 523-525 Main St. Architect Fred Bonsall recused himself as HARB chairman, as well as from voting, to represent this project.

Although the building retains its original decorative look from the second floor on up, the street level storefront sign band had been dramatically altered over the years. Bonsall produced a photograph of what the building had looked like back in its prime. He proposed replacing the now, plain sign band with two arches inspired by what is shown in the old photo. The arches would be illuminated by gooseneck lamps above and feature stacked tenant signage below. Bonsall brought along images of various Victorian-style decorative elements, such as a shield with flower, to complement the decorative patterns featured on the upper parts of the building’s façade.

“The project is a home run!” declared Roeder.

Kyle and Julie Lebovitz successfully obtained a COA for renovations to the wooden addition at the rear of their corner brick home at 445 High St. Much of the repair is like for like in materials and design for wood clapboards at the side and the two windows and door at the back.

Vice Chairman Philip Roeder stipulated that there be no plastic parts visible in the replacement windows.

Replacing a plain glass pane with a stained glass panel in their front entrance door was enthusiastically approved for Mark and Alane Nebbia for their home at 27 E Church St. “This fits into the district perfectly,” remarked Roeder on the clear beveled glass Bethlehem Star framed by a pale green coke-bottle-style border. The two-and-one-half story, painted brick dwelling was built in 1894.

Construction for a 10 by 12.5-foot vintage-look garden shed was approved for Patrick and Mary Rose Wilson for the rear of their property at 64 E. Wall St. The ambitious project features a semi-smooth plaster finish to match the main house, as well as wood doors and windows with simulated leaded glass and functioning storm shutters. The pyramid hip roof would be of slate or slate-like material and topped with a custom copper spire. The couple said they wanted the shed to appear as historically accurate as possible.

They produced a copy of an 1878 bird’s-eye view map of “The Bethlehems” that indicated a storage structure had once been in their yard.

The voting was unanimous on all agenda items.

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.