The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission approved six proposals and tabled two at their in-person, masked meeting Oct. 18. The three-plus hour long hearing was livestreamed.

Representing the Cathedral Church of the Nativity at 321 Wyandotte St., Richard Sause, assisted by architect Micah Mutschler from Architerra, was granted a certificate of appropriateness for demolition and replacement of the masonry main stairway and landing to the cathedral.

Sause cited safety concerns the outward -opening entrance doors pose to churchgoers gathered on the narrow landing, as well as the need for wider and longer treads.

The COA called for salvaging materials from the existing steps while allowing for a 5-foot deep landing at the doors, longer tread depths and curved wing walls for a wider base landing. Materials are stipulated to match the existing, with bid alternates for optional cast stone or bluestone caps and bluestone treads.

The vote was 5-1 with Chairman Gary Lader as the dissenting vote. Although sympathetic to the safety aspect of the project, Lader considered the existing stairway a significant historically contributing element to the circa- 1864 place of worship.

All other board decisions were unanimous.

Representing the First Hispanic Baptist Church at 822 E. Fourth St., Janet Perez-Cardona and contractor William Noll scored approval for replacing 13 aluminum hopper windows in kind with Pella windows. The applicants were instructed to provide the historic officer with spec or cut sheets and a color sample of the units to be installed on the 3-story brick structure at the rear the church.

William and Marylou Seixas were granted permission to add additional window signage to a sign that had been previously approved for their Couchpota.doh! Kitchen at 306 Brodhead Ave. The new signage includes top and bottom pinstripes over a list of some of the Ecuadoran cuisine featured at the restaurant. These run across the bottom of two divided light storefront windows.

The circa 1890s era building is owned by Angelina M. LLC.

Gina Perini was granted a COA for replacing awning fabric with a new business name and logo at 117 E. Third St. The 30 in. x 30 in. logo for F&A Grog House, including “Craft Beers and “Est. 2021” in warm white, are printed on black Sunbrella fabric.

The three-story, three-bay, circa 1890 masonry building is owned by Second Lease LLC and was formerly the home of MacGrady’s Irish Pub.

With the help from Artefact architect Christine Ussler, Taylor Reed was granted a COA for window replacement for the house he and his wife, Lauren, own at 925 Prospect Ave. These include eight third floor gable windows, several first floor windows at the front and side, plus two patio doors on a second floor back porch.

Ussler scored a COA for another client, Amicus Properties, while representing 407-409 Vine St. Unanimous approval was granted for the renovation of a compromised wall at the street level of the first floor façade. This recessed area of the otherwise historically intact 3-story masonry building had lost its historic elements long ago.

The restructured wall will feature new windows and entrance door in-kind and stucco exterior siding. The existing transom will have shingles removed and replaced with wood paneling and trim “to recall a likely original condition.”

The commissioners all agreed to table a proposal by developer Plegmer Ayuazov and architect Antonio Fiol-Silva to tear down a two-story brick and metal-clad structure at 128 E. Third St., replacing it with a nine-story residential over retail building.

The board found the heavily-altered existing property contained little, if any, historic elements and would favor demolition if replaced by a “historically appropriate” structure. Although the former home of Keystone Homebrew Supply was considered “void of character,” the commissioners balked at the height of its replacement.

The commissioners unanimously tabled a proposal to paint the front permastone façade and side façade vinyl clapboard a red brick color at 210-212 E. Third St. Also tabled was Scott Bartkus’ proposal to replace the recessed entrance door and its flanking storefront windows. The circa 1900 two-story building is home to The Aging Moon, a cheese and party tray catering business. “I’m all about history,” said Bartkus when it was suggested he hire an architect with experience in historical buildings.

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.