The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission June 27 granted a certificate of appropriateness to Holy Family Senior Living CEO Joseph Shadid to replace the worn slate roof on the assisted living facility located in the historic Eugene Gifford Grace mansion in the Mount Airy District.

The roofing proposal had been tabled in January 2022 for 1200 Spring St. with recommendations the applicant explore repairing instead of replacing the slate.

Assisted by contractor Jesse Fischer, Shadid returned to inform the commissioners, “The slate itself is very thin, is like eggshells.” Replacing all the slate would be prohibitively costly for the large building complex.

Antique Slate GAF Slateline shingles were approved as a replacement, with copper flashing and open valleys. Although the board prefers half-round gutters with round downspouts, Fischer was OK’d to match the existing 7-inch copper K-style gutters and downspouts in order to preserve and re-use existing decorative support brackets.

The unanimous approval came pending the applicants provide venting information to the historic officer.

The three and one-half-story brick building was built in the early twentieth century in a Classical Revival style. It is a sprawling interconnected structure with a rear addition built in 1968. Grace (1876-1960) served as president of Bethlehem Steel Corp. from 1916-45 and board chairman until 1957.

Homeowners Andrew Grason and Mary Kate Murphy were unanimously granted a conditional COA for their fencing proposal for 925 Prospect Ave. They requested permission to have several stone pillars around the majority of property’s perimeter rebuilt and a 48-inch high aluminum fence and three aluminum gates installed between them.

The applicants related that the pillars were of unequal height, with some leaning and the mortar in all of then had deteriorated. They got permission to have them rebuilt with the existing stone and some heightened with matching stonework.

Grason and Murphy told the board they needed the new fencing to protect their 20-month-old “rambunctious” child and to contain their full-grown chocolate lab.

Since wrought iron fencing is extremely expensive, aluminum was approved as an alternative. Although the couple provided photos of fencing around neighboring houses as their inspiration, they were informed that they needed to provide detailed cut sheets along with style and color specifications to the historic officer and Chief Building Inspector Mike Simonson.

The eclectic corner property in the Mount Airy District was described by historic officer Jeff Long as in a “Swiss Chalet Arts and Crafts style,” to the amusement of commissioner Seth Cornish, a local realtor. “I learned a brand new style,” declared Cornish in approval, “It’s perfect!”

Developer Plamen Ayuazov returned with updated plans for a six-story commercial and residential structure for 128 E. Third St. He had scored a COA in November 2021 to demolish a heavily altered building on the site pending board-recommended changes to the design of the six-story structure.

Although concerned about the height of the building, the commissioners voted 5-2 to approve it at that time, as some sections of it are designed to be four and five stories tall.

Accompanied by architect Randy Galiotto from Alloy5, Ayuazov provided updated renderings and floor plans and construction material samples. A model of the aluminum-clad wood casement window was shown to the commissioners. The proposed building will sport aluminum storefront framing, and be clad in brick masonry and cement plaster.

“I think we are on board for a lot of what you presented to us tonight,” said Lader, “There is definitely a lot things here that we need additional information on.”

A motion to table the project with additional suggestions and a request for a reworked elevation of the east wall and new elevations for two additional walls was approved. Lader asked for details on exterior lighting, signage and materials. Jeff Long requested scale drawings of the structure.

The vote was four in favor. Ken Loush was attending remotely and due to technical difficulties lost virtual connection with his colleagues. His vote went unrecorded for this specific agenda item.

Monocacy Development owns the corner property sandwiched between E. Third and Mechanic streets.

Notably withdrawn from the evening’s agenda at the last minute was a return of the proposal to demolish a series of single-family detached dwellings in order to construct a new infill development between E. Fourth and Morton streets. It was to be anchored by the Bethlehem Area Public Library South Side branch in the east and Jenny’s Kuali in the west. HCC had soundly rejected it at a previous meeting.

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.