Artifact architect Christine Ussler asked for feedback on plans to renovate the shuttered Grist Miller’s House at the Historical and Architectural Review Board’s June 7 regular meeting.

Accompanied by Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites President Charlene Donchez Mowers, Ussler provided a history of the 1782 Grist Miller’s House located near the 1869 Luckenbach Mill in the city’s Colonial Industrial Quarter. She described how the dwelling was radically modificatied1832 while providing historic photographs of both structures.

Due to structural inadequacies, the west façade of the vacant house is supported by steel bracing.

In addition to stabilizing the masonry wall that is pulling away from the rest of the residence, the brick and stone walls will be repointed, as well as other “in kind” rehab work for inside and out. Owned by the HBMS, the building is to become the Ralph G. Schwarz Center for Colonial Trades and Industries. According to Ussler, “Ralph Schwarz had a long lasting relationship with Bethlehem and its Moravian and industrial history and was responsible, in part or in full, for many important historical transformations in the city and at the steel from the 1960s through to the late 1990s.”

The applicants look to construct a steel and glass connector between the Miller’s House and Luckenbach Mill to provide an accessible route to the original main level of the house.

“It provides a connection, not a distraction,” remarked architect John Lee about the proposed plans. Lee was filling in as historic officer for Joseph Phillips.

The other directors reacted favorably in their early assessment of the proposed project.

Brandon Horlick was granted a certificate of appropriateness for a proposal to replace already demolished non-original chimney and non-functioning fireplace with a four-panel sliding glass door unit. Having already received approval for ongoing rehabilitation work on his residence at 17 E. Church St., Horlick and his contractor are to determine final door measurements and placement as the foundation demo and repair is being done at the rear of the building.

The applicants are to submit a drawing of an exterior elevation placement of the door in relation to the posts on the west side of the opening. It was stipulated that the siding and trim are to match the existing house.

“You’ll have an open house for Musikfest,” joked Joe McGavin when informed that, once ordered, it would take 6 to 8 weeks for the door unit to arrive. Lee remarked, “Not necessarily a bad thing. You could sell lemonade or something and pay for the addition.”

The property is owned by Erica and Brandon Horlick.

Beth Careyva scored a COA to reroof the standalone 2-car garage at the rear of 51 E. Wall St. The worn slate will be replaced with GAF Slateline English Gray shingles. She explained that five roofers she had consulted told her some of the slate was improperly installed and repairs would run to around $100,000. It would be more affordable to replace the entire garage roof with the GAF shingles.

While the board usually recommends GAF Slateline Antique Slate shingles for new roofing, they approved the slightly lighter English Gray as it matched the roof of the main house. They also agreed that historic slate shingles in general were not all the same shade of gray.

Beth Careyva and Ben Bard are the property owners.

Permission was granted to Tammy and Art Schmidt for repairing and painting all woodwork at 99 W. Broad St. The 2.5-story residential over commercial brick building’s colors are to be close to the existing paint scheme with pale yellow panels and trim, accented with dark shades of green and red.

All voting on COAs was unanimous.

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.