Tabled at the previous meeting, the demolition phase of the Walnut Street Parking Garage at 33 Walnut St. received a certificate of appropriateness from the Historical and Architectural Review Board in a 4-2 vote. Dissenting were Vice Chair Diana Hodgson and Nik Nikolov at the Sept. 6 meeting.

Bethlehem Parking Authority Executive Director Steve Fernstrom, assisted by Kevin Carrigan and Michael App from THA Consulting, John Folsom from Vollers, Ed Flowerdew from Boyle Construction, and BPA solicitor Leo Devito successfully presented the proposal.

Built in 1976, the five-tier, 700 space parking facility, deemed an “unsightly eyesore and embarrassment to the city” by Fernstrom, was determined not to be a “contributing structure” architecturally to the neighborhood. The pedestrian bridge connecting with a commercial building across W. Walnut St. and a four-bay brick garage on an adjoining lot behind the existing parking facility would also be demolished.

By the November meeting, the Parking Authority and their contractors plan to bring to the board more detailed plans for a six-tier, 591-space garage” that would feature approximately 6,000 square feet of amenity space at ground tier.

In the meantime, Fernstrom and his team will continue to meet with owners whose properties are near the construction area. He offered pre-demolition inspection and video recording of nearby structures and promised that 24-hour vibration and dust monitoring will be set up.

Flowerdew assured members of the public and board questioning him the demo will be done by hand for all of the exterior skin. “We are not coming in with a wrecking ball and we are not going to implode it,” he said. The walls will be pushed into the deck of the condemned structure from a high-reach lift with a chain-link fence securing the perimeter. “We are going to come in with a high tension fabric and cables and drape it over the structure so as we take the deck and steel down, everything will be pulled into the center of the structure,” he said. A watering system will be utilized to control dust.

Flowerdew explained that depending on weather, the demo should take around four months, once it has begun in January 2024.

While all public speakers agreed the existing parking garage is not attractive or historically appropriate, several were still concerned about vibration, dust and parking mitigation. Having heard for the first time detailed information regarding the demolition process, several requested transparency from the city on a timelier basis.

Addressing questions about the city’s “rush” to have the project approved, Fernstrom argued the existing garage is near the end of its useful life. He mentioned parking mediation plans are now posted on the city’s website.

Bethlehem residents Shelly and Dan Nigito, Dave Thompson, Rocco Damato, Molly Wilshire, Frank Feliciatto, Jim Follweiler, Kelly Ronalds and James Bryzewski were among those who addressed the commissioners.

Sitting with board members, attorney Matt Deshler explained that HARB has the limited purview of determining if the demo of the garage would benefit the historic district. The commissioners are tasked with maintaining the historic character of district neighborhoods.

Chief Building Inspector Mike Simonson said that his office, as well as other appropriate departments, is responsible for ensuring compliance, safety and other aspects of the project.

In other action, Homeowner Morry Noretsky, assisted by architect Todd Chambers, quickly received unanimous approval to construct a wood pediment style roof over the front door of 257 E. Church St. The shingles will match the GAF Slateline shingles on the main roof, with trim, shutters and door painted “tricorn black.”

With the help of On Top Roofing contractor Kevin Rivera, Ziyad Al-Rashid was granted a COA for partial roof replacement for 260 E. Wall St.

The applicants sought approval to install GAF Royal Sovereign 3-tab shingles in “charcoal” on the side of roof facing the street. These would match the existing shingles on the back side of the pediment roof and would fit their budget.

The majority of the commissioners followed historic guidelines, insisting GAF Slateline shingles be installed as they had not seen what the alternative shingles look like.

The vote was four to two, with Rod Young and Nikolov voting “nay.” Nikolov remarked, “I am not in favor of every roof in the historic district looking the same.”

Neighbors Amy Santanasto of 402 High St. and Kenneth Weidner of 404 High St. scored unanimous COAs for their tandem painting proposals.

The two and-a-half story twins are mirror images with red brick walls and shared front porch. The applicants plan to paint both sides of the circa 1890 structure with historically-researched colors to match. The shingles, trim, windows, porch, and door will be painted with a combination of “battle spruce,” “tankard gray,” and a lighter “rain barrel” gray.

“The house is gorgeous, by the way,” remarked Lee.

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.