The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission tied up some loose ends from a previous meeting during an extra meeting held July 31 at city hall in room A100.

A certificate of appropriateness had been granted July 15 for building cornices, handrails, exterior lighting and brick mortar color for the new construction at 117 E. Fourth St. The applicants, Zein Basma, Michael Rehman and Gary Lader, had been instructed to provide site specific head jamb details for the proposed windows.

Representing the project at the special hearing, Basma returned to receive unanimous approval for Andersen 100 series single-hung windows made with Fibrex composite materials. The commissioners reviewed the spec sheet and drawings detailing the window head and sill installation details.

The proposal received unanimous approval.

As HCC Chairman, Lader had recused himself from any decision- making duties on this item at the previous meeting and was not present for the second.

Owned by Lehigh SH Development, LLC, the project was already granted COAs in 2021 and 2023 for demolition of the former Boys and Girls Club building and for new construction to replace the noncontributing contemporary structure.

The property is being developed into retail space and apartments.

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.