The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission granted certificates of appropriateness for demolition of a dilapidated industrial building and part of a crumbling stone wall at the Nov. 18 meeting held in the Rotunda.

Representing 335 Shawnee St., architect Christine Ussler and historic preservationist Caitlin Laskey from Artifact successfully presented a proposal to raze a decrepit former paper box factory building located along the back alley behind the Cathedral Church of the Nativity. The applicants provided a thorough history of the property at that location along with evidence of how the structure, known as the Shawnee Building, is badly deteriorated.

They also submitted studies they conducted for possible reuse of the building that shows it would cost around $1.7 million to rehab it. The two and one-half-story structure is located in a low-visibility area that has “poor access” and “ a lack of parking.”

A nearby one-story semi-collapsed garage is to be demolished as well.

The Cathedral Church of the Nativity owns the property and needs to provide much-needed additional parking for parishioners, as well as for clients of New Bethany Inc.

Another South Bethlehem house of worship received a COA for the removal of a portion of an existing deteriorating stone wall. Joseph McCarthy, The Rev. Andrew Gehringer and architect Joseph Sedler explained they needed to take down a large section of this stone retaining wall between Holy Infancy Roman Catholic Church and the rectory at 312 E. Fourth St. and the site graded to allow for an aerial lift to have access to the historic church’s eastern side.

According to the applicants, this needs to be done so they can perform routine maintenance of the building’s high slate roof and bell tower. In its current state, the space is too narrow for the lift to fit and it is unsafe for roofers to continue climbing ladders there.

The asphalt is to be torn up and replaced by grass. Five feet of the stone wall from the corner will be retained, as well as the rest of the stone wall in front of the rectory facing E. Fourth Street.

The Gothic Revival church was built in 1865 as St. Michaels and later expanded in 1886 as Holy Infancy.

All voting was unanimous.

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.