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1885 House demo denied

The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission refused to issue a certificate of appropriateness for the razing of a circa 1885 frame house at 1304 Spring St. during their first meeting for 2025 Jan. 27 in the Rotunda.

Representing the property was Diocese of Allentown CEO Joseph Shadid and Randy Smith from Holy Family Senior Living. Assisting them were Spillman Farmer architects Salvatore Verrastro and Christopher Worton.

The applicant’s proposal to raze the Queen Anne-style house and replace it with a 41,000 square foot structure containing four apartments on the site had previously been tabled.

Historic Officer Jeff Long described the long history of the Diocese of Allentown coming before the board with this structure, first for demolition in 2012, which was denied, then for replacing the slate roofing with GAF asphalt shingles in 2019, which was approved. The Diocese of Allentown returned in July 2024 to request a COA for demolition.

As an original building on the former Grace Estate built to house the head gardener, Long cited the building as “significant” to the historic Mount Airy neighborhood district and surrounding streetscape. The applicants had been advised to explore constructing an addition to the existing building to fit their housing needs at the 2024 meeting.

In response to Long’s stating the “demolition by neglect” fate of the building, the applicants explained the COVID-19 pandemic had interfered with their approved plans to replace the roofing. This left the house vulnerable to deterioration. They said the cost to renovate the residence outweighed its value. The applicants argued that it really wasn’t a “Queen Anne” structure, anyway, in the strict definition of that style of building.

Verrastro said it would be “not economically salvageable” for them to fix it and bring the building up to ADA code. He took issue with a remark that a $2 million cost for new construction didn’t seem to be a “financial burden” to the property owners from a previous meeting. Verrastro suggested a marker be put up relating the history of the site after the building is torn down.

Commissioner Desiree Strasser, a resident of the Mount Airy district, said the house contributes to the “cohesive feeling of the neighborhood.” She pointed out there is room elsewhere on the property to build new housing.

“The workers’ houses are just as important as the lead name,” said Vice Chair Craig Evans. “We’re talking here on how it fits in the neighborhood.”

As what happened in 2024, there was public resistance to knocking down the older structure.

“This building is a record of its time and place,” remarked Bethlehem resident and former HARB chair Marsha Fritz. “I think if we lose this building … we will have lost a piece of Bethlehem’s history, and that’s not what’s supposed to be happening.” She chided the Diocese of Allentown for allowing “demolition by neglect.”

Chairman Gary Lader suggested the applicants seek a Community Development Block Grant to help save the building. He indicated that he would consider partial demolition under the right circumstances.

Diocese of Allentown owns the property once occupied by Bethlehem Steel President Eugene Grace that makes up the Holy Family Senior Living campus.

In other business, business owner Liz F. King was successful with her window signage proposal for 708 E. Fourth St. The off white vinyl logo and lettering for “King’s Expressions” would be centered within the storefront window frames. The logo measures 18 inches in diameter and the lettering is 12 inches by 40 inches. The shop’s segmented window has three square panes over one large pane.

She was assisted by Lafonte T. King.

King’s clothing boutique is in a circa 1920 building owned by Jario Santiago/FPS Developments LLC.

Elections of officers quickly took place, with Chairman Lader and Vice Chair Evans retaining their seats.

All voting was unanimous.

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.

Press photo by Ed CourrierBethlehem HCC denied a COA to allow for demolition of this former gardener’s residence on the Grace Estate at 1304 Spring St.
PRESS PHOTO COURTESY SPILLMAN FARMERRendering of a multiunit residential building proposed by the Diocese of Allentown to be erected on the site of the former gardener’s residence on the Grace Estate, 1304 Spring St.
Rendering of approved window signage for a new clothing store at 708 E. Fourth St.
Press photo courtesy Liz F. KingThe location of a new clothing store at 708 E. Fourth St. The logo (below) is to be centered in the middle left shop pane and the lettering is to be centered on the large window below it.