The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission issued an additional certificate of appropriateness for modifications to the plans for a Hilton-branded hotel at their March 17 Town Hall meeting.

Representing the project at 14-36 W. Third St. was Thomas Schlegel, Anthony Seitz and John Snavely.

Responding to input from the previous meeting, the proposal for the 141-guestroom Tempo by Hilton with a seventh-floor fitness center and rooftop dining was approved with some of the following stipulations:

Parapets are a maximum of 94-feet high, including all coping.

The rooftop terrace is maximum 100-feet high, with a minimum 16-foot setback from north facade facing W. Third Street.

An Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) initiates at 60 feet above the public right of way along the north facade facing W. Third Street and at 60 feet above the public right of way on the south facade facing the Greenway, where select areas can drop down to 18 feet above the public right of way.

It was noted that, “HCC recommends EIFS for this specific project because the resulting contemporary structure will not be significant to the Historic Conservation District upon completion, while heights of various EIFS applications are well above the height of typical historic structures within the Historic Conservation District.”

Appropriate details for the storefronts include:

YKK YES 45 storefront system with 2-inch-wide vertical and horizontal divisions in dark bronze factory-applied finish.

Glazing is center-set SunGuard SNX Low-E crystal gray glazing, which is clear and not tinted, colored or reflective.

Spandrel glass is integrated into storefronts along the eastern half of the W. Third Street facade to screen back of house functions, including vinyl films installed on the outside glass surfaces depicting various historical images.

The wedge-shaped site, owned by Patriot Ventures, LLC/High Hotels, LTD is located between the 6-story Gateway at Greenway Park and Comfort Suites, with an undeveloped section of the South Bethlehem Greenway behind it.

The two empty commercial buildings at 14 – 18 W. Third St. had been approved for demolition by city council in 2021, overruling Bethlehem HCC’s recommendation for preservation. At the time, there was a proposal to construct an 8-story apartment building there, also allowed by city council, but never built.

The rest of the property is a vacant lot utilized for parking.

The Cathedral Church of the Nativity was granted COAs for renovation proposals for two houses it owns facing W. Third Street.

Representing the properties were Anna Smith and Peter Lewnes from Community Action Lehigh Valley, along with Artefact architect Christine Ussler and contractor Lee Snyder.

Approved renovations for 230 and 232 W. Third St. include: gentle power washing and repainting the facades, repairing all trim or replacing it in kind, repairing slate shingles or replacing roofing with GAF Slateline non-architectural asphalt shingles in the ‘Antique Slate’ color if the slate is beyond repair on the main and porch roofs.

The front porch renovations include repairing or replacing the piers with like materials and repairing and repainting existing decorative ironwork and other details.

Six Lansing one over one wood aluminum clad replacement windows in bronze or tan were permitted for 230 W. Third St., while 13 of these windows were approved for 232 W. Third St.

The entrance doors and transoms are to be repaired or replaced with salvaged historical Arts and Crafts style wood doors similar in design. New aluminum storm doors with factory-applied bronze finish are to be installed.

The applicants agreed to submit cut sheets, specifications and a sample of the preferred porch light for final review by the Chief Building Inspector, Historic Officer and HCC Chair before a permit is issued.

According to Smith, Cathedral Church of the Nativity will be entering into a long-term agreement with Community Action and New Bethany to rehabilitate the houses into a minimum of four units of affordable rental housing. The two homes have been vacant for more than 15 years.

The adjacent row houses, similar in style, were built circa 1900.

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.