Feb. 19, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem’s Historic Conservation Commission will review Monday a seven-story building proposed for South New Street.
Plans for the site have been in the works for years and have changed a few times. The apartments would occupy 321-327 S. New St.
The building would have retail space and tenant amenities on the first floor, and six floors of apartments for a total of 42 units above. The current proposal is for 30 one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-bedroom units.
The New Street apartments building would be 75 feet high, 12 feet shorter than an earlier proposal, according to documents on the city website.
In a letter to developer Rafael Palomino that is included with documents provided to the city, North Star Construction Management says maintaining the brick facade of the building now at 321 S. New St. would be impractical.
“The demolition contractors would not take responsibility for assuring the facade’s integrity and are concerned that it would deteriorate more during the shoring attempt. For these reasons we believe that the use of the façade is not practical,” according to the letter, dated Feb. 3.
The documents on the city website show a previous version with nine floors, and the new seven-floor version.
The Historic Conservation Commission is an advisory body “that reviews modifications to the exterior of buildings in both the South Bethlehem Historic Conservation District and the Mount Airy Neighborhood District on the West Side,” the city website says.
The HCC’s decisions on Certificates of Appropriateness, or COAs, are voted on by Bethlehem City Council.
The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23 in Town Hall. Here is a link to the agenda that includes a link to the webcast of the meeting.
Agendas are subject to change; see the city website closer to the meeting date.
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Lehigh Valley News Briefs 