BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission on Monday approved the demolition of several structures to make way for a seven-story mixed-use building on South New Street.
To construct the new building known as the New Street Apartments, the applicant would need to demolish 319, 321-323, 325 and 327 S. New St.
Demolition of these historic structures, specifically the Italianate façade of 321-323 S. New St., had long been a key sticking point for committee members, but the applicant was able to prove that keeping the façade would cause economic hardship.
The applicant submitted an analysis showing that $250,800 is required to integrate the existing historical façade, as proof of the resulting undue economic hardship.
Officials said the applicant had provided “evidence that supports that it’s not possible to demolish the existing building and retain the existing façade and integrate it into the new construction.”
“I know this is not an easy process. For us, this is a fairly prominent project on the Southside. We just want to make sure everyone’s comfortable and we’re getting it right,” said commission member Todd Chambers.
The commission voted unanimously on Monday to approve amendments to a previous measure that would allow for the demolition of the Italianate façade as proposed and to allow construction of the proposed seven-story mixed-use retail and apartment building.
The motion also included a provision that the applicant return to review final details and materials and the exterior composition of the building.
According to commission documents, the application was previously before the HCC in February 2026 and returned with modifications to the plans after discussion with the board. The seven-story mixed-use building with ground floor retail and tenant amenity space consists of full bed brick veneer and fiber cement panels with aluminum storefront windows, fibrex windows, and fabric canopies.
The owner/applicant listed for the project is 325 South New St Development LLC and USA Architects.
The proposed building would include roughly 1,900 square feet of commercial space on the first floor and 4,300 square feet of community space reserved for tenants. Upper floors would total about 6,200 square feet each. Thirty one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-bedroom units are proposed, for a total of 42 residences.
The proposed building measures 93 feet wide, 76 and a half feet wide; 75 feet high at the shortest corner and 75 and a half feet tall at the tallest corner.
Officials said the properties have a long history of development proposals. The committee previously held discussions from 2020 to 2022 with significant public comment on a similar yet larger project.
Earlier plans called for a nine-story building measuring 110 feet wide, 75 feet deep, and between 88 and 92 feet tall.
Other business
Other projects reviewed Monday included approving louvres for potential bagel shops and tabling a vote for a three-and-a-half story mixed-use building.
Planned for 330 E. 4th St., the three-and-a-half story mixed-use building will offer four residential dwellings and one commercial space. The owner/applicant is listed as Nabila Youssef/Factory39.
Plans call for demolishing a structure with a high level of historical integrity, according to City Historic Officer Jeffrey Long.
Long said plans lacked supporting evidence that “all attempts to reuse the historic building were exhausted.”
Similarly, issues were found with the planned setbacks for the project should align with facades to the existing contributing structures, officials said.
The three-and-a-half-story structure would measure 35 feet wide, 56 and a half feet deep, and 41 feet high at its tallest point.
The building, commission members said, was “considerably larger and taller than the 2-and-a-half-story historic structures along East Fourth Street.
The vote to table was based on allowing the applicant the appropriate opportunity to get further information for clarifications and changes recommended by the board, which included alterations to the façade and setbacks.
Lastly, louvres were planned for the property at 306 S. New St., where a semi-detached six-story commercial building is planned.
Located at South New Street and West Third Street, the project’s façade features glass and aluminum storefronts, the second and fourth floors are brick, while the uppermost corner levels offer metal panels and glass.
The applicant was asking for approval to install louvers where transoms exist to allow for air intake and exhaust for a proposed bagel shop at the location.
According to the applicant, the louvers have been custom-fabricated to match the finish, sheen and color that match the neighborhood.
Officials said the building is a non-contributing structure to the historic area and is not subject to the governing criteria from the US Secretary of the Interior Standards.
In terms of louvres, the commission said the selection is the “best case scenario.”
The Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission is an advisory body that decides whether projects are appropriate for the historic district. Actions go before Bethlehem City Council for final approval.