Some See Gaps in Historic Preservation Plan

A new proposed comprehensive plan designed to help the city protect its historic resources scattered beyond the city's three designated historic districts got some mixed reviews from the more than 50 people who attended a forum downtown Thursday.

"It's a good step forward, but it doesn't go far enough," said William Scheirer, a city resident and frequent public commentator at City Council meetings. "My feeling is that any historic building, no matter where they are, is too valuable to lose. When it's gone, it's gone."

Scheirer, and several other people who attended, favor a law that would require council approval for demolition of any building of historic significance.

What consultants Phillips Preiss Grygiel LLC of Hoboken, N.J. do recommend is a comprehensive preservation ordinance that identifies specific landmarks worthy of protection and provides a mechanism through which other landmarks can be added to the list.

To build the study, the consultants leaned on help from a city-appointed task force of residents who are interested in preservation. They also collected surveys from 400 more people and 1,400 children to help identify historic assets they believe are important, said Elizabeth Leheny, an associate with the consulting firm.

The report lists 26 landmarks that are of certain historical significance and ought to be protected, in the view of the consultants. Among those landmarks is the former Siegfried Pharmacy, now the Ambre Gallery at 310 W. Broad St., Liberty High School and Illick's Mill.

It also lists another 51 landmarks that have the potential to be added to the protected list with further documentation and cooperation from building owners. Twenty of those are part of the BethWorks complex, currently controlled by the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and its partners.

But Scheirer and others noted some gaps in the list. Of particular interest to Scheirer is 1104 Applebutter Road, a 2½ -story stone and stucco house that could date back as far as 1820.

Now, the Samuel Rinker House, is threatened by a 66-unit, single-family development planned on the 11-acre parcel. The developers plan to raze the 190-year-old farm house to create a new entrance for a cluster of pre-fabricated homes.

The development proposal has been criticized by the neighboring Lower Saucon Township Council. A September letter from Township Manager Jack Cahalan to City Planning Director Darlene Heller criticizes the proposal for both traffic and historical reasons.

"The township council wishes to point out that in a report on the historical resources in the area … the survey indicated the potential for a Applebutter Road Historic District containing 14 historic residences on 16 parcels consisting of vernacular houses and bank barns," Cahalan wrote, adding that the Rinker House was one of the 14.

"The township would be greatly concerned if this historic structure was razed for a mobile home park," Cahalan wrote.

Stephen Antalics, a city resident who led in vain a fight to preserve the old Broughal Middle School, said he was "cynical" about the preservation plan because the current administration and council have not shown great interest in historic preservation and the success of any plan depends on them.

He cited the recent razing of Broughal, the former South Bethlehem High School, and dismantling of Colonial era root cellars to make way for new Moravian College dormitories as evidence.

"They hold these meetings to keep the neighbors at bay," Antalics said. "They go home happy because they believe what they have been told."

But Mary Toulouse, president of the Mount Airy Neighborhood Association, had a different take. Though she laments the loss of some unique buildings and apparent threats to some others in her neighborhood, she believes this study represents progress.

"I think that the city of Bethlehem does an awfully good job at trying to include people," Toulouse said.