Allentown Historic Architectural Review Board Meeting - February 17, 2026
Allentown Historic Architectural Review Board Meeting - February 17, 2026
The Allentown Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) met on February 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM to discuss two violation correction applications: a roofing replacement at 126-128 North 15th Street and window trim repairs at 521 North 6th Street. The board approved both items with conditions, and also discussed upcoming training and meeting logistics.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the minutes from the December meeting with a minor punctuation correction noted by Mr. Huber.
New Business
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126-128 North 15th Street - Roofing Replacement
- Location: West Park SARP district (double home, gable end, symmetrical facade, play towel roof, copper gutters and downspouts).
- Description: The original terracotta clay Spanish barrel tile roof had been removed from the main roof areas and a red shake-style architectural asphalt shingle was started before work was stopped. The applicant proposes installing Brava's Spanish barrel tile, a synthetic material matching the original clay tile in profile and color options.
- Staff recommended approval with conditions, noting that the original clay tile at the projecting eaves and gable ends should remain if sound, and that a separate application is needed for gutter/downspout modifications.
- The applicant stated he had not yet obtained physical samples, only online images, and offered to donate leftover original tiles to the Lehigh Valley Preservation League.
- Board discussion focused on color matching (antique clay, Tuscan vintage terracotta, or Tuscan clay were considered), treatment of ridge/hip caps, and valley details. The board preferred copper for open valleys, consistent with the original, but allowed closed valleys with staff approval.
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521 North 6th Street - Window Trim Repairs
- Location: Old Fairgrounds/SAR district (attached row home with Queen Anne influences, front porch, projecting tower).
- Description: Deteriorated wood on the second-floor projecting bay window, including rotted panels and missing soffit board. The applicant had already removed damaged materials and installed pressure-treated substrate, planning to add new custom-carved exterior trim to match the original architectural pattern.
- Staff requested more information on the extent of work (confirmed as only the bay window) and how a consistent finished plane would be achieved with the added trim thickness.
- The applicant (Mr. Mandara) explained he intended to use paper patterns and route the trim by hand, using clear cypress or western red cedar for durability.
- The board recommended staff approval of the final carving pattern and wood species (cedar, cypress, or mahogany), leaving the fabrication method open (hand-carved, CNC, etc.).
Key Outcomes
- 126-128 North 15th Street: Motion to approve with conditions (moved by AJ, seconded by Alex). Conditions include: submit Brava barrel tile sample with colors closest to existing, staff approval of hip/rake/ridge caps and valleys (open valleys to be copper, closed valleys to be disclosed by roofer), maintain existing gutters/downspouts, and final color approved by staff. Unanimously approved.
- 521 North 6th Street: Motion to approve with conditions (moved by AJ, seconded by Philip). Conditions include: wood species suitable for carving and longevity (cedar, cypress, or mahogany), staff approval of the carved pattern before installation, and compliance with historic district guidelines section 3.2. Unanimously approved.
- The board noted a magistrate case for the property at Python 2 is scheduled for Friday at 1:30 PM at the district court.
- A training webinar on preservation trades was announced for January 22nd at 1:00 PM; the board agreed to register.
- Discussion on moving meetings to City Council chambers: the board considered the second Tuesday of the month to avoid conflicts with West Park meetings (first Tuesday).
- The HP DO review was postponed to next month pending discussions with the zoning supervisor.
Meeting Transcript
Barbie is an advisory body to city council. City Council renders the final decision of Barb recommendations. Under the direction of the historic design guidelines, Harb reviews the general design, arrangement, texture, material, and color of a building or structure. Barbara will also examine how these factors relate to under building. Anyone in attendance tonight wishing to comment on any of these items that are listed are required to sign in for records purposes. Staff will introduce and present the proposal through a prepared report, which was provided to the applicant and board members for review prior to this evening's meeting. The applicant can then provide additional context to the proposal before discussion. Presentations are limited to 30 minutes and comments from any interested party other than the applicant are limited to five minutes. After the presentation, the board will discuss the merits of the project among themselves, but will ask the applicant and staff for relevant information to supplement the discussion. After the deliberation, our will recommend to approve as submitted or approve with conditions, deny with explanation, or table the project for further discussion. If the applicant is not present at the meeting, or if information provided is not sufficient, the board may table the project until the next meeting to provide the opportunity for the applicant to be present and or supply sufficient information for discussion. A proposal will only be tabled once. If requirements are not satisfied at the following meeting, the board may automatically recommend denial and require the applicant to reapply for a new certificate of appropriateness. Meanwhile, no work can proceed until a council resolution and a certain certificate of appropriateness is received. Once received, you will then be able to pull any additional permits associated with your project. With that, can we have an introduction and roll call? We'll call we're going to start off with Chair AJ Jordan. Here we have Dave Hubert. Here. Philip Hart. Here. Alex and Skelespick here. Addie Sheer. Bob Hammond. We have two absent four members present. We have four. I conclude my role call. Great. I forget. Minutes. Okay. All right. Has any everyone had a chance to review the minutes for December? Yes. I do have one minor note. Um very very minor syntactical on page three under 2026 meeting dates. It's just uh Mr. Huber has a comma instead of a period. Doesn't change the content. No other notes. What did I do? There was just a small file and the punctuation type. Okay. Good catch. Somebody read them. All right. With that, let's move on to new business. 126. A motion for the minutes. Oh, yes.
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