The increased height was a concern for board members and around 10 residents who urged the board not to approve a replacement garage that is taller than the existing building.Īrchitects leading the project said architectural elements of the building, like using different materials on the top and bottom halves, would help the building visually appear smaller. Detailed plans for the replacement can be found on Bethlehem’s website. The new garage would also have two approximately 1,500-square-feet storefronts to accommodate new retail businesses. Architectural renderings of the new garage show several different colored bricks used on different sections of the new building, mimicking the look of surrounding buildings in the city’s commercial area.

Parking authority officials presented plans for a new parking garage building that would be slightly over half the width yet 10 feet taller on average than the existing building. The board will hold a final vote on the new structure at its January meeting. The city’s Historic Architecture Review Board voted 4-1 to table the parking authority’s application, with board members and local residents voicing opposition to the building’s height, which would be taller on average than the existing garage. Bethlehem Parking Authority officials will wait at least another month for approval on the replacement building for the Walnut Street garage, which will be demolished next month.

Replacement board for crib