Council upholds denial of certificate of appropriateness for 945 W. Turner; owner appeals and offered path to compliance

The Allentown City Council on Wednesday considered Resolution R73 and voted to deny a certificate of appropriateness for exterior work at 945 West Turner Street.

The property owner, Dale Frichman, said he undertook chimney and liner repairs after inspectors raised safety concerns and that the work addressed health and carbon-monoxide risks. He said his contractor repaired and relined the chimney, removed sediment and installed a liner; the owner estimated significant expenditures for the remediation.

City staff and historic-preservation respondents told the council that while safety-related repairs fall under building-code enforcement, visible exterior changes within a historic district require prior review and a certificate of appropriateness (HARP). City staff said the contractor did not obtain a certificate before completing visible work, and the historic preservation panel recommended denial because the applicant was unwilling to alter the completed work to meet HARP standards.

At the council meeting the owner said he had not received direct notice of the committee hearing and that he was surprised the item was before full council. City staff replied that notices typically go to the applicant listed on permit submissions and that the contractor attended the committee hearing representing the application.

Council members voted on R73; the committee had previously recommended denial. The clerk recorded a roll call with mixed votes; several members voted yes to deny and at least two recorded no votes. The council president announced the result; staff advised the owner that, if the denial stands, he must submit a plan to bring the property into compliance with HARP standards or face enforcement through the magistrate.