Work is starting this fall on a former 19th-century livery stable in Easton’s West Ward to protect the building from further deterioration.
Meanwhile, developers for the property at 16-26 S. Sixth St. and 521 Pine St. are modifying their plans, which originally included adding two stories to the building and up to 26 apartment units with underground parking.
The project is being developed under the name Pine Street Plaza LLC by developer Lou Pektor, who is working with local architect Jeff Martinson.
Martinson told Easton’s Historic District Commission Monday that Pektor plans to only proceed with one additional floor at this time, though he declined to get into specifics of how the modification will change the rest of the project.
Pete Reinke, vice president of development for Pektor’s Ashley Development Corporation, didn’t return a phone call for comment Monday evening.
New plans have yet to be filed with the city.
Martinson appeared before the commission specifically for 16-18 S. Sixth St., which includes a 2.5-story row home and large masonry stable building that’s most recently been used as storage by Dykes Lumber Company, which has a store across the street.
The building is in “really bad shape” and needs structural work to keep it from deteriorating further, Martinson said.
Work will include cleaning and repointing the brick and stone, and replacing doors, window frames and concrete in certain sections.
Commission members recommended that work for approval; however, they held off on making any recommendations on roof work at the property until they see updated development plans.
Commission member Gary Ringhoff said he “couldn’t get a grasp” on the project until he sees plans for the new third floor.
“How are you going to put up a third floor and keep all those windows and doors in place?” he asked.
As a stipulation, the commission required that if for some reason the redevelopment of the building does not go forward, Pektor is still on the hook for replacing all the windows on the property.
The commission’s recommendation will go before Easton City Council for ultimate approval.
Northampton County property records show Pektor purchased 16-18 S. Sixth St. from Dyke’s Lumber for $300,000 on Sept. 14.
The property dates to 1885-1892 and includes “vernacular industrial style stables” that are still preserved, according to Chris Ussler, a consultant for the historic district commission who is also the owner/ architect of the Bethlehem-based Artefact Inc. architectural firm.
Vernacular architecture refers to buildings constructed by local builders with readily available materials at the time to meet the needs of local residents. At a livery stable, horses were kept for local travelers to hire.
In the early 1990’s, Easton’s Wyerbacher brewing used the building to brew beer.
Martinson said Dykes will continue to use the property for storage until December.
The project will have no effect on the Dykes store across the street at 15 S. Sixth St., and Martinson said the lumber company plans to stay there.
In April, the city’s Zoning Hearing Board granted conditional approval for an apartment complex at 16-26 S. Sixth St. and 521 Pine St. Pektor originally proposed adding two new stories to the existing building at 16-26 S. Sixth St. for a total height of 55 feet.
Pektor said the project was still in the very early stages at that point, and he was performing a marketing study to determine what would be most economical in terms of the size of the units and the cost to rent.
The project required variances for site distances into and out of the building, parking, and to alleviate a requirement for first floor commercial space.
