HARB December 16, 2025
COA SUMMARY for Council
Item 2. Love Unlimited Ministries
734 West Fourth Street
64-003-202 Commercial building built 1957. 2 story block, faced with brick.
A.. Install a new 2‘ x 8’ metal sign on the wall below the W 4th second floor window on the front of the building.
proposed are: Background-Dark blue fading to a light blue green color. Lettering-Dark blue with a black outline.
lighting on sign
Colors
No
HARB Minutes December 16, 2025
Meeting called to order at 6:33pm.-Trade & Transit II-144 West Third St.
Present: Anthony Visco, Mary Rucinski and Hannah Ramsauer by phone.
Standard Intro: Property owners in the Historic District must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
before performing exterior alterations, repairs, improvements, demolitions, or construction. There is no fee
for a COA. Applications are available at Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) – City of
Williamsport Applicants should include photos, drawings, and any information to clarify a project. Submit at
least one week before the HARB meeting. Meetings are held monthly, usually on the 3rd Tuesday, in Trade
& Transit II-144 West Third St. at 6:30 PM. A representative of the applicant should attend. City Council
issues COA’s. Applicants can discuss a request with Council if they disagree with HARB’s recommendation.
Item 1. Review minutes from October 21, 2025 (there was no November meeting.) Motion by Rucinski to
accept October minutes, Tony Visco seconded. All ayes.
Item 2. Love Unlimited Ministries
734 West Fourth Street
64-003-202 Commercial building built 1957. 2 story block, faced with brick.
A.. Install a new 2‘ x 8’ metal sign on the wall below the W 4th second floor window on the front of the
building.
Colors proposed are: Background-Dark blue fading to a light blue green color. LetteringDark blue with a black outline.
No lighting on sign
.
Suggested Standard: From Hist Prop Guide New signs shall be compatible in size, style and color of
building and not obscure architectural details. Footed or serif fonts are recommended.
Intisar Martin, represented Love Unlimited Ministry and explained the sign is actually for the Juvenile
Uplifting Mentorship Program (JUMP). A color representation of a 2’x8’ metal sign was provided by the
Sign Shop. Photographs of the proposed location were reviewed. Ms. Martin explained this is a non-profit
with the purpose to provide support for at-risk youth. The sign is a donation and would be placed on the east
side of the building facing St Joseph the Workers parking lot, in between the first and second floor windows.
The art is their adopted logo. Hannah Ramsauer pointed out the sign would be on a secondary elevation on a
non-historic building. Mr. Visco noted this is a 1950’s brick building, the sign will not damage any
architectural features and the side location, with out lighting, should minimize impact on any area district
historic properties. He noted the colors are bright but limited. Motion by Hannah Ramsauer to recommend
for approval, Mary Rucinski seconded. All ayes.
Item 3. Sara Walker
844 West 3rd Street
65-004-103 1895 Brick, two and one half story Victorian eclectic house with a multigabled (partial) slate
roof. Roof dormers with mullioned windows. Two story protruding bay in front, and on each side. Wrap
around porch with square posts, enclosed at the apron (bottom) with fish scale siding.
A. On east side of property, in same location as existing metal accessory structure, remove the torn cover
and install a new canvas cover over the top and all four sides of a metal frame. See photo sample.
Color:
Note: Codes Officer informed HARB that this is considered an accessory structure, is subject to setbacks
and building codes. He also noted there is no permit on file for the existing structure. See photos for location
and views.
Possible Standards to Consider: #9… exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy
historic materials that characterize a property. New work … shall be compatible with massing, size, scale,
and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
Hist Pres Act 89-665: Any governing body in determining whether or not to certify to the appropriateness of
the erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition or razing of a building, in whole or in part,
shall consider the effect which the proposed change will have upon the general historic and architectural
nature of the district. The governing body shall pass upon the appropriateness of exterior architectural
features which can be seen from a public street or way, only, and shall consider the general design,
arrangement, texture, material and color of the building or structure and the relation of such factors to similar
features of buildings and structures in the district. The governing body shall not consider matters not
pertinent to the preservation of the historic aspect and nature of the district.
Ms. Walker was notified by e mail and a postal letter was sent, notifying her of the meeting date, time and
location. Ms. Walker or a representative were not present. HARB elected to review the application
information. Mr. Visco noted the existing metal frame structure covered with a tarp is clearly visible from
West 3rd and from the alley between the property and Way’s Garden. Its appearance is not appropriate to the
district. It may also be non compliant as an accessory structure, which is a Codes issue. Ms. Ramsauer said
it does not fit with the style of district historic properties or the property it is on. Ms Rucinski said its in poor
condition. Replacing the frame and covering will still result in an incompatible structure, visible from the
street. Mr. Visco made a motion to recommend denial to City Council. Hanna Ramsauer seconded. All ayes
*NOTE On December 18th Mary Rucinski received an e mail from Ms. Walker saying she did not receive
the e-mailed notice of the meeting, and the mailed letter didn’t arrive until December 17th. She asked if the
application could be re-reviewed at another meeting and she will attend. By a pole HARB agreed. The above
described COA recommendation will not be submitted to City Council and Ms. Walkers application will be
put on the January 20, 2026 agenda.
Item 4. Any Other Business. Review 2026 meeting dates
The Williamsport Historical Architectural Review Board will meet:
January 20, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
February 17, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
March 10, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor REVISED
due to lack of meeting space in TT2 on March 17 th.
April 21, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
May 19, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
June 16, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
July 21, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
August 18, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
September 15, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
October 20, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
November 17, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
December 15, 2026 6:30 PM in Trade & Transit Center 2, 144 W. Fourth Street, 3rd floor
adj 7:04