These properties are about to change

Here’s what the happened at the Board of Architectural Review meeting this week.

The current view of the soon-to-be J.P. Morgan site, signless at present

The proposed new signage for the building

BY DEBORAH SKOLNIK

One might have thought Tuesday’s Board of Architectural Review (BAR) meeting would be exhaustive, as there were no fewer than nine properties on the agenda. Four of them were withdrawn, however, and so the docket was whittled down to five. The Insider attended as much of the meeting as possible to report on what transpired.

First up was 34 Popham Road, the site of the old First Republic Bank. It’s becoming a J.P. Morgan outpost, and the property’s representatives came forward to discuss the new signage for the building. “What we're proposing is one wall sign [and] one freestanding sign, the rep said. The freestanding sign would be attached to the existing post where the First Republic Bank sign used to be. The BAR asked if the post would be repainted; the rep said she would recommend it. “Yeah, if you look at it closely, it’s a little beat up,” a BAR member said.

The rep then talked about the prospective wall sign. “The bottom is going to be a light bar that shines up to the letters,” she said. In addition, she added, the existing parking signs would be replaced to specify the spots are for JP Morgan customers only. “It will be the same amount of parking signs [as when the building housed First Republic Bank occupied the building],” she stressed.

A BAR member commented that the proposed wall sign has thick letters, whereas the old First Republic had thin ones. “They were subtle,” the BAR member added. “I like the thin letter look because this is a beautiful, old, and historic building.” As for the parking signs, they will be slightly larger than the ones for First Republic, but the BAR deemed the difference insignificant.

Someone else on the BAR questioned the proposed color of the wall sign. It will be brown, and the property rep explained that it is JP Morgan’s signature color, so it can’t be changed. She showed the BAR members a photo of the same sign installed in a New York City site, so they could see its subtle quality. The letters, she explained, will be raised.

Ultimately, permission to install the wall sign and parking signs was granted, although two members of the BAR voted against it.

Current view of 5 Quaker Center

Approved new residence at 5 Quaker Center

Next up was the representative for a residential building at 5 Quaker Center, presenting changes to a house plan approved back in 2022. The homeowner wishes to bump out one section of the home by a couple of feet and create a new interior corridor. The changes were speedily approved.

Following quickly on the heels of 5 Quaker Center’s presentation were representatives for 44 Brewster Road, requesting permission to build a two-car garage in the front yard as well as perform some site work and create a terrace in the back. The project had already obtained variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The first thing the reps proposed was to remove the existing driveway and fill it in with landscape, and then abandon the old basement garage, which is problematic functionally. They would then build new garage on the front left corner. “Are you replacing any of the existing windows of the existing roof as part of this project?” a BAR member asked. The reps said the roof will not be replaced, and the new garage will have a slate roof to match the existing one. Various other window work will still be done, but in the back of the house. Some units will be replaced, and some of the windows will become doors. Most of the steel units used will be salvaged from the property. The old garage will become a gym, and the rest of the project will consist of internal work. you can see the old garage becomes a gym. The rest of it is just interior work. Some walkway work will be done in the bluestone, and the new patio will be 18 inches above grade. “

“I think moving the driveway is a really good idea, especially with [a] new house coming in just to the south, which would be right next to you,” said one BAR member. Another BAR member expressed their general approval for the project, adding, “The only thing I would recommend is if you ever get a chance, if you can have a new slate roof on the existing building, I think it would help.” The property rep replied that there are no plans to replace it, but such roofs can always be power washed to get them looking fresh and clean.

The BAR unanimously granted approval for the project to proceed.

Once the matter was settled, representatives for 2 Walworth Avenue came forward, requesting to create a pergola in the back of the house with a patio made of permeable pavers, and a fire pit as well. The pergola would have painted wood and look very traditional. It sounded like a straightforward plan to approve, and yet the reps didn’t have information on what height the pergola would be. When told so, the reps committed to building it at nine feet to the top.

Among the changes the residents of 2 Walworth Avenue hope to make is to add a fire pit to their backyard.

“Do you have any…rendering of where this pergola is in relationship to the exterior?” asked a BAR member. “ I'm looking more for an example of what [the pergola] looks like next to within the house itself.” The reps offered some additional details, but the information was deemed insufficient. The BAR held over the request until a more thorough plan can be presented.

A request presented by the owners of 52 Greenacres Avenue, was approved.