74 Ridgewood Avenue redesign withdrawn again; 26 Ridgewood Avenue addition advances after months of review
Listen
Owner John Urchak and architect Richman Neumann presented an updated second-story addition and facade redesign for 74 Ridgewood Avenue, a historic property used as a pediatric office and daycare, including a new light gray and black color scheme. Commissioner Barkan and Chair Yewaisis said the massing was still too tall, and the panel raised concerns about replacing the original brick and about vinyl windows and steel garage doors on the mid-century modern building. The applicant agreed to keep as much original brick as possible and switch to wood garage doors, but ultimately withdrew the application without a vote.
Owner Luisa Lebron and architect Daniel Kopec returned for a third time with a full second-floor addition to a 1950s ranch house at 26 Ridgewood Avenue, which the commission classified as non-contributing to the historic district -- allowing for an essentially new design. The commission favored one of two elevation options presented and voted to carry the application, asking for a complete resubmission with detailed window, door, shutter, column, and lighting specifications ahead of the next meeting; the applicant agreed to waive the commission's deadline to act.
Five other projects were approved unanimously, each sent to subcommittee or administrative review for follow-up details: a rear addition with a half-bath at 68 Osbourne Street; a front porch reconstruction and mudroom conversion at 272 Ridgewood Avenue, with straight rather than tapered columns; a rear addition with a "peekaboo" dormer at 67 Dodd Street; and a garage addition at 26 Snowden Place, with window styles to be changed to match the main house.
What to watch
- HPC's annual training session is scheduled for March 19, 2026, in person.
- A new HPC commissioner is expected to be appointed at the board's next meeting.
- 26 Ridgewood Avenue's addition is expected to return with a complete, detailed application package.