DWC Briefed on Signage and Facade Issues

Signage and facade design issues for new businesses dominated discussion at Monday evening's Downtown Westfield Corporation board meeting.

The DWC design committee recommended several grant recommendations for new facades and signs, including a wooden sign for the new location of Redco Engineering and for Elements Wellness, which will be taking the old Sleep Center location on South Avenue. In addition, Cosimos is seeking assistance for changes stemming from their pending expansion.

Board members showed support for the Redco sign, noting the lack of wooden business signs in the downtown, along with the Elements Wellness sign and a new sign at Facial Reality, which is already in place.

The two big façade projects were for Evalyn Dunn Gallery and Cosimo's.  Evalyn Dunn Gallery is an art gallery on South Avenue on the circle. They have been working with an architect and the design committee for several months now to create a more appealing space.  They will be adding some space on their left side so that the gallery can be separate from working space.  In addition to the added space they will be getting new windows and a new façade to enhance their overall look.  

Cosimo's is proposing changes which caused visible excitement among board members, who said they hope residents can share in the excitement.  The restaurant will be taking over the Little Treasures space, which has been vacant for four years, with the goal of using the space for kitchen and dining purposes.

DWC Executive Director Sherry Cronin described the new decor as "very chic" with artwork on the walls, stonework and a mahogany trim. There will also be a series of interior renovations and additonal windows on the facade. She said the changes will bring a more New York feel to the space and will likely result in a several month closure of the store to complete renovations.

DWC board member Dominick Verdic expressed concern that the design committee was cutting it very close to their allotted budget in this area, but Cronin said that since it was close to the end of the year they should be alright. She felt that the grants were important as they provide the businesses with an incentive to make their changes as nice as they can.

Verdic said his budgetary concerns stem from the design committee starting work on several new signs and facades around town, including with the Savory Spice Company, which is opening where Score used to be and the new salad restaurant coming to East Broad Street in the old Cosi location.

Cronin dismissed the concern, saying that is part of the work of the DWC and that no new businesses are slated for the space.

"That's it for now, but every day is a new adventure for me at DWC," she said.

Cronin noted that the current vacancy rate in the downtown is between two and two and a half percent, not counting the Leader Store, which is not considered vacant during the on-going renovations, which have been halted or asbestos testing from the state.