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Local building wins design award
(by Megan Burrow - May 13, 2008)
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Photos Courtesy Of Bill Martin
As the building housing Parian Jewelers celebrates its 100th year, local architect Bill Martin will be awarded a Historical Commendation from the Bergen County Historic Preservation Advisory Board for the redesign. The “adaptive use award” recognizes his achievement in enhancing the building’s current function as a retail store, while integrating much of the original design into the project.
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Standing outside his store on the corner of Westwood and Center Avenues, Parian Jewelers owner Mike Viola’s voice rings with excitement as he describes what life must have been like here in the first decades of the 20th century.
Back then, the building housed the First National Bank of Westwood and stood at the heart of the community, serving a public still making the transition from an agrarian society to the familiar suburban one today.
“This was the real center of town,” Viola says. “During the Great Depression, The Gap was a vaudeville theater, Starbucks was a department store, and in the middle of the street on busy nights you had a cop directing traffic.”
In order for everyone to see the officer clearly in the bustling avenue, a spotlight would shine down from the top of the bank building. The old spotlight is still up on the roof, a reminder of the building’s bygone days.
There are many of these reminders around here if you know where to look.
While many old buildings are torn down to make room for the new, Westwood architect Bill Martin has dedicated himself to restoring some of Pascack Valley’s rich history.
As the building celebrates its 100th year, Martin will be awarded a Historical Commendation from the Bergen County Historic Preservation Advisory Board for the redesign. The “adaptive use award” recognizes his achievement in enhancing the building’s current function as a retail store, while integrating much of the original design into the project.
When 99 Westwood Avenue opened its doors a century ago, it was the first full-service bank in the Pascack Valley. Residents walking past can still witness traces of the building’s history today. The original 1908 cornerstone is still visible, as is “First National Bank” etched in stone across the top.
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Back in the early 20th century, First National Bank of Westwood, now Parian Jewelers, stood at the heart of the community, serving a public still making the transition from an agrarian society to the familiar suburban one today.
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Inside, the newly restored old cash vault stands open, so customers can peek at the inner workings of the mechanical clock. On the inside of the door, you can still see the original 1877 patent. The vault “consistently draws a crowd,” Viola said, and local parents have brought in their children to see a piece of history.
Martin worked closely with Parian Jewelers owners Viola and Roy Parian on the redesign. “Many times the client makes the project,” Martin said. “In this case, they were very enthusiastic about restoring the building.”
Although the age of the building and the stonework made it challenging, it is this type of project that excites Martin the most. “It’s like going back in time when you look at some of this stuff,” he says. “That’s why I enjoy it so much. You can almost feel the people that used to walk through there every day.”
When Viola and Parian first purchased the building 23 years ago, they knew eventually it would need serious remodeling. There were problems with water damage and previous owners had made several changes to the building that detracted from its historical value. With the help of Martin, they have raised the ceilings and restored the original stonework façade while using energy efficient, environmentally sound materials.
Martin said that by boosting the property’s long-term commercial viability, it ensures the historic building will be around for a long time to come.
What Viola is most proud of is that the store remained open during the entire renovation. “We didn’t close a single hour, a single day,” Viola beamed. “There were days we had no front of the store, and our wonderful customers supported us throughout.”
Martin explained the importance of preserving old buildings like this one. “It’s our heritage, our history, and it’s something we need to teach future generations,” he said. “By preserving these buildings we can preserve the stories of the past.”
This is the fourth commendation award for a project designed by the architect in the last eight years. The awards program ceremony was held Thursday, May 8 at Hackensack's Church on the Green.
Megan Burrow's e-mail address is burrow@northjersey.com.
| Comments (1) |
On May 14, 2008 westwood said:
While I whole-heartedly agree and commend the owners and architect of this building/project for preserving most of the building I disagree with the look and materials chosen for what used to be the original window openings. Yuck. In my opinion, stucco should not be in the material list of any restoration project! I understand there may have been a cost restraint but I would have preferred to see windows reinstalled into the original openings.
I also would have preferred to see the original entrance reset into the center of the buildings facade...recognizing this too is probably costly.
At any rate, hats off to those invloved for not 'giving up' on the building! |
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