Top of the Hill design should reflect Cedar Fairmount architectural style

To the Editor:

If a vote would had been taken after each of the three public meetings concerning the Top of the Hill Project, I believe the majority of those attending would have said that they think the "look doesn't fit the location.”

The existing Cedar Fairmount buildings have four to five architectural styles. The most prominent have an English Tudor influence. That style is reflected in the Cedar Fairmount District logo. The basic materials are brick, stone, stucco, wood and glass. Those materials and some of that style can "easily" be incorporated into parts of the new design.

Connecting with the Cedar Fairmount character should be required. The buildings do not need to mirror or replicate every detail of existing structures. What we are looking for is a link, a connection, a comfort level that acknowledges that this new development is part of the Cedar Fairmount district.

The designs presented so far have the same multi-textured architectural character common to many of the new shopping/housing projects in our area and other major cities. Why do we have to copy them?

A lot of energy goes into a project of this scale. There are a lot of creative people working on this design. There has to be a way to make this work for everyone. We have an opportunity to highlight the interesting qualities that have survived  and thrived in the Cedar Fairmount district.

[Addendum: One of our readers alerted Heights Observer staff to the fact that in publishing this letter by Richard Bozic, we failed to disclose that he was "a (very recent) former chair of the CH Architectural Board of Review."

We were unaware of that, and confirmed with Bozic that he was indeed a former member who "left the board at the end of 2016, almost 2 years ago . . . (and) was the chairman in 2016."

We regret the omission, and remind writers that we ask that they disclose any affiliations that may be relevant to what they are writing about.]