Winchester BAR denies certificate for mural at 106 South Loudoun Street

The Winchester City Board of Architectural Review on Oct. 2 voted to deny BAR25-281, a certificate-of-appropriateness request to paint a mural on the primary facade at 106 South Loudoun Street.

The denial followed public comments from project backers and a lengthy Board discussion about the Board’s authority and the absence of written mural guidelines. Brady Clovin, executive director of Friends of Old Town, said the piece was “non commercial and fully reversible” and argued the mural “fully aligns with both the city's comprehensive plan and our own Old Town 2045 master plan.” Supporters said the mural’s theme — youth literacy — and community process merited approval.

Nut graf: The Board concluded it lacked an established policy framework to evaluate a mural of this scale on a primary facade. The motion to deny carried after members stated concerns about the visual scale on the walking mall, consistency with past precedents, and the condition of the masonry beneath existing paint. Board members instructed staff to research mural guidance and return with suggested…