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Board tables decision on proposed mural at 106 South Loudoun Street after extended discussion
Summary
Friends of Old Town proposed a donor‑funded mural to promote youth literacy at 106 S. Loudoun St.; the Board of Architectural Review discussed size, visibility on a primary elevation, guidelines, and potential permits, then voted to table the application to the Oct. 2 meeting.
Winchester City’s Board of Architectural Review on Sept. 18 deferred a decision on a proposed mural over the second floor of Brock’s building at 106 South Loudoun Street after an extended discussion about whether murals belong on primary elevations in the historic district.
Kyle Hopkins, a volunteer with the nonprofit Friends of Old Town, presented the proposal and said the John and Janice Wyatt Foundation had offered funding to commission a mural aimed at promoting youth literacy. Hopkins said Friends of Old Town ran a nationwide call for artists that drew 47 applicants and that the board-selected artist, identified in the packet as Annalise, proposed an immersive, storybook‑style mural for the building’s second story above Thinker Toys.
Hopkins described the selection and outreach process: "We were approached by the John and Janice Wyatt Foundation, to put a mural in Old Town. And they're, they want to basically promote youth literacy." He said Friends of Old Town convened a public arts subcommittee with local arts organizations and university partners to review submissions.
Board members raised several concerns: the mural would sit on a primary elevation facing the walking mall, precedents for murals in Winchester have mostly been on side or secondary elevations, and the city lacks explicit mural guidelines for primary façades. Staff noted that the building’s front is previously painted brick and that the proposed work would not paint tenant signage or glass; the applicant said window glass would not be painted, though muntins and frames might be. The packet included a rendering that board members said appeared more muted in person than on the screen.
Practical details in the packet and the meeting record: the donor is pledged, the selected artist would begin around Nov. 1 with a proposed work period of about 15 days, and the project is intended to be reversible—paint can be removed or painted over in the future. Staff cautioned that, depending on the property’s location, a flood‑plain development permit might be required; a zoning permit is not expected if the work contains no commercial language.
Some members said they favored the concept and that public art can catalyze activity in the South End walking mall; others said the mural’s prominence on a primary elevation warranted further study and community input. Multiple board members suggested site visits, review of other historic‑district precedents, and involvement of the two members who were absent from the meeting.
Because the artist’s proposed work window begins in November and the next Board of Architectural Review meeting is scheduled for Oct. 2, a board member moved to table BAR-25-281 to the October meeting so the full five‑member board could consider the application. The motion to table carried on a voice vote; the chair announced the item was tabled and would return at the next meeting.
