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Developer presents revised townhome concept for 333 North Fairfax; board and neighbors ask for more variety and context
Summary
EYA presented a revised 333 North Fairfax townhome concept emphasizing porosity, a central public piazza, and traditional materials. Public commenters and multiple board members said the design remains too repetitive and 'barracks-like' and urged more variation in height, roofs, fenestration and brick colors.
Developer EYA presented a revised concept plan for a 1.4-acre townhouse development at 333 North Fairfax Street (BAR 20205305) and asked the Board of Architectural Review for general agreement on height, scale and massing.
Jack McLaren, senior vice president for architecture and planning at EYA, told the board the team listened to prior comments and aimed to blend traditional and modern responses to the site's context. McLaren described a porous site plan with pedestrian connections and a public "Piazza," four architectural "styles" across buildings, and material selections including through-body wire-cut brick and an AeroCraft cast-stone product.
Public speakers voiced opposition. Scott Corzine (300 Queen Street) praised the project's porosity and view corridors but said the buildings felt "awkwardly out of place" and described the proposal as "barracks masquerading as townhomes," requesting the board reject the concept. Anna Bergman (300 Queen Street) said she was not opposed to redevelopment but called the proposed designs incompatible with the Old & Historic District and urged rejection.
Board members generally acknowledged improvements since the previous concept review but repeatedly urged the applicant to introduce more variety across units: differing heights and roof treatments, greater variation in window types and muntin patterns, and more distinct brick colors and detailing so the townhouses read as individual homes rather than repetitive blocks. Several members suggested reducing the perception of height (through varied vertical profiles or mansard/roof treatments), clarifying which units front which streets, and rethinking contemporary bay materials on Queen Street.
McLaren said the team would reassess the palette and massing and consider the board’s suggestions before returning for further review; he said some ideas might be developed as part of the certificate-of-appropriateness submittal rather than at concept stage. Board members did not approve the concept as final; they provided direction and requested further refinement on variety and street-facing identity.
