Board approves balcony screens and fans at 78 Church Street with installation condition

A project manager for Bonaccio Construction told the Design Review Board on July 8 that multiple residents at 78 Church Street had requested retractable privacy screens and small electric fans for their balconies. Ian Tim said he submitted specifications and renderings showing internal mounting and black painted conduit intended to minimize visual impact.

Board members generally supported the concept while focusing on installation details and aesthetics. "Painted black, the same color, perfect," one board member said about routing the conduit tight to the metal deck. Several members urged the applicant to mount the screen tracking as far back on the column as possible so the building's fenestration remains visually prominent. Concerns were raised about inconsistent future use: if some tenants add screens and others do not, the façade could appear patchy; the board therefore required that porches and any screens be treated consistently across units as a condition of approval.

The DRB voted to approve the modification with the stated condition. The applicant may bring final installation details to staff or return for administrative review if changes to the approved details are necessary.