New Monument Sign

In December, the Association embarked on a curb appeal project - adding a corner monument sign on the west side of the property to match the sign on the east side. The design incorporated key elements from the east side sign, initially constructed in 1982. Once the stone was ready, the next step was to make room for it. The project required the deconstruction of the existing brick wall and the building of an inset sign box. The mason deconstructed the wall, salvaging as many original bricks as possible. These salvaged bricks were later integrated as the frame of the new sign box. Care was taken to preserve the structural integrity of the rest of the wall.

One of the project's unique challenges was ensuring that the new sign maintained the original style and craftsmanship of the existing signs. The granite used in the original signs was of Russian origin. The lettering and graphic were recreated by taking a rubbing impression (frottage), which was digitized to improve resolution, and printing a rubber stencil. The design was then sandblasted and hand-painted with a gold leaf paint. The design called for two large Oakleaf holly trees to flank the sign. This is the same type of tree used in Central Park and the other monument signs. We were fortunate to find a grower with mature trees in the height and width needed in December. The final design includes both ground and tree lighting, with electrcal access for holiday decorations.