Neighborhood Business District Building Types

The buildings in the neighborhood business districts are similar in style to the residential buildings described in the Far Hills Avenue Business District. While no one lives in them, they share design features of the residential buildings. They have pitched roofs, are usually setback from the property lines, show punched openings for windows and doors, and are designed on a more pedestrian scale.

Oakwood Avenue District

Three buildings exist, each with its own distinct use, building type, and appearance.

These buildings lack a unified character, as they contain residential, transitional, and commercial-style buildings with a range of setbacks. The following description illustrates the variety of style elements existing in this district:

Post Office: Small Commercial-type building with brick masonry and glass storefront “front end.” The rear part of building is a warehouse type building with a barrel vault roof and painted concrete masonry construction. The pale orange color of building is appropriate, and the setback is appropriate for the building type and use.

Water Works Building: Small Commercial-type building with residential-style hip roof. It was originally built in 1937 with two alterations since then. Styled as masonry construction with an appropriate tan color, the building was intended as a transitional building in style between residential and commercial. This disparity in styling elements detracts from the building’s visual appeal.

Board of Education Office: A converted 1920s residence with a large front lawn, this building’s key feature is the strong shape of the hip roof.