WESTWOOD — A historic designation first headed to the Westwood governing body’s agenda this winter is now official: The Westwood Trust building at 1 Westwood Ave. — the prominent corner property that is home to Rosangelly’s Restaurant Café & BakeHouse — has been designated a local historic landmark, the Westwood Historic Preservation Commission announced in a social media post.
The designation follows months of commission action on the property. In January, we reported the mayor and council were set to consider an ordinance establishing the site (Block 907, Lot 9) as a historic landmark after the commission adopted a resolution of intent to nominate the building under borough code and referenced a designation report documenting the building’s history and architectural features.
The commission describes the structure as a four-story Art Moderne building with neo-Classical detailing, originally built as a bank with vaults and offices, and notes its “gateway” location at the entrance to downtown.
As a designated landmark, exterior alterations will require review by the Historic Preservation Commission, including the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness, before permits can be issued for work that affects the building’s appearance. The commission noted that interior features are not regulated — but said Rosangelly’s ownership recognized the site’s significance and took care to rehabilitate and preserve historic interior elements such as flooring, wood paneling, and coffered ceilings.
The commission called the project an “excellent example of adaptive reuse” and said it will share more on the site’s history, including historic photos, in future posts.