Montclair Historic District Driveway: Balancing Preservation Requirements with Modern Paving

The Challenge: Preserving History While Providing Function

In June 2025, I received an unusual inquiry from James and Eleanor Wright, owners of a stunning 1910 Colonial Revival home in Montclair's Upper Montclair Historic District.

"We need to repair our driveway," Eleanor explained, "but we received a notice from the Historic Preservation Commission that any work visible from the street requires approval. Our last contractor said they couldn't deal with that."

The property was beautiful—a 4,200 square foot home with original Belgian block borders, mature landscaping, and a 1,600 square foot curved driveway that had likely been resurfaced multiple times since the original installation.

The challenge: restore function while respecting the property's 115-year heritage.

The Complexity: Historic Preservation Requirements

Before any work could begin, we needed Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approval. I attended the monthly meeting with the Wrights to present our proposal.

HPC Requirements for the Driveway:

1. Material Compatibility: No bright, modern-looking asphalt that would clash with the historic character
2. Belgian Block Preservation: Original borders (circa 1910) must be protected and maintained
3. Width Restrictions: Driveway cannot be widened beyond original footprint
4. Drainage Considerations: Must maintain historic drainage patterns
5. Color Harmony: Final surface must complement, not contrast, the aged appearance of the home

Our Solution Approach:

I proposed a "heritage-sensitive restoration" that would: - Use a darker asphalt mix with less visible aggregate - Apply an aged-appearance sealer for matte finish (not glossy modern sealcoating) - Reset and re-point all original Belgian blocks - Maintain exact original dimensions - Install period-appropriate drainage

The HPC approved our plan unanimously.

The Discovery: Hidden History Beneath the Surface

During demolition, we made a fascinating discovery: beneath the deteriorated asphalt, we found remnants of the original 1910 driveway surface—a layer of tar and gravel that had been common in the early automobile era.

Working with the homeowners, we documented this finding for the Montclair Historical Society before proceeding. While we couldn't preserve it in place, we saved samples for their archive.

What We Also Found: - Three layers of subsequent resurfacing (approximately 1940s, 1970s, 1990s) - Original drainage channels that had been paved over - Belgian blocks that had shifted but remained intact - Root intrusion from a 60-year-old maple

The Solution: Heritage-Sensitive Restoration

Phase 1: Archaeological Documentation **Day 1**

Before disturbing anything, we: - Photographed all surfaces and borders - Documented the original tar-and-gravel layer - Mapped Belgian block placement - Identified original drainage pattern - Noted areas requiring root barrier protection

Phase 2: Careful Demolition **Days 2-3**

• Removed deteriorated asphalt by hand near Belgian blocks
• Machine removal only in center sections
• Collected and labeled all salvageable blocks
• Protected mature trees with root barriers
• Preserved original drainage channels where possible

Phase 3: Heritage-Appropriate Installation **Days 4-5**

Base Work: - 6-inch compacted aggregate base - Restored original drainage channels - Root barriers installed near maple tree - Belgian block trench re-established

Paving: - 3-inch base course of standard asphalt - 2-inch surface course using fine aggregate dark mix - Hand-finished edges matching original curves - Seamless transition to Belgian block borders

Phase 4: Period-Appropriate Finishing **Day 6**

• Belgian blocks reset in original pattern
• New mortar using period-appropriate gray color
• Matte-finish sealer (not standard glossy sealcoating)
• Edge restoration with matching border stones

The Results: Historic Character Preserved

The finished driveway received praise from the HPC, the Montclair Historical Society, and—most importantly—the Wrights.

Before & After

Investment Summary

Eleanor's Testimonial

"Other contractors saw our HPC requirements as obstacles. Randy saw them as guidelines for doing the job right. He attended the commission meeting, presented a thoughtful plan, and delivered work that actually enhanced our home's historic character. When he discovered the original 1910 surface, he treated it with the respect it deserved. This is how all historic properties should be treated."

- Eleanor Wright, Upper Montclair Historic District

Historic Property Expertise

Randy Seal Coating & Striping provides specialized services for historic properties throughout Essex County.

Historic Property Services:

• Commission coordination: We attend HPC meetings and present approved plans
• Period-appropriate materials: Matte finishes, dark mixes, heritage colors
• Border preservation: Belgian block, cobblestone, and brick restoration
• Documentation: Before/after records for property archives
• Consultation: Advising on historically sensitive approaches

Contact Us: - Phone: (862) 224-6666 - Email: randy@sealcoatingandstriping.com - Online: Request Historic Property Assessment

Serving Montclair and Essex County: Montclair | Glen Ridge | Bloomfield | West Orange | South Orange

Historic properties deserve historic-quality care. Call (862) 224-6666.