New facade for former Sag Harbor watch factory

The tall, drab fence surrounding the Bulova Watchcase Factory in Sag Harbor — the biggest building in the village — won’t look quite as drab for the next two years.

The village’s Board of Historic Preservation & Architectural Review has given the firm that is converting the four-story building into luxury condominiums permission to hang historic pictures of the village and the factory itself on the multistory fence that surrounds the 2.3-acre factory site on Division and Church streets.

Cape Advisors, the Manhattan-based developer, has also received permission to put up four signs directing people to a website where they can get more information about the conversion project, which began in January and probably will take another two years to complete.

The factory, built in the 1880s, closed more than 20 years ago. In its time, it was one of the biggest industrial operations on the East End.

The vote, which was unanimous, was required because the board’s approval is mandatory under the village sign code.

Plans call for the building’s brick shell to be preserved while the structure is converted into 63 condominiums. The project also includes 18 town houses, a gym and an underground parking garage.

Above: Downtown Sag Harbor