So worldly, so unwelcome

I understand that doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. can hang a shingle on a house in a residential area. But this seems to be taking matters to a whole new level.

World Financial Group's website says that they are a "leading financial services organization in North America." Well, H & R Block hires accountants, but you don't see them working out of a 2-family home the way WFG does at 21-24 Himrod Street in Ridgewood. This is a commercial business, as far as I am concerned.

The zoning here is R5 without a commercial overlay. If this operation doesn't already violate the zoning, then perhaps some text needs to be changed to make sure that it does. If you lived in the other apartment, I'm sure you wouldn't want strange people walking in and out of your shared hallway all day. The commercial signs on the door and in the window also are eyesores on a residential block.

It's harder to crap up attached houses than freestanding ones, but someone always finds a way.