Spotting

The leaves seem to turn green as the grow

Ah interesting. I will keep an eye on it. All this stuff planted at work when they put in the new entrance and no plan to take care of it. :(

Yes, they are pretty slow, especially younger ones. The couple of big ones near me are all leaved out, but the two younger ones I know of bit look like that. The only thing that is making me hesitate on the ID is the leaves seem to come to too much of a point at the end - they seem too sharply tapered. Keep photoing it through the year and I'll be able to tell you for sure.

Is it normal to have so few leaves this time of year?

Looks like a copper beech (Fagus sylvatica purpura)