Freehold may raze historic building

[admin]

www.app.com/article/20090927/NEWS/909270358/1285/LOCAL09/Eyebrows%20raised%20over%20plan%20to%20raze%20historic%20freehold%20building?GID=LNIiGSkTZw7NxvePnFOhQKy+2eUaQ893F7BjZxFc0ds%3D

Eyebrows raised over plan to raze historic freehold building
By Kim Predham • FREEHOLD BUREAU • September 27, 2009

FREEHOLD — The first major construction project to fall under the borough's new redevelopment guidelines soon will come before the Planning Board.



But the details of the plan — which involve tearing down an historic East Main Street building — are already causing at least one local history buff to cry foul.

"I think it's a terrible idea," said the borough's historian, Kevin Coyne.

Hazlet firm Fox Associates wants to remove the existing two-story structure at 42 E. Main Street and put up a three-story office building.

The building currently houses an architecture firm and a family practitioner.

Known as the Richmond House, the structure was built in the early 19th century in the Greek Revival style, according to a 1980 county history.

It is one of a handful of pre-Civil War buildings left in the borough, Coyne said.

"Freehold has bulldozed way, way too many of its old buildings," Coyne said. "This will be one more piece of our history that will be gone."

The borough's Historic Preservation Commission signed off on the plans with a handful of recommendations, including that an area be set aside to depict the property's history.

The new building would fit in with the downtown streetscape, said Edward Ketcham, who owns Fox Associates with Monmouth County Democratic Party chairman Victor Scudiery.

The Borough Council reviewed the application Monday. Council members do not have to formally approve the plan, Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said.

The Planning Board is to hear the application Oct. 14. The applicant is requesting preliminary and final site plan approval, as well as a variance to have three less parking spaces than the 26 required.

The site currently has five parking spaces. Some parking would be on the ground floor of the new building, Ketcham said.

Five additional spaces would be provided by modifying the adjacent Market Yard lot, according to Planning Board documents.

The building would be nearly 41 feet high, almost 6 feet higher than allowed under the property's original zoning. But buildings in the new redevelopment area are allowed to have height comparable to existing structures in the area, according to borough documents.

The Borough Council adopted a plan in December that set parameters for redevelopment in the downtown area bounded by Throckmorton, Spring, Broad, Lafayette, Mechanic and Hudson streets. Those guidelines take precedence over the original zoning in that area.

[admin]

After reading this, I have to admit I am on the side of Kevin Coyne. From the standpoint of historic preservation, this is an interesting building that should be preserved. I am surprised the HPC signed off on this.

The article touches upon the down town revitalization and this building hardly comes across as something that needs to be worried about. There are other areas in need of love and repair. Why not tear down one of those areas? and leave a historic building alone? I also read the report on recommendations on down town redevelopment and it was quite vague. I would be interested to hear more as to how tearing down a historic building will fit in with that plan. Wasn't historic preservation a part of it?

Remember folks, once a historic structure is gone, we will not get it back. I believe it would be wise to take a step back on this issues and rethink it. We are in a time when we have tons of office space for rent. Why build more at the expense of losing a historic house?

I will admit, after reading the APP article I do come away with a feeling that something is missing from the reporting. There has to be more because what is there does not make sense to me.

[Mike Rosseel]

Admin, excellent point, these buildings are the essence of freehold and it would be a sad day to see it removed. we need to keep some of our history going. hopefully this doesnt happen

[admin]

Freeholdboy, Agreed, the historic charm of this town is very nice and well worth preserving. I am sure our views are the majority.

I did find out a bit more info from a credible source. I was very puzzled about why the Historic Preservation Commission would sign off on this plan. I was told that he building in question has been modified so many times that there is actually very little historic integrity left to it. I still can't help but to wonder why that integrity cannot be brought into he new plans without a full demolition of the site.

[Mike Rosseel]

I have worked on many construction sites which the integrity of a historic building had to be preserved, it is very easy to do. It does indeed cost more money but it would be sad to drive down main street one day and see only new building. i hope there can be a compromise of some sort, hopefully it isnt too late

[admin]

We ought to change the topic name to historic Preservation with a question mark at the end.

While driving to work this week, I saw that an old home on Broad was being torn down. The plus side is that it is one less rental and a business will get some parking which this town always needs.

But, it is still a shame. That area has many very nice old homes. This one needed a little love, but it is one less old home that someone could own and enjoy. It was not a bad house and had nice bones to it. This one was a little over a hundred years old.

One more beautiful old house gone and not to come back.

[Mike Rosseel]

this weekend as i drove around town i took notice to our house. amazing homes, alot of history, just a nice look. kinda took your mind off some the other bs in freehold for a minute. hope this trend doesnt keep going in our town. we need to save our old homes our history

[admin]

Oct 5, 2009 6:39:50 GMT -5 Mike Rosseel said:

this weekend as i drove around town i took notice to our house. amazing homes, alot of history, just a nice look. kinda took your mind off some the other bs in freehold for a minute. hope this trend doesnt keep going in our town. we need to save our old homes our history

Don't let the BS in Freehold get you down. Every town has its bad areas and problems. We are no different. Even on this site, don't forget that there is always welcome focus on the good things and great people of our town.

[admin]

I wrote in an earlier post:

Remember folks, once a historic structure is gone, we will not get it back. I believe it would be wise to take a step back on this issues and rethink it.

Well, there is a very nice development in this story.

Freehold council holds off
on support for new building

newstranscript.gmnews.com/News/2009/1007/Front_page/001b07.html

It appears the council, is doing just what I believed should be done. This is a wise move and it is good to take a step back and think about it. In the end we may lose the building anyway, but at least it would not be done in haste. The council did good here.

[Mike Rosseel]

I saw this this morning, very good news. Now atleast they can throughly think it out like you said above. Hopefully, if it can be saved it will be. Hats off to the council for rethinking this and taking action!

[admin]

This issue went back in front of the Historic Preservation Commission. After a very lenthy discussion, a decision still has not been made, but the isue will reappear on the November 9th.

This is good to see and it is wise to really thnk about the emrits of tearing down a historic house. Even if we lose the house in the end, at least it will not be in haste.

[admin]

www.app.com/article/20091106/NEWS/911060356/1285/LOCAL09/Owner+to+save+part+of+historic+building+in+Freehold

Owner to save part of historic building in Freehold
Plans to demolish 2-story pre-Civil War structure halted


FREEHOLD — Plans to raze an historic East Main Street building have been taken off the table, the building's owner said Friday.





After hearing the concerns of local historians, Edward Ketcham said his company is scrapping a plan to demolish 42 E. Main St. Instead, new plans will be presented Monday that will preserve the oldest part of the building.

"Since everybody feels it's important, that's what we're doing," Ketcham said.

Ketcham is co-owner of Fox Associates. The firm had submitted a Planning Board application to tear down 42 E. Main St., a two-story structure, and construct a new three-story building.

But area historians have decried the loss of what they say is not only one of the few pre-Civil War buildings left in town, but is also a rare local example of the Greek Revival style.

Freehold's Historic Preservation Commission initially gave its blessing to the proposal. They are reviewing the matter again, though, after the Borough Council asked them to do so.

The commission heard about three hours of testimony from the applicant's experts and preservation advocates on Oct. 26. One suggestion that came out of the meeting was to keep the front portion of the building, which has had two additions built onto it since its initial construction. The front part of the building is the oldest and considered most historically significant.

Fox Associates' new plans would preserve this piece of the building, Ketcham said.

The commission will hold a second meeting on the issue at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Borough Hall, 51 W. Main St.

[admin]

www.app.com/article/20091111/NEWS/911110359/1285/LOCAL09/Historic%20commission%20OKs%20plan%20%20with%20strings?GID=DR/o3FlmffQlkhu3tQx2j8/YWpJrd911dbfbKtBykUg%3D

Historic commission OKs plan, with strings
By KIM PREDHAM • FREEHOLD BUREAU • November 11, 2009

FREEHOLD — The Richmond House redevelopment application will advance to the Borough Council after Freehold's Historic Preservation Commission approved new plans that preserve part of the building.





Members of the commission gave their blessing Monday to revised plans that would keep an original 28-by-28 foot portion of the 42 E. Main St. building, rather than demolish the entire structure. This piece of the building is the oldest and considered most historically significant.

The commission's approval came with conditions, however. The applicant, Fox Associates, wants to raise the building and shift it so it is centered. Commision members want the borough engineer, a commission representative and a preservationist of their choice to be present when the building's interior is opened to determine its condition before it is moved.

Whatever the building's condition, Fox Associates' co-owner Edward Ketcham said Tuesday he intends to preserve the front portion of the building.

The new plans are now set to be heard by the Borough Council on Monday. The building was built in the early 19th century and is one of the few pre-Civil War buildings left in the borough.

[admin]

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2010-01-06/Front_Page/Front_of_old_home_saved_offices_approved_at_back.html

Front of old home saved; offices approved at back

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — A developer has received Planning Board approval to save the most significant part of a landmark Greek Revival building at 42 E. Main St. while constructing new office space behind the historic home.

The building which likely dates from the 1830s was described as a temple front Greek Revival-style house. The structure is commonly known in Freehold Borough as the Richmond house.

The house was once owned by Dr. Benjamin Richmond.

Voting in favor of a plan that will keep the front of the Richmond house standing while providing new office space at the rear were Chairman Kevin Mulligan and board members Robert Oaks, Adam Reich, Danielle Sims, Sheryl Mott, Marjorie Goetz and Borough Councilman George Schnurr, who sits on the board.




An initial plan put forth by the developer, Fox Associates, proposed demolishing the 19th century building and replacing it with a new office building that would resemble the building being razed.

When that plan was met with objections from the public, the developer revised the plan and indicated it would retain the most historically significant portion of the Richmond house.

Fox Associates came before the Planning Board on Dec. 9 with the revised plan.

Architect Daniel Bach said the front of the Richmond house will be refurbished. The rear of the house will be demolished and replaced with new office space.

The front of the building, which is the oldest part, has been deemed the most historically significant portion by experts such as Gail Hunton, supervising historic presentation specialist with the Monmouth County Park System.

Bach said the portion of the historic home that remains will be raised to grade level in order to bring it up to code with current standards. Doing so will eliminate a flooding problem in the basement, he testified.

The building will be accessible to individuals with disabilities and will be shifted to the center of the property.

“The front entrance is then met with a transition to the next story,” he said, adding that because of the Greek Revival architectural features, one story to three stories would not be as aesthetically pleasing, therefore, the transition area allows the flow to the top of the building.

The rental areas of the building are two stories, but the rear of the building is three stories because parking is provided under the building on the first floor, raising the building to three stories, the architect explained.

Bach said decorative cornices and columns will be crafted around the building to retain the historic character of the structure.

Reich asked if Dr. Richmond’s name would be anywhere within the structure.

Attorney Bill Mehr, representing the applicant, said there will be a collection of historic memorabilia in the lobby of the building.

Bashkar Hilari of Concept Engineering described the

property, its location and the landscaping that will be provided.

Freehold Borough requires 26 parking spaces for an office building of this size; 22 spaces are provided, necessitating a waiver for four spaces.

During the public portion of the meeting, resident Wayne Mason, who had previously voiced his opposition to the proposed razing of the Richmond home, said he was glad to see that part of the original building would be included in the Fox Associates project.

Sims said she believes the project is in accordance with Freehold Borough’s redevelopment plan and will be beneficial to the town.

The location at 42 E. Main St. is in an area of Freehold Borough that has been designated as a redevelopment zone.

Reich commended the applicant on what he called the innovative idea of building up and providing parking underneath the second floor.

Schnurr and Goetz thanked the professionals who were involved in the application. They said they appreciated the steps taken to accommodate the different agencies in the borough and looked forward to the project being completed.

The new construction at the rear of the Richmond house will provide 10,800 square feet of office space.

Borough Council President Marc Le Vine said he was pleased by the board’s decision.

“We all learned a very valuable lesson from this entire experience. We don’t need to sacrifice our past in order to satisfy our future. Perhaps the reason that so many of these grand old buildings have survived for so long is that, ironically, they often adapt to change better than many of us do,” Le Vine said.

[admin]

Jan 7, 2010 16:36:44 GMT -5 admin said:

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2010-01-06/Front_Page/Front_of_old_home_saved_offices_approved_at_back.html

Front of old home saved; offices approved at back

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — A developer has received Planning Board approval to save the most significant part of a landmark Greek Revival building at 42 E. Main St. while constructing new office space behind the historic home.

The building which likely dates from the 1830s was described as a temple front Greek Revival-style house. The structure is commonly known in Freehold Borough as the Richmond house.

The house was once owned by Dr. Benjamin Richmond.

Voting in favor of a plan that will keep the front of the Richmond house standing while providing new office space at the rear were Chairman Kevin Mulligan and board members Robert Oaks, Adam Reich, Danielle Sims, Sheryl Mott, Marjorie Goetz and Borough Councilman George Schnurr, who sits on the board.




An initial plan put forth by the developer, Fox Associates, proposed demolishing the 19th century building and replacing it with a new office building that would resemble the building being razed.

When that plan was met with objections from the public, the developer revised the plan and indicated it would retain the most historically significant portion of the Richmond house.

Fox Associates came before the Planning Board on Dec. 9 with the revised plan.

Architect Daniel Bach said the front of the Richmond house will be refurbished. The rear of the house will be demolished and replaced with new office space.

The front of the building, which is the oldest part, has been deemed the most historically significant portion by experts such as Gail Hunton, supervising historic presentation specialist with the Monmouth County Park System.

Bach said the portion of the historic home that remains will be raised to grade level in order to bring it up to code with current standards. Doing so will eliminate a flooding problem in the basement, he testified.

The building will be accessible to individuals with disabilities and will be shifted to the center of the property.

“The front entrance is then met with a transition to the next story,” he said, adding that because of the Greek Revival architectural features, one story to three stories would not be as aesthetically pleasing, therefore, the transition area allows the flow to the top of the building.

The rental areas of the building are two stories, but the rear of the building is three stories because parking is provided under the building on the first floor, raising the building to three stories, the architect explained.

Bach said decorative cornices and columns will be crafted around the building to retain the historic character of the structure.

Reich asked if Dr. Richmond’s name would be anywhere within the structure.

Attorney Bill Mehr, representing the applicant, said there will be a collection of historic memorabilia in the lobby of the building.

Bashkar Hilari of Concept Engineering described the

property, its location and the landscaping that will be provided.

Freehold Borough requires 26 parking spaces for an office building of this size; 22 spaces are provided, necessitating a waiver for four spaces.

During the public portion of the meeting, resident Wayne Mason, who had previously voiced his opposition to the proposed razing of the Richmond home, said he was glad to see that part of the original building would be included in the Fox Associates project.

Sims said she believes the project is in accordance with Freehold Borough’s redevelopment plan and will be beneficial to the town.

The location at 42 E. Main St. is in an area of Freehold Borough that has been designated as a redevelopment zone.

Reich commended the applicant on what he called the innovative idea of building up and providing parking underneath the second floor.

Schnurr and Goetz thanked the professionals who were involved in the application. They said they appreciated the steps taken to accommodate the different agencies in the borough and looked forward to the project being completed.

The new construction at the rear of the Richmond house will provide 10,800 square feet of office space.

Borough Council President Marc Le Vine said he was pleased by the board’s decision.

“We all learned a very valuable lesson from this entire experience. We don’t need to sacrifice our past in order to satisfy our future. Perhaps the reason that so many of these grand old buildings have survived for so long is that, ironically, they often adapt to change better than many of us do,” Le Vine said.

I think we see a nice compromise here and all concerns and needs have been addressed. I said in an earlier post in this thread that it would be wise to take a few steps back and rethink the whole thing. All the right people did just that and the end result is not bad at all. Good job to everybody involved.