FROM THE NEWS TRANSCRIPT (Greater Media Newspapers)
June 14, 2006
Freehold council puts off action on historic district
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Not everyone in the borough wants to go along with a plan to establish an historic district in the community.
Several business owners who reside or have a business in the downtown area where an historic district is proposed to be created turned up at the Borough Council's June 5 meeting to express their concerns.
Some came with views in direct opposition to those expressed by members of the Freehold Borough Historic Preservation Advisory Committee who crafted the historic preservation ordinance which was on that evening's agenda for a second reading, public hearing and possible vote for adoption.
The historic preservation district would include properties and structures in the downtown B-1 and B-2 business zones and the corridors leading to those zones. These are structures believed to be most vulnerable to possible demolition.
Home property evaluations would fall into three categories: buildings that are genuine historic structures that have not undergone much alteration; structures that are historic in nature and have changed over time; and the construction of new buildings. The purpose of the ordinance is to protect Freehold's historic building from drastic remodeling and demolition.
Carl Steinberg, who owns Carlton Station and Freehold Furniture, Throckmorton Street, has devoted a great deal of time investigating the history of the borough. Steinberg said although he received a copy of the ordinance, he did not receive a map describing exactly which properties will be included in the historic district.
Steinberg asked why only commercial properties in the downtown area will be affected by the ordinance. He said if officials were to take historic preservation seriously then the whole town should be impacted by the proposal, not just certain downtown properties.
Dr. Rajkumar R. Singh, who operates Freehold Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Throckmorton Street, said he is all for preservation. He said he is trying to determine whether to continue his practice in his office, which is in the proposed historic district. He said that had he known the building would be in an historic area he may not have moved forward on the business location.
James Marandi of South Street said he has been involved in historic preservation work in Red Bank and other towns.
"This ordinance seems long on requirements and short on rewards," Marandi said. "What's in it for us? Do you want to attract more businesses in town or not? This historic district is a reaction to the sad demolition of the Bartleson mansion on South Street. But for those of us who were aware of the infrastructure of that building it was really useless. It could never have offered all the elements you need to attract a business owner today. I consider preservation a labor of love, not a work of legislation."
Larry Sorcher, who owned and operated Al's Bootery, West Main Street for many years, said he thought the adoption of the ordinance was a bit premature. He said there are already bodies in place such as the Planning Board that would "pre-empt or preserve" the Main Street homes.
Sorcher suggested that officials put the ordinance on the back burner and get the business community involved in the process.
Other residents with properties in the proposed historic district asked for tax exemptions if the ordinance is adopted.
Attorney Jennifer L. Cordes represented St. Rose of Lima Church, McLean Street. Cordes said although the church is not in the proposed historic area, the St. Rose chapel and St. Rose of Lima School are in the proposed zone. Cordes said neither the chapel nor the school has historical significance, therefore, church officials were requesting that both properties be excluded from the proposed historic district.
Officials decided to hold off on a vote on the ordinance and asked those who wished to pursue the matter to contact the borough administrator.
Administrator Joseph Bellina later reported that nine people came forward to discuss the ordinance with him. He said he will meet with Historic Preservation Advisory Committee member Wayne Mason to discuss the ordinance and then follow up with the business owners.
Jayne Carr, the executive director of the Freehold Center Partnership, which oversees activities in the downtown area, said no business owner had approached her with any concerns about the proposed ordinance. Carr is also a member of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. She represents the concerns of members of the partnership.