Politics & Government

Historic Home to be Torn Down in Purchase

The township is purchasing open space with a historic house on it.

Questions have been raised over the planned demolition of a supposed historic house on Milltown Road—but an agreement with the township will require it to be torn down soon.

The house is on the property currently owned by resident —at 155 Milltown Road—and which was sold to Bridgewater Township in an open space agreement approved by the council in December.

According to township administrator James Naples, that purchase agreement includes a provision that all buildings must be removed from the property by Fierro.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We're purchasing the land for open space, so there was no need for any structures to be there because we don't have the money to maintain them," Naples said.

In an article on nj.com, Bill Schleicher, president of the Branchburg Historic Preservation Commission, said that by having the property taken down as part of the agreement, the township is skirting a state law about it being preserved.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The article states that the house is eligible for national and state registers, and if Green Acres funds are used to purchase the land, the house, which was built in 1750, would then be protected.

Naples said the house is not currently on any historical registries.

"So it doesn't have to be saved," he said. "There is currently no historic designation."

And the property is being paid for by the township's Open Space Trust Fund, not Green Acres money.

Plus, Naples said, Fierro, who currently owns the property, has already agreed to the stipulations of the purchase agreement.

"The house has been renovated and added on to over the years," Naples said.

But, Naples said, the township is closing on the property by March 1, and is already in the process of phase 1 environmental work on it.

"There is really no time to [put the house on the registries]," he said. "And Mr. Fierro is paying to take all buildings down that are on the property."

What do you think, Bridgewater? Should the house be torn down as part of the agreement?

Take our poll and let us know what you think!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here