This was the rear of a building on North Avenue up until recently, when developer Frank Cretella bought it.
This is a big improvement, right?
Well, it would be if the building was not in an historic district. A representative of Cretella's company came to an Historic Preservation Commission hearing on proposed renovations to the building and apologized for the fact that vinyl windows had already been installed, front and rear. The commissioners said the old wood windows had to replaced with new wood windows.
The hearing was continued to March 19, but I missed it due to another meeting. I found out today that the change will be made.
It is good news that Cretella bought this building and several others in the North Avenue Historic District. After another building was demolished, Plaintalker feared this one was so far gone that it would be next. (See post
here.) But things seem to be taking a turn for the better now.
It's still a shame that one of the significant buildings facing the train station was lost. See post
here
On Sunday I was surprised to see the block with the building's date on the grounds of Drake House. At the time of the demolition, it was supposed to be saved, but as the post above shows, it was a rough operation and the block was feared lost in the rubble. It's good to see that it was preserved.
When I was on the Shade Tree Commission, there was another slice of history that I had hoped would be preserved. Many trees were planted in a 1970s campaign with plaques honoring the donors. You can still see the plaques, even though many of the trees are now gone. I had hoped that before a planned streetscape project took place between on Park between Second and Fifth the plaques would be removed to a safe place, as many of the names of donors are of historic significance.
From a 2008 post with this image:
In the 1970s, citizens and institutions donated funds for tree plantings along Park and Watchung avenues and some other streets downtown. As you can see here, it's time for some new trees. This plaque is in memory of Katherine and A. Lodewyk de Leeuw, "who loved trees."
The North Avenue district dates back to the late 19th century and these plaques are only from the mid-20th century, but maybe they can also be saved.
--Bernice
Losing that building was a shame...completely preventable..and a horrific shame. The city should be responsible for replacing that building with a replica for allowing it to happen slowly in front of the eyes of everyone and not doing a damn thing about it.
ReplyDeleteThe trees ??? UGH... I cannot wait until Sharon is gone so I can try and join the Shade Tree Commission.
The Historic Preservation Committee needs a facelift. We need to put people on that board who first put Plainfield first, and not their feelings. Second, it would be refreshing to have some people who are business savy, and can help people in an historic area get grants etc. It would also be helpful if they were not so rude and snarky to people who are trying to help Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteThat building was taken down due to the lack of experience on the City's behalf. The only thing that came off the building was the brick parapet off the top of the wall. Its the cap at the top of the building. It could have been easily repaired and preserved.
ReplyDeletePeople in this City are famous for warehousing buildings. Buy them low and sell higher. And do nothing to them while waiting to sell. Another prime example is the ugly blue building at Park and 7th. Owned by someone in Hillsborough and sitting empty for 10 years that I know of. Unless you count the hookers selling their wares and probably a few homeless people seeking shelter from the elements. And the City allows this. We have property codes for this reason. Use it or loose it. Clean it up and rent it or sell it to someone who will.
I have not had to deal with the HPC directly, but have heard horror stories from a few that have. Rude and snarky is being nice. You need to educate, not dictate. In my opinion, unless it is in eyesight of their own homes, they could care less. The Tyler mansion on 7th is a prime example. Beautiful home that needed a lot of work and the new owners ripped every historic detail off and out of it while you allowed it to happen.