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reservation New Jersey invites nominations for our Our selection Committee uses the following basic PAnnual List ofNew Jersey's 10 Most Endangered criteria for initial consideration: historic Places. By calling attention to our state's most threatened historic treasures, this list increases • Architectural integrity and historical significance public awareness of historic preservation issues and • Indentijiabie threat focuses critical attention on selected prop~rties to • Likelihood that inclusion on this list will make a assist in their preservation. positive impact on preservation efforts Preservation New Jersey will announce our new list at a press conference in the Spring. We also consider geographic and thematic diversity.

To nominate a site or category of sites, please provide If you have any questions, please call 609-392-6409 the information requested by November 30. or visit www.preservationnj.org.

Site Information Due: November 30

Name(s) of Site: The Queens Campus Neighborhood Address: Somerset Street between College Avenue and Somerset Street City/State/Zip: New Brunswick, NJ 08901 . City of New Brunswick, Middlesex County ...... L OCatiOn: l . l b 'ld d f (Mumctpahty and County, multiple tfapphcable) Mu t1p e u1 ates rom c. 1830 - c. 1890 Date site established or built: Ownership (choose one) 0 Public M Private Site owned by: Multiple buildings, multiple owners Address:------Unknown ------City/State/Zip: ------­ Phone:------Fax:------Email:------Indicate designation, if any, by checking appropriate status: 0 National Historic Landmark ~ State Register ~ National Register 0 Local Designation 0 Save America's Treasures N Other One of the RU buildings, , is being considered for National Landmark status . (if deteriuined eligible tor register) 17 Legislative District for Site: ------New Brunswick Hist orical Socie ty, Prepared by Morris Kafka, N arne of Individual/group nominating site: YlL;lU:'c;_ee_P!O.Jr:t:e:ssJ..Ji dJ,fP'IlDL.t ;...· ...t:Bu..l J.,;jz~awh~e.e tuh:L..LCJ..Ji c;;..cc::colllne.,e .,_..,SeJACCJr:.ee:.r;.t aaJrq.yc;. · ....JG.:ii.A"'QIJ:'rgg;e::....uQaJaW""'Si.COillD...... ,.JlMI.ee.IILmbrne'-Lr Address: c/o New Brunswick Free Public Library, 60 Livingston Avenue City/StatP/7' . New Brunswick, NJ 08901

m.r~Rbeth C1ccone Home . - h ' 1 n- .. Phone: 7 3 2-2 4 7-14 51 Email: _e_m_c_1 c_c_o_n_e_®__ o_tm_a_1 __ ._c_om ______Fax: n/ a Website: ___n_:_/_a ______Are you a member of Preservation New Jersey? New Brunswick Historical Society is an organizational memDer . Many of the o rganization's members are also members of Preser vat i on NJ , inc luding Morris Kafka and Elizabeth Ciccone . Questions to address: Describe the site and its significant features -architecture, landscape, surroundings. The integrity of an entire neighborhood encompassing the original Rutgers Campus, the 1850s St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church and an historic row of mid 19th Century mixed use buildings is threatened by proposed development. Notably this area also includes Johnston Hall, the north wing of which was the first commission of luminary architect Henry J. Hardenberg who also designed and Geology Hall on the Rutgers campus. Hardenberg designed the and other important buildings nationally. The entire Queens Campus is on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. So is , and the St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church and its associated convent and rectory buildings.

Proposed construction of the "Gateway" project includes space for Rutgers, retail space and residences that will overshadow these landmarks, visually encroaching upon and engulfing half the block. Plans call for a 350 foot tower & parking deck which will require the demolition of a large portion of the neighborhood.

What is the site's history? This is the only intact 19th Century downtown block in the city and creates the context for the above landmarks. The buildings sbted for demolition are largely intact to their original appearance and remain commercially viable. S 1tne of the businesses are still open to the public. They include the last two 1840s houses surviving downtown, St. Peters Lyceum and a 1902 fire house, which originally housed the Protection Engine Company #5. The building at the corner, 118 Somerset St. , is an unusual trapezoidal shape. A three story Italianate brick building with distinctive cast & stamped metal ornamentation 1 it is "the finest, most fully intact late 19th Century commercial fa9ade in New Brunswick" •

What is the site's status? Is it open to the public? Is it visited by tourists or children? Is it vacant? The neighborhood is imminently threatened by the construction of the Gateway Project. The area is a mix of commercial, residential, public and private buildings. Most of the buildings on the block are open to the public. It is definitely visited by tourists and children. The only buildings that are vacant are in that state due to the developer buying out the businesses that were housed there. This is a very recent change of circumstance. These buildings could easily be re-occupied, as they have been in use since the mid-19th century, and are largely intact.

Why is this site important? How is the site unique? Why should one care that it is endangered? This is the only intact 19th Century downtown block in the city and creates the context for the above landmarks. The buildings slated for demolition are largely intact to their original appearance and remain commercially viable. Some of the businesses are still open to the public. They include the last two 1840s houses surviving downtown, St. Peters Lyceum and a 1902 fire house, which originally housed the Protection Engine Company #5. The building at the comer, 118 Somerset St., is an unusual trapezoidal shape. A three story Italianate brick building with distinctive cast and stamped metal ornamentation it is "the finest, most fully intact late 19th 2 Century commercial fa9ade in New Brunswick" . Clearly this large scaled plan will overpower the listed historic sites in this neighborhood and destroy a row of mid 1800s buildings which are representative of the city' s architectural history.

What preservation issue does it exemplify (sprawl, inner city decline, etc.)? This project exemplifies a standard urban approach to revitalization that presumes that everything old is in the way or too costly to save. This project has been designed by a for profit developer. Plans are moving forward to purchase and vacate all the property.

Describe threat(s) to site's preservation. Proposed construction of the "Gateway" project includes space for Rutgers, retail space and residences that will overshadow these landmarks, visually encroaching upon and engulfing half the block. Plans call for a 350 foot tower & parking deck which will require the demolition of a

1 "Architectural Research Survey of the City of New Brunswick 1980, Greiff, Craig & Guter 2 "Architectural Research Survey of the City ofNew Brunswick 1980, Greiff, Craig & Guter large portion of the neighborhood. The developer, so far as \Ve know, has not yet attempted to get any concepts or estimates for preservation of the structmes nor have they discussed the possibilities of planning for preservation with any architects, etc.

How significant/immediate is the threat? Is the building about to fanD down? This project has been designed by a for profit developer. Plans are moving forward to pmchase and vacate all the property. The developer intends to strui as quickly as possible. The buildings are largely intact, habitable/inhabited and not in dru1ger of falling down - they are in danger of being knocked down.

How could the threat be eliminated? (more money, change of ownership, education, etc.) Since Rutgers will be a tenant in the new structure as well as owning the National Register listed buildings across the street, and the Rutgers Board of Govemors has both clout and concem for their campus, they may be able to help find a solution. One idea suggested by local citizens was to build the new project behind the existing buildings, as the site is large enough to accommodate all the new needs of the proj ect without having to demolish the historic buildings. The buildings could readily be integrated into a larger structure and continue their mixed-use purpose. The threat could be eliminated if the developer alters his plans in order to incorporate these structures or the State Historic Preservation office decides to establish an encroachment zone around the adjacent landmarks.

Who are the major players ("friends of'' groups, government agencies, private citizens)? The New Brunswick Historical Association (a city board), The New Brunswick Historical Society and the Bloustein School of Urban Planning Alumni Association and private citizens have written and spoken in favor of preservation. To date the developer has had a preliminary meeting with some of the above parties and has not ruled out preservation but as of the current date plans for the project still call for demolition.

Who opposes preservation of this site? The developer, the City of New Brunswick,

WhaCare the future plans for this site? As described above,-tear down for re-development.

How would listing this site as one of New Jersey's 10 Most Endangered Sites help to save this site? Placing this site on the 10 Most Endangered list would increase public awareness of the imminent threat to the site. This would help pressure the developer, the city and Rutgers to preserve.

Has Preservation New Jersey been involved to date? What role, if any, is there fo r Preservation New Jersey if this site is put on the list? Up until now, Preservation NJ has not been involved in the discussion to save the site as far as we are aware. We would appreciate any assistance Preservation NJ could offer, particularly with publicity of the urgency of the situation. Also, any advocacy assistance that could be offered would be appreciated if this project needs to be brought before the State Historic Preservation Office.

Has this site been nominated for the 10 Most Endangered List before? lfyes, how has the threat changed? No

Provide any additional comments/recommendations.

Return to: Preservation New Jersey 30 South Warren Street Trenton, NJ 08608

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The above is a portion ofthe City ofNew Brunswick Historic Walking Tour brochure. The location slated for demolition is the block of Somerset Street directly opposite #3 7 pictured above.

The buildings threatened by the visual encroachment are numbered as follows: 29. Schanck Observatory (Part of the State and National Registers Queens Campus Historic District) 30. Site ofthe Hamilton Cannon Battery (Part of the State and National Registers Queens Campus Historic District) 31. Kirkpatrick Chapel (Part of the State and National Registers Queens Campus Historic District) 32. Old Queen's Administration Building (Part of the State and National Registers Queens Campus Historic District, slated for nomination as a National Historic Landmark) 33. Geology Hall (Part of the State and National Registers Queens Campus Historic District) 34. Van Nest Hall (Pmt ofthe State and National Registers Queens Campus Historic District) 35. Winants Hall (Part of the State and National Registers Queens Campus Historic District) 36. St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, its convent and its rectory (State and National Registers) 37. Alexander Johnston Hall (State and National Registers)

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