Inn’s razing prompts call for protective measures Inventory of historic structures, creation of review panel urged

Inn’s razing prompts call for protective measures
Inventory of historic
structures, creation of review panel urged

Demolished on July 14, the Thomas Morford House on West Front Street dated back to the 18th century, when it was an inn.

Demolition of one of Red Bank’s historic structures by a developer has touched off an outcry by preservationists and prompted a borough official to propose measures to protect the borough’s remaining historic buildings.

"A lot of people are affronted that the oldest structure still standing in town was taken down overnight and nobody knew it was happening," Borough Council member Pasquale Menna told The Hub about the demolition of 89 W. Front St. to make way for a new bank branch.

According to the borough construction office, a demolition permit for 89 W. Front St. — known as the Thomas Morford Inn — was issued on July 13, and witnesses say the structure was demolished early on the following morning.

According to preservationists, the two-story structure dated back to the 18th century, when it served as an inn. The building was listed on an inventory of Red Bank’s historic structures compiled by the Red Bank Historic Society.

"The galling aspect of the destruction of the house is that it didn’t have to happen," said Menna. "We’ve been talking about this issue for six months at the Borough Council level. I sounded the alarm six months ago and nobody listened."

According to Menna, preservationists have been lobbying for creation of a historical commission that would review applications for demolition of historic buildings before their issuance by the borough.

"Preservation Red Bank had approached the borough six months ago and asked for an ordinance that would establish an inventory of historic structures," Menna said. "They also suggested the ordinance require public notice prior to demolition of those structures. I suggested the council ask the borough attorney to draft an ordinance to establish an historic preservation commission," he said. "My idea is to keep it simple, not to engender too much debate."

Menna said his proposal has two components. One calls for the creation of an inventory of historic structures. At the same time, Menna said, it would establish a borough-wide historic preservation commission to review and render opinions on applications before the Planning Board that involve structures listed on the inventory. The opinions of the committee would not be binding.

"I was looking to write something very basic," he said. "It would be a notification when a demolition permit is applied for. The demolition couldn’t proceed unless notice was given."

Many municipalities have historic preservation commissions, noted Menna, including towns like Neptune and Ocean Grove and Keyport, where he serves as Planning Board attorney.

While two preservation organizations exist in the borough, Menna said neither the Red Bank Historic Society nor Preservation Red Bank have the authority of the borough behind them.

"You need an institution recognized as being able to speak for the borough," he said, "and we must create it within the borough."

While Menna continued to back measures to protect Red Bank’s historic structures, he said support from other members of the Borough Council has been lukewarm. He said he will not wait much longer for guidance from Borough Attorney Richard O’Connor.

"If he doesn’t give me any guidance, I’m planning to introduce this at council before it happens again," he said.

O’Connor could not be reached for comment on Tuesday; however, Red Bank Mayor Edward J. McKenna Jr. told The Hub he would support Menna’s proposal in principle.

"You have to look at each case individually," McKenna noted. "For truly historic buildings where the integrity of the building has been maintained, I would give 100 percent support to an inventory aimed at preservation," he said, adding he would also support establishment of a historic preservation commission.

The Thomas Morford Inn, also known as the Morford House, was the third structure among the 12 houses inventoried by the Red Bank Historic Society to be demolished in recent years, according to Preservation Red Bank President Marnie Goulart.

"It is precisely this type of blitzkrieg I am concerned about," said Goulart of the short turn-around time during which the developer secured a demolition permit and the actual destruction of the Morford House.

Goulart said the preservation group "is trying to create an ordinance to give protection to these few remaining houses."

"We’re asking for something simple with just three or four members," Goulart said of the proposed historic commission which she said would be an advisory body. "Members would attend Planning Board meetings, and we would be alerted to plans for demolition of a historic structure."

"It is reprehensible when you have a long-standing developer who’s worked in the town and is insensitive," Menna commented about the development company which bought and demolished the Morford House.

Developer Red Bank Investment, L.L.C., purchased 89-91 W. Front St. from attorney Anthony Cincotta two years ago, according to Samantha Bowers, vice president of management affiliate Philip J. Bowers Co., Tinton Falls.

The two-story structure most recently housed a retail craft shop on the first floor and Cincotta’s office on the second.

According to Bowers, the development company made an effort to determine whether the structure was historic prior to its purchase since plans were to demolish the structure from the outset.

"We checked before we bought the building," she said. "It wasn’t listed on the Monmouth County or state lists of historic buildings two years ago. We did that homework before we bought the building. We would never have bought it if it was.

"Not only did we check, but our engineers and lawyers checked," Bowers continued, adding that the firm also required the seller to sign an affidavit attesting to the fact that the structure was not considered historic.

Monmouth County historic preservation specialist Gail Hunton confirmed that 89 W. Front St. was not included among the 2,000 historic buildings listed on the county’s historic sites inventory which includes more than 50 Red Bank properties.

Preservationists argue that exclusion is due not to lack of historical significance but to the fact that the inventory includes only certain districts in a town or structures already listed on national or state historic registers.

The Morford House was designated as one of the borough’s most historic structures on the 1985 Red Bank master plan, but the 1995 plan did not list the structures.

Bowers’ firm developed the City Centre Plaza strip mall on Water Street where a branch of Commerce Bank is now located. A spokeswoman for Cherry Hill-based Commerce Bank confirmed that if approvals are received, the branch will be moved to the West Front Street site.

Kathleen Brust, assistant vice president in corporate communications, said the bank will lease the 105-by-137-foot property which is located southeast of the intersection of Maple Avenue and West Front Street.

Brust said the bank proposes to construct a 3,669-square-foot, free-standing prototype branch on the property, which will have on-site parking and a drive-up window. Commerce currently operates 11 branches in Monmouth County. Applications for the new branch have not yet been filed, she said, and if approvals are secured, construction could begin by the first quarter of 2002.

More than the structure is lost when a historic building is demolished, observed Goulart.

"Once a house is gone, nobody talks about that history anymore," she remarked.

Noting that the issue of protecting the borough’s historic structures had been raised once again at a recent Borough Council meeting, Goulart called for action.

"It should be in place before we lose any others," she said. "There aren’t that many left. Stop talking and do it."