Red Bank's historic inventory to expand
Firehouses, library, churches among sites added
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer
The Red Bank Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has proposed adding 19 sites to the borough's historic inventory.

The T. Thomas Fortune House is included on Red Bank's historic inventory.

The proposed additions to the borough's historic inventory of more than 100 sites include five firehouses, several churches and other places of worship, the Red Bank Library and former Mayor Edward McKenna's residence, which was the former home of writer Edmund Wilson.

The HPC's 2006 Annual Report, its fourth annual report, was handed out to council members at Monday's meeting.

"We survey each building that we are interested in including in the inventory," said Red Bank HPC Chairman George Bowden. "We'll take a photo; we'll have a readout of architectural features and the rationality behind nominating it."

He also said Monday that the HPC follows the complete inventory the Monmouth County Park System compiled of the borough in the 1980s and uses it as a "footprint" for its work.

The criteria for inclusion on the inventory consists of eight parts and include: location in one of the three historic districts; association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of borough history; association with the lives of persons significant in Red Bank's past; embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of type or period or method of architecture representative of the work of an important builder or designer or artist or architect;

Also, unique location or singular physical characteristics that make the site an established or familiar visual; containing elements of design, detail or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation; and able to, or likely to, yield information important to the prehistory or history in Red Bank, according Bowden.

"The firehouses are all on because they are all historic … they are part of the lifeblood of Red Bank," said Bowden. "The churches, houses of worship and the firehouses all represent the real roots of Red Bank."

He added that as long as a structure meets one of the criteria on the list it could be added to the historic inventory.

"With rare exception, there aren't too many buildings in town that would cover everything," said Bowden. "We've placed a lot of stress on the architectural design and architectural features of a building. That is the most important criteria generally speaking."

The next step is for the borough to send out letters to notify those owners whose structures were placed on this year's list. Bowden said there have been a few cases where people have asked to have their site removed from the list and the HPC has honored those requests.

"People always ask if there is any negative impact on being listed, which there isn't," said Bowden. "I indicate that their building, that building is representative of the historic fabric of Red Bank and it is really an honor to be listed on the inventory because that to me is really a special case, a special mark."

He echoed his earlier sentiment that there aren't any negatives associated with being listed and that the HPC simply works in an advisory capacity to the planning and zoning boards when it comes to historic sites.

"If there is a demolition permit that has been applied for and the building is in the historic district and on our inventory, we have 10 days in which time we make our recommendation to the planning board on our position as far as demolition," said Bowden. "We do not, as a commission, have the authority to prevent demolition and we don't have the responsibility to modify or tell people how they should build a house or build an addition to the house. We're strictly advisors."

He continued, "The greatest danger would be demolition [for any historic site] because once you tear down, you can't replace it and the classic example of that was the Union House."

He added that the HPC is now working diligently to save the T. Thomas Fortune House on Drs. James Parker Boulevard, which is included on the historic inventory.

"Also we're establishing for the first time a new historic district in the residential part of Red Bank and that will be forthcoming," said Bowden.

He said the HPC will make a presentation to the planning board in a couple of months and that it will include some of the oldest residential areas of Red Bank