another new jersey historic building ready for wrecking ball | di ionno - metal plaque

Paint peeling off, Wood tile falling off, roof drooping, broken porch railing.
In some places, the windows were sealed, and in some places the windows were broken.
This can be seen from this road.
The terrace behind is full of weeds and garbage;
The shed rotted to the point of collapse.
Once a bustling kitchen, the low roof was covered with holes.
The landmark, known for decades as King George's Hotel, has become an open, dumbfounded building that often blocks vandals with a chain fence.
So much historical reverence.
A real estate agent said on the front sign that the storefront is available and promises something new or fixed, but the King George Hotel is still standing, the neglect of Hurricane Irene in 2011 followed six years.
As for the historical relevance, there are many Kings George hotels.
For more than two centuries, the building is the largest and most popular building in Bethel Village, Warren Township.
"This is a pub, a stage station, a municipal building, a post office, a hotel and a restaurant," said Max Hayden, whose family bought the building in 1953, and operate it as King George Hotel until 1988.
"This is the landmark in the landscape.
"This view includes the historic conference hall and cemetery across the street, with sweeping views on the top of the second mountain on the lookout.
The busy Highway 78 to Warren city center is a mile south and the old hotel is adjacent to several corporate parks and thriving small businesses --
One of them is the historic stone fire station, re-used as a clothing boutique.
At the other end of the village, like the roof on the chess board, it is a stone of Our Lady of the Catholic Hill Church, which is equally historic.
The old hotel was about 125 earlier than both stone buildings.
It dominates Mt.
Bethel Village three-
The intersection of King George Road, Mt.
Bethel Road and Mountain View Road.
When it runs, it is a popular place to eat and drink and is easy to find at the intersection on the ridge.
Perfect Location-
It is now mainly used by police waiting for speeding.
"That intersection is the gateway to Warren town," said Mayor Carolann Garafola . ".
"This building is no longer inhabited (five)
Now is the time for us to see the future.
We know this: it can't stay as it is.
"It doesn't necessarily mean tears --
But in February
13. The Warren Township Planning Commission will consider rezoning the King George Hotel into a redevelopment area.
That's how it sounds.
It gave the owner a grade permit and "improved" the property.
Owner Raghav "rag" Varma did not call back, but told Bernardsville News last month that the building was "dilapidated" and "could not be repaired ".
"He plans to dismantle it and build the apartment.
Varma bought the building at the sheriff's auction after Irene was damaged.
Tears in New Jersey
Next state, this is a very familiar story: a historic building with local importance and features will rot before it can be preserved.
The culprit is the cost of time, weather, renovation and maintenance --
Whether it's the country, the individual or the owner of the bank.
The architectural miracle of the Kirkbride building at the mental hospital of Greystone Park was razed to the ground and "improved" as a playground ".
The dollis' public title building was demolished as a "improvement" of the wooded path ".
This is just two recent stories.
New Jersey is dotted with metal plaques on historic road signs, saying there were buildings --
But it's gone now.
Nevertheless, each of these places has a group of people fighting for them.
These concerned citizens do not have the money to fix them, but do not want them to go quietly, so they will at least draw attention to the permanent loss of local knowledge.
"When you lose your cultural heritage, there is no" undo "button," said Greg fitzgerrard, a resident of Warren Town, who is lobbying to protect the hotel.
The township's historic sites committee is trying to make residents aware that the hotel is facing a certain death.
Chairman Rory Britt said he was concerned that the town would allow it to be replaced by a new building that "represents the traditional form" in an external building, but inside, it is as modern and sterile as the operating room.
"The oldest part of this building has 6-and-a-half-
"There are visible, restored pillars and foot ceilings of the beam structure," he said . ".
Stone was painted on the wall.
Britt said, "part of the building can be traced back at least until 1781, when the Baptist moved from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain.
"We saw the Tavern in the church archives because they didn't want people next door to drink," he said . ".
Starting with the first Bistro, the hotel has been expanding over time to become everything Hayden has said, but has always been the center of the village.
So much so that Woody Wilson stood out in the campaign for governor of New Jersey in 1910.
During the ownership of the Hayden people, it flourished as a colony --Antique theme
A restaurant serving American food.
"We will serve 350 people on Saturday and 500 on holidays," Hayden said . ".
"It is now said that this site is not feasible as a restaurant.
That's not true.
If the host is willing to work as hard as my parents and grandparents, it is possible.
Hayden also said the building could be saved. He should know.
He is an architect specializing in historic renovations.
"The reason why I became an architect is largely because of the building," Hayden said . "
"I saw what my family did to protect and adapt to it.
We should not turn our backs on our history.
What we left behind shows who we are.
"Sadly, everything we push down says what kind of person we have become.
You can contact Mark Di Ionno at mdiionno @ starledger. com.
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