2016 Ten Most Endangered Historic Sites in NJ

The 10 Most Endangered Historic Places program spotlights irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural and archeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being lost. The act of listing these resources acknowledges their importance to the heritage of New Jersey and draws attention to the predicaments that endanger their survival and the survival of historic resources statewide. The list, generated from nominations by the public, aims to attract new perspectives and ideas to sites in desperate need of creative solutions.

Several challenges face properties on this year’s endangered sites list, including neglect and deferred maintenance, threats incurred by redevelopment and new construction, stalled adaptive reuse proposals, and lack of State officials implementing adequate historic preservation funding despite voter approval to do just that. As the economy continues to improve, the impacts to historic properties and places are more imminent: the list shows the increase in development pressures resulting in threats of demolition of the historic resource and the need to balance preservation and development; the need to incorporate history and historic preservation in redevelopment plans for neighborhoods, towns and cities throughout the state; and the value of using preservation as a positive tool for revitalization.

As we acknowledge each year, selections to the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list are based on the likelihood that historic buildings and places can be brought back to useful and productive life. PNJ proudly points to many properties previously listed among the 10 Most Endangered that have now been saved and preserved or rehabilitated, and have once again become character-defining assets to New Jersey’s communities. However, as we announce this year’s list, we reflect on the recent loss of the historic Duke estate mansion in Hillsborough, a story all too familiar in New Jersey. After receiving a New Jersey Historic Preservation Office award just last year for their planned adaptive reuse of a barn and renovation of a conservatory at Duke Farms, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation began demolition of the 67,000-square foot Duke mansion last month. While many other buildings and landscape features remain at Duke Farms, this great estate is now missing a fundamental and irreplaceable piece of its history. Although PNJ’s 10-Most Endangered Properties list is published once per year, the fight for the preservation of our historic and cultural resources is daily, and the story of the Duke estate mansion is evidence of such threats and the need to bring awareness and to develop creative solutions.