Plan to raze historic J'Burg home opposed
Land Use Board to decide on proposal for 3 new homes
BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff The Jamesburg Land Use Board is reviewing an application that would see the Abraham S. Davison House on Gatzmer Avenue, Jamesburg, demolished to make way for three new homes.

Local officials are hoping one Jamesburg landmark makes it to its 200th birthday ... and far beyond.

The Abraham S. Davison House was constructed 199 years ago, and still stands today at the corner of Gatzmer Avenue and Front Street.

But the historic building may be in its last year, if an application for a subdivision on the property is approved at tonight's Land Use Board meeting.

"I don't want to see places like that be demolished," Mayor Anthony LaMantia said. "I just don't want to see us have a historical building taken away, and putting houses in there."

That is exactly what the applicant, J.P. Investments LLC, is requesting.

Borough Zoning Officer Bernie Long said that J.P. Investments is seeking approval to subdivide the property into three conforming lots, and to raze the Davison homestead to make way for the construction of three single-family homes.

"It's a shame," Long said. "This is a beautiful old house."

The Land Use Board meeting will take place tonight at 7 p.m. at borough hall.

LaMantia said the homes, which would face Front Street, would take away from the aesthetic appeal of the older-style neighborhood, and could further burden taxpayers by adding schoolchildren.

"One home does not pay [enough] taxes to send one child to school," LaMantia said. "But it's not that so much; it's basically taking down a

historical building, not just from Jamesburg, but from the whole county, and the whole state of New Jersey.

"Historical buildings in a town like Jamesburg mean a lot," LaMantia added. "It's the image of the town."

Borough Historian Tom Bodall agreed, saying the loss of that house would completely change the landscape of Gatzmer Avenue in one fell swoop.

"And we don't want to see that because the historic aspect of Jamesburg is what distinguishes us from every other town," Bodall said, adding that most of the homes on that portion of the street are more than 100 years old. "When you ride down that street, there's a certain feeling you get."

Bodall said the house was lived in until earlier this year.

The home was built in 1807 and first stood somewhere between Half Acre and Perrineville roads. It was moved to its current location prior to the Civil War, likely between 1830 and 1860, Bodall said.

In 1685, one of the first rooms of the Buckelew House was built by William Davison, of whom Abraham Davison is believed to be a descendent, Bodall said.

The possible demolition of the house, he noted, follows an all-too-common trend in the area.

"Jamesburg has seen too many of its historic buildings lately either be torn apart, demolished, renovated to the extent where there's no more historical value left in it," Bodall said. "And as a historical association and as a historian, we're very upset by this, because Jamesburg is losing its special character."

Bodall advocates a historical preservation ordinance, which could protect the historical nature of the town without exerting too much control.

"Some people would worry that [if there was] a historical preservation ordinance, we would be telling people what color to paint their houses," Bodall said. "But that's not true. We just want to preserve the buildings."

Bodall said the local hardware store is a good example of balancing progress and preservation. It was refurbished with modern materials, he said, but was made to retain its historical appearance.

LaMantia said officials plan to start working on updating the borough's master plan to protect historic structures.

The mayor said he supports making improvements to the town's buildings, but not at the cost of losing the historical quality of the borough.

"That's why I don't believe in redevelopment; I only believe in revitalization," LaMantia said.

He said officials are looking at their options to find a way to save that house. Even if the application is conforming to borough zoning laws, he said, he is not sure the borough's hands are tied.

"I'm against it 100 percent," LaMantia said. "Conforming or not, I am against tearing down a historical building, and not only that, but the trees and all that stuff on the property. It's like we're taking away a part of Jamesburg if that house goes."