FREEHOLD – Amid concerns of contamination, the demolition of a 19th century building on East Main Street has been approved by the Borough Council.
Council members discussed the demolition of the Christopher house, 49 E. Main St., Freehold Borough, on Jan. 12. The property is owned by Kevin Freeman and Glenn Freeman, who were seeking municipal approval to demolish the building.
Attorney Vincent Halleran represented the owners, who operate the Freeman Funeral Home, 47 E. Main St.
According to borough historian Kevin Coyne, the Christopher house was built circa 1830-1840 and is named after former owner Daniel Christopher, who served as the Monmouth County clerk in 1846 and as president of the Farmer’s Bank of Freehold in 1853. Christopher was identified as the house’s owner in 1851, 1855 and 1860; its original owner is not known.
The demolition of the house was opposed by the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission and the commission’s objection was noted at the council meeting.
“Although we are an old town, dating to the 1690s, there are only a handful of buildings still standing that predate the Civil War,” said Greg Clark, chairman of commission, after the meeting.
“This (the Christopher house) is one of them and its demolition would be a great loss to the downtown streetscape and to our town’s historic character. It is a rare example of this architectural style, one of only a few left in the county.”
“The commission voted unanimously against the demolition,” Clark said. “That is the recommendation we made to the Land Use Board and to the mayor and council, who have the final say here.”
Environmental expert Adam Musgrave, representing the owners, testified that a heating oil tank under the Christopher house leaked and that oil is spreading toward Main Street.
Musgrave recommended that immediate action be taken on the property before the contamination spreads.
The Freemans acknowledged they do not have any immediate plans for the property after the house is demolished. They said they are handling the matter as a step-by-step process and will focus on future plans following the demolition.
After hearing Musgrave state that contamination is spreading from the building toward Main Street, council President Sharon Shutzer and council members Kevin Kane, George Schnurr, Jaye Sims and Ron Griffiths voted in favor of demolition based on the advice of an expert.
Councilman Michael DiBenedetto, who owns Joe’s Barber Shop on South Street, recused himself and was not present in the meeting room when the issue was discussed.
Mayor Nolan Higgins, who owns the Higgins Memorial Home on Center Street, also recused himself from the issue.
