April 3, 2013

Appearing before the Board were Brian Feeney, Chairman and Martin Feitlowitz, Commissioner, West Orange Historic Preservation Commission. Mr. Feeney advised the Board that the Historic Preservation Commission was the entity charged with maintaining the historic character of the Township. One of the tools the Committee used was to identify important structures for landmark designations. As required by Ordinance, the Commission held a public meeting in April 2012 and presented the draft designation reports to the Public. In May 2012, the Commission approved a motion to recommend to the Township Council and the Planning Board the designation of three Township properties as local landmarks, as provided for under Article 25-30.3 of the West Orange Land Use Ordinance: 45 Park Way, 7 Bloomfield Way, and 48 Fairview Avenue. Mr. Feitlowitz gave a brief synopsis of each property. Beginning with 48 Fairview Avenue, Mr. Feitlowitz said the property was one of eight remaining local St. Cloud area properties that represented Second Empire architecture. The house retained much of its original ornamentation and displayed the romantic lines and homage to French architecture that was prominent in the late nineteenth century. Built in 1871, by the architectural firm of J. Cleveland Cady, the man who designed the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City; it was used primarily as the summer residence of Alfred Kimball. 7 Bloomfield Way, also known as the Anna Frost House, was built in 1855; it was home to the mother-in-law of Llewellyn Haskell. The house was a rare surviving building from the earliest period of the development of Llewellyn Park; actually preceding the development of the Park, the oldest planned community in the United States. The house is an example of a bracketed cottage, designed by Orange based architect Alexander Jackson Davis. Mr. Davis was a well-known architect of his day; his designs gave new meaning to the word “picturesque”. The house is ane of six remaining buildings designed by Davis from the first phase of development in the Park. 45 Park Way, also known as the Nichols-McKim Cottage, was erected in 1859-59. The Gothic Revival-style house was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis; it has been identified as the single most historic building in the Township of West Orange. The first owner of the Cottage was Edward W. Nichols, an eminent painter of

gned by Alexander Jackson Davis; it has been identified as the single most historic building in the Township of West Orange. The first owner of the Cottage was Edward W. Nichols, an eminent painter of the Hudson Valley School art movement. The Cottage was later home to the Reverend James Miller McKim, a leading pre Civil War abolitionist. His son, Charles Follen McKim, became a famed Beaux Arts architect, one of the founders of McKim, Mead and White, the leading American architectural firm of the later nineteenth century. Chairman Bagoff thanked the Commissioners for an excellent presentation. Mr. Gurland stated that the Commission had followed all legal requirements for designation; he requested the Planning Board submit its recommendation to the Township Council to designate the three properties as local historic landmarks. NAPLANNING.BRD\WPAMINUTES\2013\4-3-13 Minutes.doc 2