By Tina Pappas
for Montclair Local
Three locations in Montclair could see historic designation if the New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grants the town funding for a historical consultant. The Historic Preservation Committee applied for the state funds with the hopes of hiring a preservation consultant to research and investigate the historical merits of the Wheeler St. area, the Estate Area and the Oakcroft Residential area.
The town applied for the 2018 Certified Local Government Grant-in-Aid in January and expects to hear back in April. If granted, the town would receive $9,000 to $24,999.
“Under the grant application, the historic preservation consultant will prepare a report on each of the three areas and recommend whether they should be considered for designation on Local Landmark,” said Assistant Planner Graham Petto.
An evaluation would be conducted to determine if those areas meet the criteria to be given Local Landmark District status, he explained.
The first location under consideration, Wheeler Street Area, was developed between 1900 and 1929. The area is listed as having a more dense urban character than the surrounding neighborhoods, and consists of two-to-three story, multi-family dwellings built close to the lot line with small front yards and stoops. The common architectural styles include Dutch Colonial Revival, Queen Anne and Classic Revival. Prominent architectural materials include brick, wood and stucco.
The second location, the Estate Area, was developed by wealthy Montclair residents between the late 19th and the early 20th Centuries. The area consists of one to three story single-family houses built on large lots set far back from the street. Although the Estate Area exhibits a wide range of architectural styles and features, the area reflects a unique pattern of development. Prominent architectural materials within the area include wood, brick and stucco. Common architectural styles include Queen Anne, Shingle, Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival.
The third location for consideration is the Oakcroft/Residential Area developed between 1904 and 1946. The area is listed as consisting of two to three-story, single-family houses built in a wide variety of traditional styles, including Tudor Revival, Queen Anne, Craftsman and Colonial Revival. The area was advertised in the early 1900s as the ideal suburban residential development, and is still characterized today by its large lots, deep front yards, low density and tree-lined streets. Wood, brick, stucco and concrete are the primary architectural materials. The area also has several individual properties of special significance, including NASA Astronaut Buzz Aldrin’s childhood home at 25 Princeton Place.
Residents can view a map of Montclair’s Historic Inventory on the town’s website under Online Services.