Historic Gerrit J. Haring House to Be Relocated as Old Tappan Approves Assisted Living Development

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Old Tappan NJ,  after nearly 300 years standing on the same wooded lot, the Gerrit J. Haring House — a Revolutionary War-era Dutch stone home — will soon be moved to make room for an 80,000-square-foot assisted living facility. The controversial project, finalized through a settlement between the Borough of Old Tappan and Capital Senior Housing, ends a years-long legal dispute over the property’s future.

Years of Opposition and Legal Wrangling

The proposal, which drew intense backlash from residents, environmentalists, and historians, includes building a three-story senior facility on the 5.5-acre parcel at 244 Old Tappan Road. The land was originally zoned for single-family homes, making the approved project nearly 10 times larger than what zoning laws typically allowed.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition urging the borough to reject the development, citing concerns over wetlands destruction, wildlife habitats, and the potential loss of the historic home. The Gerrit J. Haring House, built in 1751, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and is considered a rare example of Dutch colonial architecture.

A Settlement Years in the Making

After the Planning Board initially approved the application in 2023, two residents — Patrick Gambuti and Cherie Fonorow — successfully petitioned the Borough Council to overturn the decision. The developer then sued both the council and the residents, leading to a high-stakes legal battle.

Faced with continued litigation and a potential $10 million cost to taxpayers, borough officials opted to settle the case.

“It was a very difficult decision to make, but we felt overall it was right to settle,” said Mayor Thomas Gallagher. “If not a memory care facility, who knows what else could go on that property. It could be something with a worse impact on schools and traffic.”

Though the borough had the option to purchase the property outright, the $5 million asking price from the developer proved too steep, Gallagher said.

Preservation with Compromise

Under the terms of the agreement, the developer will subdivide the land and transfer about 2 acres to the borough, where the Gerrit J. Haring House will be relocated. While the move aims to preserve the structure, experts are skeptical about the home’s ability to survive such a relocation intact.

“If they do it, it’s going to have to be a very complex effort,” said H. Gelfand, chair of the Historic Preservation Committee of the Bergen County Historical Society.

A Loss for History?

Although relocating the structure may prevent total demolition, the house will likely lose its place on the National Register, due to the loss of its original basement and foundation. However, historians like Tim Adriance say the home will remain historically significant.

“As we’re entering the 250th year of American independence, these structures are significant,” Adriance said. “Losing any one of them is a shame — preserving it, even with compromise, is still a win.”

Environmental Concerns Remain

Opponents like David Keil, chair of the borough’s Environmental Commission, continue to argue that the site was always a poor fit for large-scale development.

“For me, it was always the wrong project for that piece of property,” Keil said. “The environmental impact, the historic value — in hindsight, it would have been great if the borough had purchased and preserved the property.”

Before the development was proposed, preservation group Bergen SWAN (Save the Watershed Action Network) had offered $1 million and grant assistance to buy the land. At the time, borough officials deemed the cost too high.

What’s Next for Old Tappan?

With the legal challenges resolved and the project greenlit, construction of the Capital Senior Housing facility is expected to begin after the relocation of the Haring House. The development reflects the increasing push for senior care housing in Bergen County — but not without a cost to historic preservation and environmental integrity.

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