DECEMBER 4, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
ORADELL — A former owner of the Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion said Thursday that the property’s current owner has signaled that it intends to file for a permit to demolish the historic structure.
Jeffrey Wells, who owned the home until 2011, said that representatives of CareOne, one of the state’s largest nursing home operators, informed him this week that “they were looking to do a walk-through on the house because they were going to apply for a demo permit.” Supporters of efforts to preserve the mansion, which was built in the 1890s, responded by staging a small demonstration there on Thursday.
But Timothy Hodges, CareOne’s chief strategy officer, said Thursday that the fate of the building has not yet been decided.
“Ever since CareOne acquired the property at 699 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, it has continued to explore its development options for the property,” he said. “That process is still ongoing and no final decisions have been made.”
He added: “CareOne has not applied for a demolition permit from the Borough of Oradell.”
Borough Administrator Laura Graham confirmed that no such application had been filed as of Thursday afternoon.
Wells said the purpose for the walk-through would be to show CareOne’s construction professionals how the building receives utility services. The tour was scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, he said.
But when those professionals saw about a dozen people displaying a banner reading “SAVE the BLAUVELT” on the property’s front lawn, they canceled the appointment, Wells said.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/talk-of-demolition-1.1467524
