Squier Farmhouse Redevelopment

KarenMarlowe said:

That big tree was approved for removal by the Village. This exhibit shows the trees that were approved for removal (and apparently marked by the Village), the trees that needed to be (re)planted and the trees that were to remain. The trees on the right side of this exhibit are the ones that are in question, being in the riparian zone. 

Thank you for sharing.

Komarovsky said:

$2000 is shamefully low and certainly won't deter any developer from doing it in the future.  Can SO enact a fine schedule that would actually deter people from removing trees illegally?

There is a cap on how much people can be fined for this type of violation in NJ.  I don't recall how much it is but it's probably not much higher than $2000. For example, the town can't fine someone $25,000 for a violation.

yahooyahoo said:

Komarovsky said:

$2000 is shamefully low and certainly won't deter any developer from doing it in the future.  Can SO enact a fine schedule that would actually deter people from removing trees illegally?

There is a cap on how much people can be fined for this type of violation in NJ.  I don't recall how much it is but it's probably not much higher than $2000. For example, the town can't fine someone $25,000 for a violation.

Shame that the cap is so low and there's no provision for local enforcement.  In NY the fines can be much higher, at least according to this story: https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/06/11/chopping-down-trees-fines/

Lets hope the developer's plan for his next structure gets extra perusal before its approved.

Every time I pass this razing of the land on Ridgewood Rd. my heart sinks (and that's many times a day). Not to point fingers, but who was responsible for dropping the ball here?  I know if you blink these beautiful, majestic trees can be cut down.  But really shouldn't someone have seen this happening that day of the razing and notified the Mayor of South Orange or the village delegates? So we lost gorgeous old trees, were they sycamores? Oaks?  200 year old trees? I took pictures of the stumps that were so healthy and vibrant and sent them to our town officers and no one has gotten back to me.  

sender said:

Every time I pass this razing of the land on Ridgewood Rd. my heart sinks (and that's many times a day). Not to point fingers, but who was responsible for dropping the ball here?  I know if you blink these beautiful, majestic trees can be cut down.  But really shouldn't someone have seen this happening that day of the razing and notified the Mayor of South Orange or the village delegates? So we lost gorgeous old trees, were they sycamores? Oaks?  200 year old trees? I took pictures of the stumps that were so healthy and vibrant and sent them to our town officers and no one has gotten back to me.  

looks like oaks to me. 

mrincredible said:

I guess I'm kinda late to discussing this. There's another snag in redeveloping the property at 167 North Ridgewood in Soutj Orange. It's the sprawling house overlooking Floods Hill. The original section dates to c 1774 but it's been expanded a few times. A developer wanted to raze it and construct three new houses. A compromise was reached allowing construction of two new houses and restoration of the historic section of the Farmhouse.

Apparently the developer overstepped their bounds by removing all of the trees from the property over the last week or so. So the town has halted any further construction work. 

It's a pretty big deal for a few reasons. There were some large mature trees on the property which can't be replaced in our lifetimes. The trees would also help with runoff into the East Branch of the Rahway River. There's a small gully on the property that becomes a stream when it rains, and that will be affected as well.

To me it seems like like a very irresponsible (and self-defeating) move by the developer.

https://villagegreennj.com/towns/south-orange/construction-halted-as-south-orange-responds-to-clear-cutting-of-trees-at-historic-squier-property/

Seems to me that the entire house is being taken down. 

Sure seems like it, but the Village says it's in keeping with the agreement. 

crowfox said:

Seems to me that the entire house is being taken down. 

Whatever gave you that idea?  

It's not.

A couple more pictures I took quickly today. I tried to capture how much of the structure remains.

mrincredible said:

A couple more pictures I took quickly today. I tried to capture how much of the structure remains.

looks like they supported the chimney stack. Maybe that part of the house will remain. Or they will just build around it then take it down one brick at a time. So many loopholes in construction.

Remember, the entire structure was not original.

Looks like they have kept the core of the building, and will put a new roof on.

tomcat said:

Remember, the entire structure was not original.

Looks like they have kept the core of the building, and will put a new roof on.

Yeah that's what I had surmised. 

mrincredible said:

Yeah that's what I had surmised. 

I meant to take a picture today showing where you can see the fireplace opening/hearth on the second floor which definitely has an 18th century vibe to it.  Hope the reconstruction is successful.  I'm sure the history of the place is fascinating.