Historic Hoboken House Scheduled To Be Demolished Soon. What's Next?

HOBOKEN, NJ — After Hoboken historian Jim Hans passed away in 2023, his family's home on Third Street — a rare single-family home in the mile-square city — was sold to new owners who intend to demolish it.

While some Hoboken residents argued that the house should be saved, because there are few like it in the area, engineers said the pre-Civil War home was "out of plumb," or leaning.

The house had gained fans over the years, as Hans and his family had set up colorful and historical displays on the porch. The stuffed monkeys were a favorite among local kids.

This past March, the family held an estate sale to sell items from Hans' extensive collection, from old magazines to antique fixtures to Hobokana. READ MORE: Get A Piece Of Hoboken History At This Estate Sale

According to a letter dated July 18 and sent to neighbors, RS Development plans to "demolish and rebuild" the home.

According to the letter, notice had to be given to adjacent property owners at least seven days before "construction activity."

The letter says, "This letter shall serve as a formal notice, pursuant to said regulations, that we expect to begin construction in about three to four weeks."

House History

Research commissioned by the Hoboken Historic Museum determined that according to maps of the mile-square city from the era, the home was built before 1851.

Want to catch a glimpse of the blue house before it's gone? It's located at 206 Third St.

Look inside and learn more about it here: 1840s "Monkey House" In Hoboken May Not Be Oldest, But It Sure Is Popular