Holmdel Acts To Save Crawford Hill, Home Of Historic Antenna

HOLMDEL, NJ — Saying its actions will benefit "generations to come," the Holmdel Township Committee took steps Tuesday to acquire the Crawford Hill property, which houses the historic Horn antenna.

The committee previously authorized an appraisal of the Crawford Hill property, which has been completed and values the property at $1.92 million, the township said Tuesday.

The committee at a meeting Tuesday authorized good faith negotiations to acquire the property from its current owner, Crawford Hill Holdings, for that amount, which was updated from the original figure of $1.97 million posted on the agenda.

“I am excited that we took further steps towards preserving the Crawford Hill property and the Horn antenna at tonight’s meeting,” said Mayor DJ Luccarelli on Tuesday.

The area is comprised of Block 27, Lots 6 and 6.01 (as well as an access easement across Lot 7 where the former Nokia building is located).

The Horn antenna was used in research by Bell Labs physicists and is a National Historic Landmark. The antenna's national significance arises from its use in the detection of cosmic microwave radiation that provided irrefutable evidence of the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe. In 1978, scientists Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias earned a Nobel Prize in Physics for this work.

The governing body also introduced an ordinance authorizing the use of eminent domain if good faith negotiations fail, as well as a bond ordinance for $2 million to fund the cost of acquisition at the appraised amount.

These ordinances will be considered for final adoption at a special meeting on Aug. 22, at 6:30 p.m.

The bond would be supported by the Township’s Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. In 2021, Holmdel voters voted to increase the collection rate to this fund, which is legally restricted to use for land acquisition and similar expenses.

“Holmdel voters overwhelmingly supported increasing funding to the trust fund. We are now looking to responsibly use the trust fund to complete an historic property acquisition that would benefit Holmdel for generations to come,” Luccarelli said Tuesday night.

A coalition of preservation groups in the township has been calling for the site to not be developed and remain open space, with the antenna's location untouched.

The bond ordinance does not contain any provision that would require a tax increase, officials said.

As part of a separate process, the Township Committee previously authorized the Planning Board to conduct an investigation to determine if the lot housing the former Nokia building (Block 27, Lot 7) constitutes an area in need of redevelopment for condemnation purposes. The Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing on this investigation for Aug. 15 at 7 p.m., according to the township.

Crawford Hill Holdings, owner of the site, has proposed an 88-unit townhouse development there, and would not move the antenna, as shown on the most recent rendering.

Owner Rakesh Antala said in a recent statement: "We want nothing more than to have honest negotiations with the town officials and open-minded residents - based on facts not fear. We are more than willing to work in good faith as before and develop alternate options where the Horn antenna is preserved and open space is maintained.”

State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon added his support to the action by Holmdel Township to preserve the antenna site.

“The Horn antenna was crucial in helping us to understand how the universe began,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “I fully support Holmdel’s effort to acquire the property where it resides and to preserve it for future generations. We cannot allow this important historic landmark to be destroyed by development.”