When Preservation Becomes Optional, Newark Demolishes Pathway To Affordability: Op-Ed

NEWARK, NJ — The following op-ed comes courtesy of Tammy Hollaway, president of the Historic James St. Commons Neighborhood Association. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

I’ve heard the grumbles of frustration from lifelong Newark residents about residents at One Theater Square lobbying Newark City Hall officials to move the location of the annual house music festival from Military Park. One Theater Square is a new luxury apartment building in downtown Newark, NJ.

On January 7, 2026, the Newark Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve the demolition of Cathedral House, an irreplaceable piece of our city’s historic fabric. The Cathedral House is located at 24 Rector Street. As president of the Historic James St. Commons Neighborhood Association and a long-time advocate for Newark’s neighborhoods, I am deeply concerned not only by the outcome of that vote, but by what it reveals about how preservation decisions are being made in our city.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission exists for one purpose: to protect Newark’s historically and culturally significant buildings for the public good. Commissioners are entrusted to act as stewards of our shared history. In this case, however, that responsibility was not upheld. The Commission approved demolition even though Newark’s preservation ordinance sets a high and explicit standard, one that the applicant failed to satisfy through credible evidence or clear legal justification.

The ordinance is not ambiguous. Demolition of a landmarked structure is intended to be rare and permitted only when specific criteria are met, including documented hardship, serious exploration of alternatives, and a demonstrated public benefit that outweighs the loss. Assertions were accepted where proof was required. The burden of evidence was lowered rather than enforced. This is not how preservation law is meant to function.

Equally troubling are the apparent conflicts of interest surrounding this application. When those tasked with protecting Newark’s landmarks have close professional or institutional relationships within a system that consistently favors demolition over preservation, public trust erodes. Even the appearance of conflict compromises confidence in the process. Newark residents deserve decisions that are transparent, independent, and free from undue influence.

Cathedral House is not simply a structure. It is part of a historic ecosystem that reflects Newark’s architectural, religious, and community legacy. Once demolished, that legacy cannot be recreated. Every approval of demolition undercuts the promise that landmark designation is meaningful rather than symbolic.

This decision also reflects a broader culture of leadership. Mayor Ras J. Baraka has spoken powerfully about Newark’s culture and identity, yet a strong preservation ethic must be demonstrated through policy, appointments, and accountability. There are several credible examples of how this space could be preserved, activated and repurposed for economic and community development.

Preservation cannot be treated as a nuisance or an obstacle to development. Cities across the country have shown that historic buildings can be adaptively reused, economically viable, and deeply beneficial to neighborhoods. What Newark too often lacks is not opportunity, but political will.

Most concerning is the growing expectation that residents must resort to litigation simply to ensure that city laws are followed. Communities should not have to sue their own government to get it to function as intended, particularly when decisions about land use and neighborhood character have permanent consequences. Litigation should be a last resort, not a substitute for oversight, enforcement, and good governance.

This is where the Newark City Council must step in. City Council has both the authority and the responsibility to provide oversight of boards and commissions, to demand adherence to ordinances as written, and to ensure that preservation decisions reflect public interest rather than expediency. Council hearings, ordinance compliance reviews, and clear standards for commissioner conduct are not radical demands, they are basic tools of accountable government.

Newark stands at a crossroads. We can continue down a path where preservation protections exist on paper but collapse in practice, or we can recommit to a lawful, transparent, and community-centered preservation process. That means enforcing ordinances consistently, addressing conflicts of interest openly, and affirming that our history is an asset, not a liability.

The demolition of Cathedral House should be a wake-up call. If we allow this decision to pass without scrutiny or reform, we send a clear message that no historic building is truly protected. Newark’s future should be built with its past, not at its expense.

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