Village Hall in Line for Funding

Governor Chris Christie made his recommendations for grant funding to the New Jersey Historic Trust for their Capital Preservation Grant program. Included in his recommendation was $669,000 for the exterior restoration of Village Hall, which was constructed in 1894 and is on both the State and National Historic Registers.

South Orange’s firehouse was also restored with funding from the NJ Historic Trust (NJHT), with a formal opening ceremony last June. 

According to  Village President Douglas Newman, "We are delighted that the NJHT is assisting us once again in restoring one of our most valuable historic assets and ensuring South Orange maintains the historic character for which it is known and loved."

The scope of work includes restoring the brick exterior, improving ADA accessibility, replacing windows, doors, roof and gutters. To the extent possible, this work will be done in accordance with the original materials. The roof will be replaced with slate, and the gutters with copper. Windows and doors will be replaced with more modern, energy efficient materials, but still will retain the same look and character of the period when Village Hall was constructed.

Ratification by the Garden State Preservation Trust of Governor Christie’s recommendations is expected to occur tomorrow, May 4, 2011. This Level II Capital Preservation Grant is one of 17 given statewide. In 2010, the Village also received a $150,000 Congressional appropriation from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures Program.

Following ratification, which then requires NJ Legislature approval, the Village will have been awarded almost $820,000 for historic renovation of Village Hall.