Decision on Demolition Application for Doris Duke Home Postponed

After a three-and-a-half hour meeting that had over 150 residents in attendance, the Hillsborough Historic Preservation Commission decided to postpone making a decision on the proposed application to demolish the home of the deceased Doris Duke.

Hillsborough Township’s Historic Preservation Commission heard from both the Duke Foundation as well as opponents of the proposed application at last night’s meeting.

While the Duke Foundation pressed for a decision to be made, those opposed to the application said they should all have a chance to be heard before a decision is made, according to nj.com. The next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the township’s municipal complex.

The Duke Farms Foundation has applied to demolish the unoccupied 65,000-square-foot mansion formerly owned by Doris Duke in order to make it more accessible to the public.

According to philly.com, the mansion, located on a 15-arce piece of land in Hillsborough, is plagued with asbestos and mold problems which Foundation executive director Michael Catania said would “cost a fortune” to bring up to code.

Since Duke’s death in 1993, the foundation has looked into alternative uses for the “turn-of-the-20th-century” structure, which is surrounded by gardens, fountains and waterfalls, but they ultimately decided there wasn’t a “mission-appropriate” use for it.

The application must be approved by the historic commission since the mansion lies within the boundaries of one of the township’s historic districts.

The Duke Foundation has also filed a companion application to the commission to do work on the Coach Barn, also located at Duke Farms, such as replacing the slate roof and cedar siding on the second floor, according to Central Jersey.