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New Hanover committee hires architect to seek grant for Godfrey House repairs, approves grant assurances
Summary
The New Hanover Township Committee on March 24 approved hiring HMR Architects to apply for a 2026 Historic Preservation Grant for the General Godfrey House and authorized required assurances; the vote was unanimous 5-0 amid public questions about scope and costs.
New Hanover Township’s governing committee on March 24 voted unanimously to hire HMR Architects to prepare and submit an application for a 2026 Historic Preservation Grant for the General Godfrey House and to authorize the assurances and certifications required for the grant application. The motion to approve Resolutions 2026-48 and 2026-49 passed by roll call, with Committeeman Koshak, Committeeman Murphy, Committeeman Smith, Deputy Mayor Nick Pawlyzyn and Mayor Peterla voting in favor.
The approvals followed public comments and questions about the scope and funding of work at the Godfrey House. Resident Kelly Bowden asked about the status and rounds of grant funding; Ethan Taylor asked whether the current grant would cover interior work. Mayor Peterla and Administrator/Clerk Susan D. Jackson clarified that the funds being sought under the current application are designated for exterior repairs only and that coordination with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is required for work on historically registered properties. Administrator Jackson said interior work is planned for future grant rounds and that she hopes to hold a public event to commemorate the restoration when work is complete.
During public comment and committee discussion, Mayor Peterla said the project architect estimated the exterior repairs would have a roughly 20-year life cycle. Deputy Mayor Pawlyzyn and Committeeman Aaron Smith expressed concerns about price estimates for the project; Administrator Jackson replied that estimating parties use escalation spreadsheets to guide bids and that bidders’ quotes cannot exceed those guidelines.
Resolutions 2026-48 (authorizing HMR Architects to apply for the 2026 Historic Preservation Grant for the General Godfrey House) and 2026-49 (authorizing approvals of assurances and certifications for the Historic Trust Grant for the General Godfrey House) were presented on the consent agenda and approved in a single motion. Committeeman Murphy moved to approve both resolutions and Committeeman Koshak seconded; roll call vote was 5-0.
The committee took no action on interior renovations at the meeting; Administrator Jackson indicated those repairs would be pursued in later grant rounds. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
