Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Belmar Historical Society urges careful preservation as borough plans EMS use of 1910 Union Firehouse
Summary
Historical society requested state listing to secure preservation grants and warned retrofits for EMS could jeopardize historic designation; borough leaders said they will use a $250,000 grant for phased rehabilitation and prioritize environmental and structural assessments.
Representatives of the Belmar Historical Society urged the council to pursue state historic designation for the Union Firehouse, a 1910 building the society argues is a rare local landmark that should remain public and eligible for preservation funding.
"The building was built in about 1910," Brian McGovern told the council, explaining the historical society's work to seek state listing so the borough can access grants or loans to restore original features. McGovern and Spencer Eulitt said retrofits to accommodate EMS trucks could risk eligibility for state historic designation and asked the council to ensure any work preserves the building's character.
Council members responded that they have "no intention of selling the building" and that the borough has secured a $250,000 grant as the first stage in a phased rehabilitation. The mayor and staff said the borough will begin with environmental and structural assessments to ensure the building is safe for occupancy before moving forward with any retrofit, and will balance historic preservation goals with short-term operational needs.
Next steps: borough staff will pursue state designation processes and coordinate environmental and structural studies before finalizing plans for EMS use or rehabilitation.
