CALDWELL – The Caldwell Motor Bank has been added to the Preservation New Jersey Inc. (PNJ) list of 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in New Jersey, according to a presentation given by Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Bob Kaplan at the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, June 6.
“It is an architectural gem, and we should do whatever we can to save it,” said Kaplan. “Even though this is an endangered building, we hope the designation will bring the building to the attention of a larger group of people. Hopefully this will encourage a potential buyer or current owner to do something interesting with it, or lure people in to think creatively about what can be done to save the bank.”
In the listing, the building is described as a “striking 1963 mid-twentieth-century modernist bank in Caldwell’s central business district, featuring three pedestal-like pavilions connected by an undulating thin-shell concrete roof.” The building is currently for sale, and may be at risk for demolition, the listing said.
The list was put in place to spotlight historic, architectural, cultural and archaeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being demolished or redeveloped.
“The act of listing these resources acknowledges their importance to the heritage of New Jersey, and draws attention to the predicaments that endanger their survival and the survival of historic resources statewide,” the listing said. “The list, generated from nominations by the public, aims to attract new perspectives and ideas to sites in desperate need of creative solutions.”
For more information on PNJ’s top 10 list, visit preservationnj.org.
Borough Business
Council President John Cascarano commended the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department for their work putting out a fire in Fresco Market and Catering, a local business, on Tuesday, May 30.
He said the fire was on Bloomfield Avenue near his home, so he and Mayor Ann Dassing drove to the scene. He said the fire department arrived before they did.
“I smelt smoke outside my house, and by the time I got to the bottom of the hill it was out,” said Dassing.
She said the fire was out in about six minutes.
“I think there’s been a lot of unfair, negative information put out about our fire department,” Cascarano said. “Unless there are extenuating circumstances out of their control, they do a fantastic job.”
Councilman Kris Brown said the Caldwell Library would soon be presenting films on a variety of topics related to recycling and pollinating plants. He said the first film would be screened at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, 2 p.m. on Friday, June 23 and 2 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27. Free pollinator plants will be offered alongside other goodies at select screenings.
Dassing said the Art on the Avenue event earlier in the month was a success, and well attended. She said she saw a lot of children with painted faces alongside residents having fun.
“I wanted to thank everyone involved. It was a lot of work for the Caldwell Merchants Association, their volunteers did a fabulous job,” she said.
Local business owners and representatives from the New Jersey Humane Society were present at the meeting to try to sway the council’s opinion on an ordinance forcing pet stores in Caldwell to only obtain animals through animal rescue centers instead of commercial breeders.
The ordinance would, in theory, prevent the use of puppy mills to supply pet stores with animals to sell.
Jeff Morton, owner of Shake A Paw, a pet store with locations in Union and Green Brook, said this type of legislation would not work, and puppy mills would be able to funnel animals through rescue centers to get around legal barriers.
Morton said routine veterinarian care for animals within pet stores is starkly superior to animal shelters, and that certain animal activists were not looking into what is best for animals, just what is best to advance a political agenda.
Brian Hackett, a representative of the New Jersey Humane Society, said small business pet stores selling animals is a dying business model, and that larger pet store chains have begun working with reputable shelters and responsible breeders.
“Your ordinance would, if it is not a big business, ensure potential businesses in Caldwell will not source from puppy mills. This is a proactive, preventative measure,” said Hackett.
The Council was slated to vote on the ordinance that night, but voted to table the vote until the next meeting due to an administrative mix-up.
The Council will vote on a revised version of the ordinance at its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20.