2018 Ten Most Endangered Historic Places in NJ

The 2018 list of the 10 Most Endangered Places was announced at a press conference at the Old Barracks Museum (Founders Room – 2nd Floor), 101 Barrack Street Street in Trenton on Thursday, May 17th, at 10:00AM.

The 10 Most Endangered Historic Places program spotlights irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being lost. 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 list, generated from nominations by the public, aims to attract new perspectives and ideas to sites in desperate need of creative solutions.

Several challenges face properties on this year's endangered sites list, including neglect and deferred maintenance, threats incurred by redevelopment and new construction, difficulties raising adequate historic preservation funding, the need for creative adaptive reuse proposals, inadequate recognition and protection by government agencies, and political influences. This year's list also includes several resources of not only historic significance, but that are also cultural landscapes representing New Jersey's agrarian and water faring past. As the economy continues to improve, the impacts to historic properties and places are more imminent. The list demonstrates increased development pressures resulting in threats of demolition of the historic resource; the need to incorporate history and historic preservation in redevelopment plans for neighborhoods, towns, and cities throughout the state; and the value of using preservation as a positive tool for revitalization.

As we acknowledge each year, selections to the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list are based on the likelihood that historic buildings and places can be brought back to useful and productive life. PNJ proudly points to many properties previously listed among the 10 Most Endangered that have now been saved and preserved or rehabilitated and have once again become character-defining assets to New Jersey's communities. As we announce this year's list, we are encouraged by the recent opening of the Van Wagenen/Apple Tree House in Jersey City, which was included on our 1998 list. Over the almost 20 years since it was originally listed, City officials and advocates worked tirelessly to raise the funds necessary to restore the City's oldest surviving structure in a responsible and authentic manner - earning them an Historic Preservation Award from PNJ in the fall of 2017. Now, the Apple Tree House is the home for the City's cultural affairs and economic development offices. Through partnerships with the NJ State Council on the Arts and NJ Council for the Humanities, the City has also been offering arts, heritage, and other programming for both residents and visitors in the space. Although PNJ's 10-Most Endangered Properties list is published once per year, the fight for the preservation of our historic and cultural resources is daily, and the news of the Apple Tree House is evidence that bringing awareness of such threats can bring about creative solutions.

For press inquiries, contact:
Courtenay D. Mercer, Director
609.583.0881