Applicant plans to convert Hobart House into offices

Applicant plans to convert
Hobart House into offices


An application filed with the Marlboro Planning Board indicates that a developer wants to convert the one-time Main Street home of U.S. Vice President Garret A. Hobart into offices. An application filed with the Marlboro Planning Board indicates that a developer wants to convert the one-time Main Street home of U.S. Vice President Garret A. Hobart into offices.

MARLBORO — A historic landmark in town may take on a new appearance in the future. Plans are in the works to convert the Hobart House, Main Street, into an office building.

The residence in the old village of Marlboro is the one-time home of Garret A. Hobart, who served as vice president of the United States during the first term (1897-99) of President William McKinley. Hobart died in office in 1899.

An application on the property has been filed with the Planning Board, although no hearing has been scheduled pending the applicant’s negotiations with the neighboring Marlboro Fire Company on one or more issues.

Attorney Michael B. Steib of Middle-town is representing the applicant.

The Hobart House is currently vacant. The applicant, L.K.L.N., L.C.C., of Marlboro, seeks to build a 25- by 45-foot addition onto the structure. The applicant is requesting several variances. The applicant is seeking to:

• Provide parking spaces of 9 by 18 feet where 10 by 20 feet is required.

• Place handicap and other parking spots five feet from the building where no parking within 30 feet is permitted.

• Reduce the size of the required buffer zone between neighboring homes to 25 feet where 30 feet is required.

• Raise the lot coverage from the requirement of 30 percent to 54.4 percent.

According to officials at the board, the applicant is in negotiations with representatives of the fire company on one or more issues. The application was pulled from the board’s agenda shortly before a meeting on Dec. 20.

The applicant has presented its plans to the Marlboro Historic Commission. Ac-cording to commission Secretary Jack Appel, the commission has signed off on the project.

"The applicant will restore the outside of the house, making it look the way it used to," Appel said, adding that one of the commission’s concerns was how the exterior of the house would be affected by the project.

The Hobart House at 9 Main St. (Route 79) is considered a landmark because of Hobart’s residency there.

Hobart was elected to the vice presidency in 1896 on the Republican ticket headed by McKinley. In 1899, Hobart died in office and was replaced as vice president by Theodore Roosevelt. McKinley and Roosevelt won re-election in 1900 and Roosevelt ascended to the presidency when McKinley was assassinated in 1901.