House in Neshanic Historic District to stay
By Andrew Corselli, Staff Writer
The Historic Preservation Commission unanimously denied contractor John Lazorchak’s bid for a demolition permit for centuries-old structure at 697 Amwell Road on Tuesday evening.
”The ordinance contains seven separate points that we should use to decide this matter,” said commission chairman Greg Gillette after the meeting. “It’s historical significance, the ability of rehabilitating the property and some other economic factors. It was a very tough decision.”
The meeting, which was continued from Feb. 24, started with Mr. Lazorchak’s attorney, Michelle Lamar, questioning historian Peter Primavera. The commission then asked Mr. Primavera questions before Bruce Afrin, an attorney for Lois Rivera, who owns the property across the street from 697 Amwell, cross-examined the witness.
Ms. Rivera, who has lived or owned property in the Neshanic historic district for 66 years, was brought up to the stand by Mr. Afrin as a fact witness. She testified the entire house was historic, not just the land, a fact Mr. Lazorchak was trying to dispute. She added that even though parts of the abode had been restored, the foundation of the one- and one-half-story house is historic and should be spared from demolition.
Commission secretary George Redington asked Ms. Rivera when the last time the house was occupied. Ms. Rivera said that it was in 2004 by a man named Anthony and his children.
Mr. Afrin also called Amanda Daniels, Ms. Rivera’s daughter who lives across the street from 697 Amwell, to the stand as a fact witness. She talked about how Anthony was not allowed to change the siding of the house while he lived there. Anthony was allowed to make changes to the house, but not allowed to change the structural integrity of the property.
The legal teams took turns questioning witnesses before the attorneys presented their closing statements. Mr. Afrin’s took just over 25 minutes and he focused on the historical significance of the house, tried to discredit Mr. Primavera’s argument that the house had lost its historical integrity with renovations and questioned why Mr. Lazorchak would want to tear down a 200-year-old house.
”History now focuses upon the ordinary and the humble, and that’s what this house is,” he said. “It would be a gross crime for this commission to authorize this (demolition).”
Ms. Lamar’s closing statement took about eight minutes. She reminded that ordinances permit demolition. She added that the area is commercially zoned, meaning that Mr. Lazorchak has the right to pursue a project there.
She said the house had been renovated and changed since it was built, which she argued that compromised the historical integrity of the property.
The commission went into executive session, returning to agree unanimously to deny the application.
”We are an endangered species,” Ms. Rivera said while the commission was in executive session. “There are only four historic communities in the township that are in the national register. If you pull one of those houses down for no reason, then you’re endangering those species.”
Mr. Lazorchak had no comment after the meeting.

