By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR A handful of citizens of all backgrounds gathered on Thursday to offer their ideas, time and expertise to save the Grover farmstead that was slated for demolition in early June.
With 10 West Windsor residents in attendance, the Grover Farm Homestead Restoration Community Committee kicked off its first meeting in an effort to find a solution to keep preserve the Grover home ands its surrounding structures.
The council approved its demolition in 2010 in the capital budget after the administration deemed the buildings too expensive to restore.
Township Council members Linda Geevers and Kristina Samonte formed the community based committee as a result of widespread dissent and controversy that sparked from a resolution on the May 19 agenda asking the council to approve a $60,000 bid for its destruction.
The committee must deliver its non-binding recommendations to the administration and council in 90 days.
”We have a lot of work cut out for us during the summer, but I think it will be a great community initiative,” said Ms. Geevers.
After members were brought up to speed with a brief overview of the Grover farm history and a slide show of pictures of the site, everyone introduced him or herself and discussed how they could contribute to the project.
Whether with backgrounds in finance and construction or just longtime residents willing to offer their time and effort, the committee members brought a variety of ideas and perspectives to the table.
One of the challenges the committee touched upon was ways to fund the project a sum the administration has estimated to be $500,000.
However, Rocky Procaccini, a construction worker for 32 years, said the project could be done for considerably less, depending on the scope. Mr. Procaccini, who helped restore the historic John Hart house in Hopewell, said the Hart house was a more massive project and it only took $380,000.
”The Grover homestead is in better shape than a lot of the houses I demolished; it would be a shame to let that structure go,” said Mr. Procaccini. “You can do a lot with $100,000 and I’m offering my services, free of charge.”
Resident John Church suggested the $60,000 that was allotted for the demolition could be used to jumpstart the project by helping to buy building materials. He also emphasized the need for the need for a competent supervisor.
”The key is to get a foreman who knows what they’re doing to supervise. Most of the work is labor and I think a lot of people would pitch in,” said Mr. Church. “I’d be pleased to work on this and I think others would be as well.”
Ted Grover, whose family owned the property before the town bought it in 1994, said it would be a good idea to start with trying restoring items the West Windsor Historical Society had taken.
David Parris, a curator at the New Jersey State Museum, told the committee he had experience in dealing with similar projects through his work with the Ewing Township planning board. He said he would be able to help find solutions for ongoing problems such as finding uses for the building and ongoing funding.
Cindy Randazzo, the director of the Office of Local Government Assistance for the state Department of Environmental Protection, suggested the committee consider how other towns have put their restored buildings to use. She cited Robbinsville as an example, which has turned one of its preserved buildings into a popular meeting place.
Ms. Randazzo said she would be investigating with Green Acres to find out how to go about ways the Grover buildings could be used and that she would keep everyone updated as the committee moves forward.
High School North students Ashley Geevers and Aayush Shaema also attended to offer their commitment to the project. Mr. Shaema, who is also part of a West Windsor Boy Scout troop, said the homestead’s preservation could be completed through volunteer work as part of his Eagle Scout community project.
”I feel a portion of the preservation could be completed through the Eagle Scout project and would be beneficial to the restoration of the farm,” said Mr. Shaema.
Ms. Geevers said the next meeting might take place at the Grover farm site so committee members could tour the area and talk with Steve Jany, who currently leases the farming area.

