By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – The Planning Board has approved an application from an individual who wants to refurbish an historic building that has stood in Freehold Borough for more than a century.
On Nov. 9, the board approved an application from Domenick Tonacchio, the property’s owner and the principal of Tona Executive Suites, LLC, to redevelop the landmark building at 54 Hudson St. and use it as office space for businesses.
The building has been vacant for more than a decade. It was was formerly known as Freehold High School, as the Bennett Street School and as the headquarters of the Freehold Borough Police Department.
Representatives of Tonacchio appeared before the board to request approval to use the building for business offices. Attorney Bill Mehr presented the application.
The building was constructed circa 1909 as Freehold High School. Following the construction of a new high school on Broadway in 1926, the building on Bennett Street was renamed the Bennett Street School and educated pupils in the elementary and intermediate grade levels. After more than four decades as the Bennett Street School, the building became the borough’s police station in 1979.
As the headquarters of the police department, the building was operational until 2003 when the police department moved to new facilities on Jackson Street. The Bennett Street building has remained vacant since the departure of the police department.
Previous attempts to redevelop the Bennett Street building have been unsuccessful. In 2010, an autism services group was planning to use it for administrative offices and as a daycare center for adults who have autism, but ultimately backed out.
Gregory Clark, the architect of the current project, informed the board that the building is in danger of collapsing if it is not refurbished soon. He said the exterior will remain relatively unchanged. According to Clark, the original windows were removed, but the original brick finish will remain.
Prior to his appearance before the Planning Board, Clark appeared before the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission on Nov. 7. His plans for the exterior of the building received approval from the panel.
“I am ecstatic you are saving it,” said commission member Kevin Coyne, who serves as Freehold Borough’s historian. “My grandfather went to high school in that building.”
At the Planning Board meeting, Clark said the Bennent Street building will have three primary levels. The first and second levels will be offered as rental space for offices and the third level will be occupied by the owners. He said a mezzanine level will also be used by the owners.
When asked by a resident, Clark said the building will have a maximum of about 17 tenants.
A storage building will be built on the property and have the same brick finish as the main building, Clark said, adding that the storage building will be used by the property’s owner.
The owner’s plan to transform the deteriorating structure into a new office building received support from residents of Bennett Street who attended the Planning Board meeting.
“We want to see the building restored to its former glory,” Patricia Koloski said.
“I think it’s great something is being done for the building,” Carolee Brodie said.
Board members voiced support of the project and said it will help preserve a historic building which was in danger of being demolished.
“This project embodies what we want in Freehold,” board member Jamie Bennett said.