Was Essex County doing an end run around Verona and development-happy Montclair in its interest to possibly acquire Kips Castle? Described for sale in listing notes as...
"the last large undivided estate property on 1st mountain overlooking NYC. Historic home and carriage house (currently prof. office) can be restored or removed. Also subdivision possible."
A little over two acres of the property sits in Montclair, the remaining eight or so acres of the property is in Verona. Listed for $8,200,000; taxes are $90,664 a year. From Localsource...
Essex County might be in the market to purchase Kip’s Castle, a 10-acre property on the Montclair-Verona border. County Administrator Joyce Wilson Harley called the site, “a marvelous piece of property.” The county’s Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board has already allocated funds to pay for the first of two appraisals of the estate, which also includes a 25-room mansion built at the turn of the 20th-century by textile baron Frederick Kip. Before the freeholders at the meeting was a resolution to fund another appraisal. This appraisal was needed to help the county further consider the possible purchase.
Freeholder Linda Lordi Cavanaugh, who represents both towns on the board, was surprised to learn that the administration had not reached out to the leaderships of the two towns to keep them abreast of the county’s interests. However, she was not opposed to the county’s plan to purchase and preserve the site. Harley said that the county had not reached out to the mayors of both towns because the county’s interest in the property was so preliminary. “(We’re) not at the stage where we’d be looking to talk to anyone but the Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Board,” she told the freeholder board.
Kips Castle's storied past has become online fodder for castle enthusiasts; others, like Preservation New Jersey are concerned about its endangered status. What do you want to see happen to the castle (fantasies encouraged).
January 21, 2007
I think they should knock that old castle down and build a new residential development. Outside of Christopher Court, there is no opportunity for perspective buyers to purchase brand new homes in Montclair which drives people to buy elsewhere. You could probably put 30 houses on that property and if done right it would look great.
Posted by: Builder | Sep 21, 2006 2:12:17 PM
Hire an exorcist to finally dispel whatever residue remains from when the Rajneeshites held sway there. (And the subsequent law firm tenants.) After that, would new housing of some sort really be so bad? It'd certainly give posters here years of debate fun.
Posted by: cathar | Sep 21, 2006 2:23:54 PM
I think it would make a great location for a bank. Right now, if you live on the ridge and need an ATM, you have to drive all the way to route 23 or Bloomfield Ave.
Posted by: Cuts | Sep 21, 2006 3:00:45 PM
URaMoron,
Ask a realtor how well a nicely done new house sells in Montclair. Although the beautiful old homes are great, there are plenty of them. New houses are a rare commodity in this area and sell very well.
Posted by: Builder | Sep 21, 2006 3:02:34 PM
Please do not destroy this beautiful castle or I will personally have you drawn and quartered in the town square.
Seriously, that is one of the most gorgeous structures in Baristaville. Why would you want to tear and down and build mediocrity?
Posted by: Miss Martta | Sep 21, 2006 3:07:40 PM
Why wasn't the county interested in it when it was listed for $6,500,000 not too long ago? It was listed for less before that...
Posted by: Johhny | Sep 21, 2006 3:10:37 PM
Builder, have you been paying any attention at all? After all that has transpired over the last few years you really must be kidding. Otherwise you are truly clueless.
So what if new homes sell well? The majority of people in Montclair don't want to see more unchecked development and any plan to knock down the castle will be met with a firestorm of protest.
The destruction of the Marlboro, while sad, was a turning point for Montclair and I doubt there will be anymore tear downs of historic buildings anytime soon. The people are paying attention now. There's a better chance of the orange jumpsuit people coming back. Get a grip!
Posted by: State Street Pete | Sep 21, 2006 3:14:51 PM
I am talking about tastefully done home built in proportion to their property. Embrace change State Street, nobody is talking about another Marlboro Inn. That property's only possible use is for some sort of wedding/reception hall, but at $8 million it just doesn;t make sense. Knock it down and utilize the property for its highest and best use.
Posted by: Builder | Sep 21, 2006 3:22:10 PM
Builder: What doesn't it make sense to create a wedding or reception hall? Surely it would be one of the most exquisite ones around.
Or, what if someone wanted to buy it and use it as his or her residence? Or if not, how about a museum or cultural institute such as Bloomfield has done with the Oakes Building?
Residents of Verona and Montclair, are you listening? Don't let the builders destroy another treasure!
Posted by: Miss Martta | Sep 21, 2006 3:36:48 PM
Miss Martta,
Do you really think someone is going to buy it for $8 mil, put $2 mil into it to transform it into a wedding hall, and still be able to turn a profit. Some of you don't take into account that when someone puts that much money into something, its not to make Miss Marta, Cathar, Wallaroo, and teh rest of you ninny's happy. It's to make money...that is what its all about.
Posted by: Builder | Sep 21, 2006 3:44:11 PM
Well, thank you for so beautifully illustrating what you're all about, Builder. And I say "Builder" in the Everyman sense. Your last line says it all.
NEWS FLASH: There's more to life that making money. You can't take it with you when you go.
Posted by: Miss Martta | Sep 21, 2006 3:54:11 PM
I would vote for turning the property into a wind farm (ridge location!) and use the building for a cultural institution.
Posted by: Mr.M | Sep 21, 2006 3:57:05 PM
LOL! You really are a greedy guy. I hate to break it to you but making money is not what it's all about. That's pretty sad.
Miss Martta, let me know when drawing and quatering will begin. I'll bring friends.
Posted by: State Street Pete | Sep 21, 2006 3:57:33 PM
And change is good, but so is saving part of our history for future generations.
I think you can tell which way the wind is blowing on this issue. Ain't happening.
Posted by: State Street Pete | Sep 21, 2006 4:01:26 PM
The property should be preserved just for preservations sake. How much greenfield development do we really need? And to subdivide this place into cul-de-sacs of McMansions is criminal. You say that it won't get a return on the $8 million may be true, but the added traffic, services needed and everything else will put an even greater strains on these two municiapalities.
Morris County at least does an excellent job with its open space preservation though is mostly agricultural land and Essex needs to start looking at these estate type locations for sale as a way to combat overdevelopment and preserve quality of life.
Posted by: My Name is Tyler Durden | Sep 21, 2006 4:05:50 PM
Miss M and Mr. M. have the right idea. Once the property is paid for it could be sustained along the lines of Oakes by renting it out for events. The great view and location would make it ideal for weddings.
I like the wind farm idea, but that won't please the locals who will see it as an eyesore. But if it could be properly nestled to limit the view it might work.
Posted by: State Street Pete | Sep 21, 2006 4:12:25 PM
It would be a shame to re-develop that property. The size of the land alone is like a small preserve; I've seen deer, turkeys, eagle/hawks, and a red fox all call that area home. That kind of nature is what makes our neighborhood unique from more urbanized areas such as Hoboken.
Posted by: Jim | Sep 21, 2006 4:18:51 PM
Yes, Mr. Builder, please do go out on a limb and extend your credit to the max so you can get caught up on the housing downturn that so many other greedy builders have gotten into.
When you go backrupt, how will you feel when your creditors take everything you own and tell you it's all about the money?
Or perhaps another greedy developer will do you a favor and take it off your hands for pennies on the dollar. Can't get too mad, after all, it's all about the money.
People like you have done a wonderful job wrecking our town in half-assed schemes to get rich. Just look at that poor slob with a mud puddle on North Mountain. When will you learn?
Posted by: goingbankrupt | Sep 21, 2006 10:51:05 PM
I hate to say it but for the most part, builder is right. It is all about the money. I would love to see it perserved but who will pay for it, who will pay to maintain it. We all know Essex county doesn't have the budget room to take it on.
Silly as it sounds, the guy with the windfarm idea might be one to something...not much but something. Who know?!
Posted by: D | Sep 22, 2006 4:27:12 PM
*said in the same breathless voice of Mary in "It's A Wonderful Life" just as George throws a rock through the window of that old place*
I wanna live in it!
Posted by: Girl | Sep 22, 2006 5:44:57 PM
Builders have no souls because they sold them to the Devil. And jacked up the price at that.
Posted by: Beezlebub | Sep 23, 2006 9:03:22 AM
There is plenty of land to go around. Just not in Baristaville. What they did to christopher street is the most disgusting development Ive ever seen. Whats the point of even having windows in that home if your view is your neighbors kitchen ten feet away. The founders and old money that ran montclair would never build a mcmansion without enjoying the privacy of a large landscape.
Builder- to say that it would be tastefully done while turning a profit is absurd. I hope you are in some way invested in the lofts on Walnut street. And if your not, may I suggest investing in the empty lot on north mountain? Great piece of land for someone who doesnt know how to make income while preserving our architectural colture.
If you want to make a cookie cutter development, move to North Carolina.
Posted by: native | Sep 24, 2006 8:29:27 PM
I think that "Builder" is a year or two behind the market and I agree with previous post that he is woefully out of touch with the local sentiment against teardowns and over-development.
You have a mess at Crisco and North Mountain, and other inventory in the $2MM range that actually seems to be pretty nice houses (both built and in planning).
The smart developers have figured out there are $ in preservation and working WITH the community. The other guys (Crisco, etc..) are sucking wind.
Since only 2 of 10 acres at Kip's are in Montclair, that means 24 of Builder's 30 dream families will be going to Verona schools.....is there a huge shortage of inventory and buildable land in Verona?
Posted by: Backsore | Sep 25, 2006 5:23:40 PM
