Future of potentially revolution-era house remains in limbo amid demolition plans

I think many of you would hate to be in the position where the day after it disappears…we find out that indeed this was a very key facility in the revolution”

Chuck Moerdler, land use committee chair

After 11 years of debate, the fate of a potentially Revolution-era house called the “Victorian home,” which is scheduled for demolition, remains unresolved.

At the recent Community Board 8 land use committee meeting, new findings presented by Kingsbridge Historical Society president Nick Dembowski shed light on the house’s possible historical significance and potential future uses. 

The house, which Dembowski found was owned by a local militia captain named John Warner during the American Revolution, was at some point remodeled to resemble a Victorian-era home despite its colonial origins. 

Eleven years ago, Riverspring Living, also known as the Hebrew Home, had landmark firm, Higgins Quasebarth & Partners, assess the building. Higgins determined the house did not possess historic integrity due to extensive remodeling and modifications.

According to Dan Reingold,  president and chief executive officer of River’s Edge, part of Riverspring Living, the house had “zero appearance” of its original late-1700s construction, although some historic elements might have been retained.

In 2013, an application for historic designation through the Landmark Preservation Commission was made, but no landmark status was granted.

A 2016 document from the Landmark Preservation Commission approved the demolition of the house, stating there were “no further archaeological concerns for this site.” However, Dembowski argues this decision was based on an incomplete and incorrect archaeological assessment, which failed to consider the house’s history before 1842.

Reingold confirmed that, if the Victorian home were demolished, there would be no immediate plans to build on that specific site, though there are plans for construction elsewhere on the campus. According to land use attorney James Power, demolition on other parts of the campus is currently underway, though nothing that requires city approval has begun yet.

“Our major concern is not to delay the progress of this project,” Power said.

In light of these conflicting perspectives, land use committee chair Chuck Moerdler proposed a six-month delay in the demolition to allow advocates for the house’s endurance to petition the Landmark Commission to reconsider the building’s status based on Dembowski’s new findings.

“I think many of you would hate to be in the position where the day after it disappears…we find out that, indeed, this was a very key facility in the revolution.” Moerdler said.

Reingold, concerned a six-month delay would change financing and lender obligations, negotiated this period down to only 90 days, beginning the day of the meeting. He claimed the institution had been transparent with the committee about the plans for the house’s demolition for many years and the current objections were coming up “not at the eleventh hour, but at the twelfth hour.”

Nevertheless, some attendees were confused by the urgency to proceed with demolition despite the prolonged indecision. Reingold said the expansion project’s contract includes a strict deadline, and failing to meet it would result in financial consequences for the institution.

While Dembowski suggested the building might be repurposed as an office space or bed and breakfast for visitors to the campus, Valerie Mutterperl, another land use attorney involved with the project, said the Hebrew Home team looked at a number of reuses for this space but ultimately found “it would take an awful lot to make it code compliant to today’s standards.”