A question for North Brunswick folks (houses, construction, property taxes)
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For years, I have driven past a large, abandoned home on the southern end of Jersey Avenue, very close to the intersection with Orchard Street. This house appears to be of '60s or perhaps '70s vintage, and was probably fairly expensive to build because of its stone construction, even if its design seems to be tacky and tasteless at this point.
Anyway--Does anyone know the story behind this house?
It would appear that someone must be paying property taxes on this house, since it has been standing, vacant, for...a very long time. I'm sure that nobody would want to build another home there at this point because Jersey Ave is solely commercial, but clearly the land does have some value, and it appears to sit on a fairly big piece of property.
Does anyone know who built it and lived in it?
How long has it been vacant?
Why has it not been demolished?
There must be a story here, I suspect.
Yes, that is the one. As to whether it was originally commercial--I don't know.
To me, it looks more like the wretched excess of someone who had a lot of money, little taste, and not enough sense to avoid building a home in a commercial area. But, then again, it might have been medical offices or something of that nature originally. The place sort of fascinates me, simply because it has sat vacant for so long. Clearly, someone is paying the property tax. But--why?
Quote:
Originally Posted by RUNYYfan
Yeah, there is a history to the place. I just can't remember it at the moment. I'll check with a friend of mine and post back when I get more info.
Thanks! That would be great.
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Originally Posted by Tyler77
I know it used to be animal shelter back in the early-to late 80's. Been abandoned for at least 20 years.
Interesting!
However, I am pretty confident that it didn't start out as an animal shelter. That building was not cheap to erect, so its use as an animal shelter must have come later, after its original purpose--whatever that might have been.
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Thanks for your patience.
My friend finally had a chance to get back to me.
Apparently the place was built by a real eccentric type of person. My friend does not know the name, but the guy apparently loved having a big lawn in front of his place and liked his peace and quiet. Weird with today's roads right in front, but back in the 1950's when the place was built (c. 1950's), Route 1 was "only" what we see as the Northbound side and Jersey Avenue actually came out onto Route 1 by the old Coca-Cola Bottling Plant which is on the Southbound side just below what's left of the mall where the old PathMark used to be.
In the basement there is apparently a full three lane bowling alley and what today could be called a media room with a projection system just like you would find in the old movie houses.
I had not heard of it being used an animal shelter, though I do know the North Brunswick Animal Shelter was somewhere around that part of North Brunswick. IIRC, it may have been over where the current Verizon store is located, but I cannot say that with certainty.
Anyway, the property is unique. When I have time, I'm going to touch base with the tax assessor's office in North Brunswick just to see what other information may be available.
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