TRENTON – The Christie Administration has unveiled a list of historic properties in 12 counties selected for Sandy Disaster Relief Grants for Historic Properties to fund the preservation, stabilization, rehabilitation and repair of New Jersey historic structures that were damaged by the storm, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin has announced.
After review by the New Jersey Historic Trust, 37 Sandy-impacted sites were deemed eligible for some $8 million in grants. Sites are located in counties, including the Romer Shoal Lighthouse in Middletown.
In addition to the lighthouse, the 12 other projects to get grants in Ocean and Monmouth counties are: Church of the Presidents, Elberon; First Baptist Church, Middletown; Christ Church and Christ Church Rectory projects, Shrewsbury; Grenville Hotel and All Saints Episcopal Church, Bay Head; Holy Innocents Mission Church, Beach Haven; U.S. Lifesaving Station Number 13, Seaside Park; Cedar Bridge Tavern, Toms River; Tuckerton Emporium, plus the Andrews Bartlett House and White Cap, a 31-foot Morton Johnson Cutter for the Barnegat Bay Decoy & Baymen Museum Inc.
Grants also were approved for two Sandy-battered state historic properties: $2 million toward the restoration of the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal at Liberty State Park in Jersey City and $500,000 towards a structure and shoreline protection project at historic East Point Lighthouse in Maurice River Township in Cumberland County.
“These grants will help finance the vitally important task of preserving and sustaining our state’s heritage, to restore and protect important links to the past that were damaged by Super Storm Sandy,” said Martin, whose agency oversees the State Historic Preservation Office.
“This restoration work will allow future generations to fully enjoy and treasure these historic sites, which enhance the quality of life for all residents of New Jersey,” said State Historic Preservation Office Administrator Dan Saunders.
A full list of grant awards is available by visiting www.nj.gov/dep/doc/grant-awards.pdf.
The federal funding is being provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service for Sandy-impacted properties that are either listed in the National Register of Historic Places or identified as eligible for such a listing. This includes individually listed properties and those contributing to a historic district.
The money was appropriated from the federal Historic Preservation Fund, which is financed by federal Outer Continental Shelf oil lease revenues, not tax dollars.
The New Jersey Historic Trust’s mission is to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that save our heritage and strengthen our communities.
For information on Sandy Disaster Relief Grants for Historic Properties, visit www.njht.org/resources/sandy.
