The historic William Gulick House at 3641 Lawrenceville Road has been declared a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment.
The Lawrence Township Council voted unanimously to make the designation at its July 21 meeting — but not without pushback from some residents.
The Council’s action clears the way for township planning consultant Beth McManus to prepare a redevelopment plan for the property on the corner of Lawrenceville Road/Route 206 and Province Line Road. It would guide how the property may be redeveloped, such as the size and height of new buildings.
The three-story house was built in 1855 by wealthy farmer William Gulick. It was occupied for many years, but it has been vacant for more than 30 years. There have been several proposals to redevelop the 6.4-acre site, but none have panned out.
The William Gulick House has been included in Lawrence Township’s Fourth Round Housing Plan to help the township meet its state-mandated requirement to provide its fair share of affordable housing.
The property owner sued Lawrence Township to allow for an inclusionary development of 110 units. Of those 110 units, 22 would be set aside for affordable housing.
A settlement agreement was reached between Lawrence Township and the property owner to permit redevelopment, which triggered the need for a preliminary investigation authorized by the Planning Board.
McManus, who conducted the investigation, released a report that said the property met two of eight criteria for designation as a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment — specifically, that the building is unsafe and dilapidated, and that it compromises the safety, health and welfare of the community because of its faulty design.
But several township residents disagreed and pushed back. They cited concerns about the type of new residents that it would attract – especially low- and moderate-income households — and the density or number of units per acre on the 6.4-acre property.
Katherine Trenner said that when she was making her way up the economic ladder, she lived in an apartment with roommates. As her earnings increased, she moved into a better house in a better neighborhood. That’s the American way, she said.
“I am here to say, don’t put poor people in the apartment state of life into the rich neighborhoods,” Trenner said.
Maria Pico said her family made an investment when they moved to Lawrence Township. She said she enjoyed jogging on the D&R Canal State Park towpath in Port Mercer, until the Yorkshire Village development was built. It contains a mix of affordable and market rate units.
“I didn’t feel safe going there at 6 a.m. in the morning or late at night because of the people around it. I don’t know what 200-plus new neighbors, their friends and their extended families will bring to our community, so I ask you not to allow that in our community,” Pico said.
Nathan Kunkel, who was one of the founders of the Lawrence Junior Historians Group, lobbied to save the house because it is one of many properties associated with the Gulick family in central New Jersey.
“It would be just another continuation of the long-standing history of the family that has spanned over 300 years in our area,” Kunkel said.
William Gulick’s ancestors landed in Gravesend, which is in modern-day Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1653. The family subsequently settled in the Millstone Valley, north of Princeton. There are houses associated with the Gulick family in Princeton, South Brunswick Township and Montgomery Township.
As they prepared to vote on the resolution to designate the property as a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment, Township Council members responded to some of the comments made by the residents.
Township Councilwomen Patricia Hendricks Farmer, Bonne Giglio and Amanda Santos said they found the comments, such as “urbanizing, draining resources, subsidized housing and not feeling safe in the neighborhood,” to be offensive.
“We are all listening, we are all hearing what everyone is saying, but I think there is a difference between hearing and agreement. A lot of things that were said here tonight were offensive,” Giglio said.
“People deserve a chance to live in your bucolic neighborhood and in the not-so-bucolic neighborhoods,” Santos said. “Everybody deserves a place to live in our community.”
Township Councilman Jim Kownacki said he cannot make a decision based on what one group of residents feels is wrong. There are 33,000 residents, and that’s who he represents.
“It’s my job and that’s what I do,” Kownacki said.
Mayor Christopher Bobbitt cited the 50-year history of the Mount Laurel Doctrine, which requires towns to provide their fair share of affordable housing. There is a legal obligation to meet those needs.
“People are saying, ‘You know what, ignore it because I don’t want it in my backyard.’ There is a legal obligation. I am trying to do what is best for the township,” Bobbitt said.
