Duke Farms mansion's fate to be decided Thursday night

Thursday night will mark the third hearing before the township's Historical Preservation Commission on the future of the Duke Farms mansion.

HILLSBOROUGH -- The third hearing before the township's Historic Preservation Commission Thursday night on an application to demolish the Duke Farms mansion is expected to result in a decision.

At an often contentious three-and-half hour hearing before approximately 150 residents on Sept. 24, David Brook, one of the organizers of DORIS (Demolition of Residence is Senseless), which opposes the demolition of the mansion, presented its case to preserve the mansion before the commission.

Michael Catania, the executive director of the Duke Farm Foundation, had presented foundation's case to demolish the mansion during a July 30 hearing.

When Brook finished his presentation, more than a dozen residents loudly insisted that they be heard before a final vote is taken. Rather than push the hearing into the early-morning hours, it was adjourned.

Thursday night's hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the township's municipal complex.

After public comments are heard, both sides will present their closing arguments. The commission is expected to hold a discussion and then conduct a final vote.

During the last hearing, opponents maintained that the foundation didn't weigh the historical significance of the mansion or explore adaptive usages of it in deciding to bulldoze the former home of heiress Doris Duke, which was built in 1893.

Brook, who said the Duke Farms estate is worth $1.79 billion, presented several witnesses, including real estate appraiser Russell Sterling of Somerville, who disputed the foundation's claim that it would cost between $10 to $20 million dollars to rehabiliate and maintain the mansion. He also disagreed that the configuration of the mansion's rooms are too small for the structure to be made "mission-appropriate" for the foundation.

Catania has said the cost to rehabilitate and maintain the mansion is prohibitive. He said the foundation has explored adaptive usages to the structure but determined that none is cost-effective. He said the notion that holding wedding, special events and conferences in the mansion isn't the "panacea" many believe.

Catania, who insists he's acting in the best interest of the foundation, had an opportunity to demand a vote by the commission during the last hearing because it's past 45 days since the foundation first submitted its application to have the mansion demolished.

But he agreed to an extension with the promise that a decision be rendered Thursday night.