Group that opposes demolition of Duke mansion vows to take their fight to the courts if necessary.
HILLSBOROUGH -- The battle to save the Duke Farms mansion from the wrecking ball will continue Wednesday night when the township attorney will rule if a group that opposes the demolition of the once-iconic structure has the right to file an appeal before the township's Board of Adjustment.
A hearing will be held at the township's municipal complex at 7:30 p.m. If the township attorney rules the group has the right to file the appeal, another hearing will be scheduled.
The group, called DORIS (Demolition of Residence Is Senseless), is seeking to reverse a decision by the township's Historical Preservation Commission to approve an application by the Duke Farms Foundation to demolish the mansion, which was built in 1893.
Both sides have submitted documentation to the township attorney explaining their positions.
If the appeal is denied, David Brook, one of the organizers of DORIS, has vowed to pursue the appeal in either state of federal court.
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"If they say they don't have jurisdiction or they don't want jurisdiction, we're going to take it to a higher authority quickly," said Brook. "To me, it's pretty obvious the Board of Adjustment has the authority. It's also pretty obvious they don't want to touch it."
Last month, DORIS, which will celebrate Doris Duke's 103rd birthday on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Duke Island Park in Bridgedwater, alleged in a press release that the demolition of the mansion had begun although the township hasn't issued a demolition permit.
The release said that one of the large two-story south facing windows had been removed and the entire side of the mansion was exposed to the elements.
But Michael Catania, the executive director of the Duke Farm Foundation, said the windows were removed so some of the architectural elements of the mansion could be taken out and preserved before the demolition takes place. He added that the side of the mansion exposed would be covered up.
Catania said he had the permit to do the work that had been done.
Hillsborough Mayor Doug Tomson confirmed that the foundation had the permit. The foundation, however, has yet to apply for a demolition permit, he said.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook