Though one area of Metuchen has been named historically significant, there is no official order to protect these properties from being knocked down and their value of preserving the past from being permanently erased. The fact that these structures are being put under a historical label by the Historical Preservation Committee is actually hurting the progress of the town in its attempts to maintain the properties instead of achieving the HPC’s initial aim of protecting them. Overall, the historical denomination is providing a facade that something is being done.
This could be especially harmful when presented to the Busch administration, as it can provide a false statement that there is an ordinance in place to prevent encroachments onto early 20th-century buildings. The Metuchen Historical District was established on July 31, 2017, but currently, nothing is being done about the state of these historical structures.
There are 168 properties and two parks—Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Woodward Park—declared “historical,” but the truth is, there are many more at risk of being destroyed. Metuchen is known to be an authentically historical town, tracing back to its roots and foundation in 1900. To conserve a distant age, actual measures need to be taken to achieve the goal of maintaining a town that is still grounded classically.
Taking action is essential, and the options people have are becoming increasingly limited. Spreading awareness on the subject of Metuchen’s history can aid in exposure, and it is essential for not only the general public but also those in positions of authority, to act upon it. Creating and posting on a social media account or even printing fliers to post around town can amass consciousness on the situation, especially in addressing the destruction of the 31 Woodbridge home. Metuchen’s citizens can also appeal to the H.P.C. and those with authority in the town to attempt to ask them to take action. Facing and providing a solution to this is necessary due to the urgency of the situation; making an effort to create a document to fortify measures against demolishing these properties is needed.
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