Caldwell Library May Get ‘Historic Landmark’ Status

CALDWELL, NJ — The Caldwell Public Library may receive designation as a local historic landmark under a proposed municipal ordinance passed on first reading during the Caldwell Town Council meeting on Jan. 17.

The proposed ordinance would grant the building all of the protections of “historical” status, and was the culmination of a five-month long effort between the Historic Preservation Commission, the library and local municipal leaders, The Progress reported.

The library building is located at 272 Bloomfield Avenue on the property identified on the Borough tax maps as Block 56, Lot 10.01.

The ordinance was passed on first reading; it will be considered for final passage at the Caldwell Town Council meeting at the Caldwell Municipal Building, 1 Provost Square, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7.

See the full ordinance here.

OTHER HISTORICAL BUILDINGS IN CALDWELL

During the Jan. 17 meeting, Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Bob Kaplan said that the group also believes that three other local buildings in Caldwell are worthy of historical status: the National State Bank on the corner of Bloomfield and Central Avenues, a house at 73 Arlington Avenue and a house at 30 Smull Avenue.

In particular, the National State Bank building is at risk because it’s vacant and for sale, Kaplan said.

Kaplan also called to have a survey done identifying “all of the historic buildings in Caldwell,” a project that would cost about $25,000 and has not been done since 1986, The Progress reported.

Photo: Caldwell Public Library

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