MAPLE SHADE — The township is moving forward with plans to demolish the 244-year-old Collins Lane House, despite backlash from residents.
On Oct. 26, the Township Council awarded a contract to Booth Mechanical Inc. to tear down the house within 45 days. The municipality bought the property in 2004, and there has been a lot of discussion over the years of what to do with it, according to Township Manager Joseph Andl.
The council determined that the cost of restoring the house, built in 1773, as well as making it accessible under the Americans With Disabilities Act, would be $440,000, compared with the $59,200 needed to demolish it and use the property for something else.
But some residents treasure the historic house and nearby silo on Collins Lane, which are next to a walking park. Resident Christine Weklar started an online petition in an attempt to save the house. It has garnered 1,125 signatures as of Wednesday, just shy of Weklar’s goal of 1,500.
Weklar was inspired to take action after hearing from neighbors that the house was slated for demolition. She lives a few blocks away and frequently walks in the park.
“When you look at it, you can see the history,” she said. “To get rid of history, it’s like erasing the memories of everyone that had lived there, too.”
The Maple Shade Historical Society applied to designate the house on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 2008, but it was denied because the structure was remodeled several times, according to Andl.
“There’s not enough evidence that it is still historic to get it on the registry,” he said.
Officials have discussed building a playground on the property to blend with the adjacent park. Weklar is among several residents who would rather see the house restored as a community center or other use.
“There are so many playgrounds in town. To tear this down for a playground, it’s even more ridiculous,” she said.
The house’s fate has been the subject of discussion on social media. Some, like resident Denise Salvano, have offered to volunteer their time to restore it.
“It is small, but it could be a home base for the after-school activities for the kids, or a meeting place for the Daisies and Girl Scouts, sports groups and other activities like that,” Salvano said.
Andl raised concerns over whether volunteers would be permitted to restore the house themselves because of asbestos and other safety hazards.
Weklar said a group of residents is planning to raise the issue at Thursday’s council meeting in a last-ditch effort to save the Collins Lane House. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the municipal building on Stiles Avenue.