The rehabilitation of the historic Wicoff House moved forward after the Plainsboro township committee approved a design firm and historical item collection policy.
“The next step is for interior and exterior stabilization,” says public works director Neil Blitz. “The goal is for the Wicoff House to be an educational venue for township residents.
Stabilization will prevent future deterioration, and architectural firm Clarke Caton Hintz, based in Trenton, will provide design and construction oversight services for $21,000. Once a design plan is developed, the township will seek a construction firm. The goal is to reopen the a portion of the Wicoff House sometime in 2016, according to deputy mayor Neil Lewis.
Clarke Caton Hintz previously presented a preservation plan at the March 11 committee meeting, and a preliminary preservation cost estimate included: $105,000 for exterior and interior stabilization, $190,000 for exterior restoration; and $1 million for interior restoration, including an HVAC overhaul. There are also 3,000 objects in the Wicoff House, and the firm estimates 10 percent are excellent historical items while 50 percent merit storage.
The township adopted an historical item collection policy which establishes the process and rules for evaluating the items in the Wicoff House. Trenton consulting firm Hunter Research will determine what is of historic value.
In other news, the township plans to contract to replace the municipal roof from the early 1990s for approximately $500,000.
