Corrections or additions?
This column was prepared for the July 9, 2003 issue of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
Between the Lines
It was rare for us to run consecutive cover stories
on leisure destinations but — hey — it was a long winter and
a rainy spring. And we had good response to both the June 25 and the
July 2 issues.
Sponsors of the tall ship’s visit to Bristol say that David McDonough’s
article (and the cover photo by Paul Dolan) helped to bring a record
number of visitors to the Irish vessel Jeanie Johnston (U.S. 1, June
25). “Your coverage was outstanding, pictorially correct, and
historically well researched,” wrote Jim MacFarland, New Jersey
coordinator of the Jeanie Johnston project (www.princetoninfo.com/200306/30625p04.html),
Sally Friedman’s July 2 articles on the new National Constitution
Center and the Liberty Museum elicited a telephone response from a
reader who had planned to visit Philadelphia for July Fourth and complimented
the stories’ timeliness. “Today’s paper is particularly nice,”
said this reader, who also said he was moved by the column on the
late Henry Rosso, proprietor of the bar on Spring Street (www.princetoninfo.com/200307/30702f03.html).
Another story we have been covering, the eccentric glass house on
Canal Road, has been getting national attention — on CNN.com and
in the New York Times. The Times reports that John Boulton, designer
and builder of the 34,000 square foot home, plans to open sealed bids
on Tuesday, July 15.
Known as Chalan Farm, Boulton’s eight-year $10 million construction
project was never finished because his wife, the former Prudence Morgan,
developed a medical problem that necessitated a move to Manhattan.
We’ve been following this story for a long time. Our first article
(U.S. 1, December 12, 2001) resulted from an invitation to attend an open
house to which only realtors from New York and North Jersey were invited.
Then the asking price was $18 million. Barbara Fox previewed the auction
(www.princetoninfo.com/200304/30423f01.html), and on May 7 Jamie Saxon wrote about the actual
auction (www.princetoninfo.com/200305/30507f03.html),
The minimum bid on auction day was $3 million, but there were no takers.
The suggested reason was that the zoning would not allow commercial
use. Fix the zoning, the experts said, and the sale would follow.
(Officials say the zoning has not changed.)
Now Thomas E. Hora, of the New Hope office of Prudential Fox & Roach,
is marketing the property and though the J. P. King auction company
is no longer involved, the auctioneers say their efforts have helped
identify prospective buyers.
In the Times article Boulton cited potential buyers — several
foundations, two wealthy individuals who would live on the property,
and even Somerset County, which owns some adjacent open space and
could open a museum. The county denies it will do this. “Somerset
County has looked into this to determine if the glass house could
be functional as any kind of public facility,” says Tom Miller,
the county’s attorney. “The county will not be making a bid.”
The correct spelling for the name of the July 1 speaker at Jobseekers
(U.S. 1, June 25) is Don Sutaria. Sutaria is founder of Union-based
CareerQuest (www.careerquestcentral.com).
Corrections or additions?
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