Initially funded in 2007 by the New Jersey Office of Smart Growth, South Orange now is undertaking a study to determine the need, scope, powers and standards for possibly establishing a historic commission. Historic commissions typically are comprised of residents and other property owners, and have the ability to review and provide recommendations regarding renovations conducted on properties designated on the State and/or National Historic Registers, or those located within a designated historic district. If established, a historic commission also would make an examination of South Orange, determine historic districts and properties, and make applications to the respective historic registers for placement of a district or property on these registers.

The purpose of this study is to conduct a series of workshops for public input regarding the potential powers and benefits of a historic commission, including review standards.  Public input is critical to this project as it could pertain to many properties in the Village.

This project was initiated in 2002, with the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee to Study Historic Commissions, which produced these reports:

Historic Preservation Report (July 2003)	PDF File (1.4 MB)
Village Report Slide Show (July 2003)	PDF File (12 MB)

Based on three public Community Charrettes and research by Heyer, Gruel & Associates and Acroterion, LLC, Historic Preservation Consulting, the consultants selected to conduct this study, these Draft Recommendations for a South Orange Historic Commission were developed:

Historic Preservation Commission Recommendations

PDF File (5 MB)

To download files on PC: Right-Click and select "Save Target As"

Please submit any questions or comments to preservation@southorange.org