Big blue house needs a little bit of respect Residents turn out, but hearing is again postponed BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer If you've been downtown, you've noticed her. The overly ornate, baby blue mansion at 226 Main St. in Matawan appears to have floated out of a fairy tale, landing squarely in the center of Matawan. ERIC SUCAR staff The big blue house on Main Street near Matawan's downtown district is the subject of a grassroots citizens campaign. Residents and historians alike have a deep affection for the stately home, now slated to become office space. The grand old home is a favorite of neighbors too, almost 40 of whom came out to the Planning Board meeting Sept. 5 hoping to save the mid-19th century structure from a zoning change that could drastically alter the building's appearance, both inside and out. Attorney Sal Alfieri represents the owners of the property, 226 Main Street Associates LLC, according to the Matawan tax records department. The owners are looking for a zoning change to alter the building for use as office space. Already postponed by the board once in July, the matter was again postponed, this time until Nov. 5. Alfieri apologized on behalf of his client, noting the owner's professional planner was unable to attend the meeting. ERIC SUCAR staff The big blue house on Main Street near the downtown district is the subject of a grassroots citizens campaign. Residents and historians alike have a deep affection for the stately home, now slated to become office space. Historic Sites Commission President Robert Montfort, along with several others in attendance, accused the owners of stalling. "If you keep delaying it, people will get disinterested," Montfort said. Barbara DeVilbiss, Main Street, said she came to the meeting to vocalize her opposition to the zoning change. She, too, was disappointed by the postponement. "So they wouldn't bastardize that building," DeVilbiss said when asked why she chose to attend. "He [the owner] wants to tear off the windows and turn it into an office building." Borough resident Marcy Reilly is perhaps the most perturbed by the situation. She lives next door to the stately home and worries that the building's new owners are neglecting the property. According to the borough's tax department, the limited liability company became the official owner of the block and lot in March. "There's 4 inches of bird [droppings] on the front porch," Reilly said. She added, "It [the building] is empty and not being maintained." Reilly sent out e-mails informing residents of the meeting. She had prepared a written statement, which she shared with Greater Media Newspapers. "When you cheapen the value of something, then it loses more than cash value," Reilly planned to tell the Planning Board. "It loses respect, too. If this house was able to be purchased by someone who could respect its value, heritage and beauty as a home, it would not be the target for quick profit as it is today." Main Street resident Regina Hawn planned to read a letter from the chairperson of the Monmouth County Historical Commission, a letter that asks the Planning Board to consider the home's historical and aesthetic value. "That structure is a rare, beautifully preserved survivor of a mid-19th-century Empire style residence and is one of the county's architectural treasures. We would hope that continued faithful preservation of this piece of the county's history will be given a major priority," wrote Brooks Von Arx in her letter to the borough. Montfort put it another way. "We don't need more historic properties chopped up into more business spaces," Montfort said. "This home is probably the best example of Second Victorian architecture. It's the icon of Matawan." Other residents agreed with Montfort's conclusion regarding downtown office space. "There's already an overflow of commercial properties for rent that are empty," Reilly said. "It makes Matawan look like a ghost town." "What's wrong with keeping residential homes residential homes?" asked resident Eleanor Tonningsen. Reilly hopes more residents will come out to support the "big blue house" on Nov. 5. "This treasure is only protected by the zoning at this point," Reilly wrote in her statement. "If we keep the commercial separate from the residential, maybe the value of Main Street will be worth more than just money. It can regain the respect it once got before it was sold to the highest bidder.