Tag Archives: Church Street

Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Brownie Troopers

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It’s that time of the year when all the troops are rallying — Girl Scout troops, that is.

Nowadays there is quite an array of scout troop hierarchy, all falling under Girl Scouts. It used to just be Brownies and regular ol’ Girl Scouts with those brown and green uniforms, respectively. There were troops. They met at what used to be called the Youth Center in Fair Haven, at churches sometimes, and often at the nursery school on the Episcopal church property that was knocked down to make way for homes a few years ago.

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Local Life

Fair Haven Update: More House on Church Street

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It was March of 2015 when the Fair Haven Planning Board approved a three-home subdivision on the .54-acre swath of land where the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion long stood, the namesake of Church Street.

The church was demolished seven months later, in October. Now, the last and largest of the three homes built by Kolarsick Builders, a 3,000-square-foot residence, is nearing completion. The other two have For Sale signs out front.

 

There is no remnant of a church remaining on Church Street, except the name of the street. While old-time residents of the street that fronted River Road with the Church of the Holy Communion have expressed chagrin over the change, experts had testified before the Planning Board that the church was a bit of an architectural shambles and not preservable.

The subdivision was deemed by the board to be the only viable option for the site, as the church function on the property had been stagnant since it was put on the market in October of 2010. After being shown a reported 43 times since (between 2011 and 2014) and for various uses, the subdivision was deemed the most appropriate fit by the Planning Board.

Residents, who long lived on the street and have remained friends over the years, want to know what it’s looking like without the namesake church.

Here it is, folks …

— Elaine Van Develde

 

 

Local Life

Focus: More House on Fair Haven’s Church Street

The street that is called Church Street in Fair Haven is looking less and less like its namesake.

Old-time residents of the street that fronted River Road with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion have expressed some chagrin since the longtime church came down on the .54-acre parcel and a three-home subdivision by Kolarsick Builders — of one 3,000- and two 2,000-square-feet, roof-porched homes with garages and decks — was approved.

Development on the property had been stagnant since it was put on the market in October of 2010. After being shown a reported 43 times since (between 2011 and 2014) and for various uses, the subdivision was deemed the most appropriate fit the the Planning Board.

Now, several months after approval, two homes fronting Church Street are now undergoing finishing touches and the foundation is set for the third slated to front River Road.

The street had always comprised a close knit neighborhood of many who lived in much smaller versions of homes on the street in the 1960s through 1980s and ’90s. They keep in touch or remain close friends. Some still live on the street.

Those who no longer live there or close by have been asking lately what the street where they lived looks like. Here it is, old time Church Street people.

And, no, as we’ve confirmed before, there are no plans to change the name to House Street.

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life, News

Fair Haven: Taking the Church Out of Church Street

Yes, it’s still called Church Street. But, no, there’s no longer any church fronting River Road at the intersection of the namesake spot in Fair Haven.

A few months after Kolarsick Builders’ plan for a three-home subdivision was approved by the Planning Board, one home looks nearly complete, another is framed and a foundation is dug for a larger one slated to front River Road while the others front, well, Church Street.

The street always comprised a close knit neighborhood comprised of many who keep in touch or remain close friends. Some even still live on the street.

They’ve been wondering lately what the street where they lived looks like. Here it is, old time Church Street people.

And, no, there are no plans to change the name to House Street.

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, News

So Long to Church Street’s Church in Fair Haven

By Elaine Van Develde (photos and story)

The namesake of Church Street in Fair Haven will soon be gone.

The steeple of the longstanding Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion at the corner of the aptly coined Church Street and River Road is still standing, but most of the house of worship has been demolished.

As part of a Planning Board-approved subdivision plan, the demolition of the six-year-shuttered church on a .54-acre parcel, the last renovation of which  was deemed a “do-it-yourself project by a very adventurous (group of) builder(s)” in the late 1960s by Rumson builder Kolarsick attorney Brooks Von Arx, began on Tuesday.

As of 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, only the front quarter of the church remained.

Von Arx had said that razing the church was warranted to make way for the unanimously board-approved three-home subdivision because the structure was found to be in disrepair and lacked the architectural integrity or historic background to warrant preservation.

Along with the church, a two-story dwelling and former nursery school on the site were demolished.

The with no historic or architectural integrity to warrant preservation, will now be razed, as will a former nursery school, sanctuary and two-story rectory dwelling that sit on the site.

A church has sat at the location since the late 1800s, thus the namesake street.

For more information on the issue, click here.