Save the Fell House

WELCOME TO THE FELL HOUSE BLOG

    The purpose of this blog is to keep you up to date on efforts to save Allendale's historic Fell House, to tell you about the amazing patriot John Fell, and to direct you to the books and articles that underscore just how vital a role John Fell played in American history (see the links on the left).

We Need Your Help

   The developer who wants to destroy the HISTORIC FELL HOUSE at 475 Franklin Turnpike has hit a roadblock -- for now -- but it is important to realize that the battle of Allendale is not over, and we need allies in our cause.

The Concerned Citizens of Allendale stand for saving this historic treasure!
We stand for preserving precious and environmentally sensitive open space!
We stand for protecting the nearby Celery Farm Natural Area!
We stand for the Fell House!
Stand with us!

 

 Send us a tax-deductible donation so we can keep on fighting the good fight. Right now we need help with operating costs because we have hired a planner to review the site plan--we know that the developer may come back and we will need this testimony.

   We need funding to cover the costs of the signs we have placed around town, the buttons, ads, and postage for letters to the residents and other concerned groups. Copying costs and clerical supplies for the many grants we have applied for are also costly.
    Our committee is all volunteer.  We are a non-profit, and none of us is paid for the work we do because we so fervently believe in this cause.   We can't do it all alone--we need your help now more than ever !
   We have had generous support from many Allendale citizens and other New Jersey residents, but we are asking everyone who cares about this fight to please help us stop this developer, who has such deep pockets and resources. 

     Our mission is to save the Fell House and to work with the owner to purchase the property.  We have received grants for acquisition, but need to stop the developer before we can negotiate this next step. 

   Your donations will help us get there. 

   

   Thank you for your support ! 

RESULTS OF PLANNING BOARD MEETING 112008

    On Thursday night, the Allendale Planning Board voted 6-0 in favor of  a resolution memorialing its decision to reject, without prejudice, the developer's plan to tear down the historic Fell House and build 11 townhomes.
    The (wrecking) ball is back in the developer's court, and he seems intent pursuing other legal avenues.

UPDATE -- AND A THANK YOU...

   

The battle for the Fell House is far from over, but the citizens of Allendale and those who cherish our great American heritage have cause for celebration.
   The Deep Pockets who wish to develop the Fell House property are formidable opponents, but the Planning Board voted 6-0 to to reject the application, without prejudice.
    We understand that the vote will be memorialized at the next regular scheduled planning board meeting tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 20). After that, it is unclear what will happen.
    In the meantime, we wish not only to thank all the volunteers and concerned citizens and American heritage lovers for their tireless efforts, but we also wish to thank two groups for their expertise and support -- the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Fyke Nature Association.
   Thank you, all!

A VICTORY -- FOR NOW

  

Developers' plans to tear down the Fell House hit a roadblock last night when the Allendale Planning Board voted 6-0 to deny the application until legal problems involving Allison Village -- the adjacent townhouse  development -- can be resolved.
   Turnout was great: The developer likened it to the premiere of the latest James Bond movie, and the parking lot was so packed that a fire marshall had to have some of the citizens move their cars.
   The standing-room-only crowd was a great grassroots effort. John Fell would have been proud.
    To everyone who showed up last night or at previous planning board meetings, we salute you!

    To our lawyer, George Cotz, and the Columbia University Law Clinic, who gave him an assist, we can't thank you enough.

  

CRUCIAL MEETING TONIGHT, 7 P.M.

     The Allendale Planning Board is holding a special session tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 11, to hear a developer's proposal to tear down the historic home and to build 11 townhomes in its place. The board will also be taking public comment at this time.

    Attendance at Fell House-related Planning Board meetings has been strong and crucial. Please help -- show your support for the Fell House and our Allednale American heritage by attending tonight. 

    This is for all the marbles.

   Questions? E-mail us.

YET ANOTHER HISTORY GROUP SAYS: SAVE FELL HOUSE!

  In late October, the New Jersey  chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution became the latest group to recognize the historic significance of Founding Father John Fell and his residence at 475 Franklin Turnpike.
  Other groups include Preservation New Jersey, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs, Crossroads of the Revolution, and the W3R.
  You can read the group's resolution by clicking below:

Download ResoFellHouse.pdf

CELERY FARM FLOODING

   A friend made this 2-minute video after Tropical Storm Hanna in early September inundated the Celery Farm with stormwater run-off.

    The headline in The Record the next day said that the storm "let us off easy." It did not let the Celery Farm off easty,

    What would happen if 11 townhouses were built across the street, and the stormwater run-off from those buildings, 47 parking spaces and other paved surfaces, flowed into the Celery Farm? That's the developer's plan.

    

WILDLIFE, TOO

  

On Monday, this magnificent Red-tailed Hawk perched atop one of the Fell House conifers, serving as a reminder of what wonderful habitat would be lost -- and how many trees like this one would be felled -- if this project  were somehow approved.
   The wetlands on the property are of exceptional value. We are fighting to protect them, and to protect the nearby Celery Farm.

AERIAL VIEW

 

    IN THIS AERIAL VIEW, The Fell House is in the middle on the left.
    The Franklin Turnpike goes from the upper middle left to the lower middle right.
    The dark spot in the upper right is the Celery Farm and Lake Appert.
    The developer wants to tear down the historic house, barn and root cellar, build 11 townhouses, and have all stormwater runoff flow under Franklin Turnpike and into the Celery Farm.

ABOUT THE FELL HOUSE

    The historic Fell House is located at 475 Franklin Turnpike, near the 107-acre Celery Farm Natural Area.   

   The property is 2.78 acres. A developer wants to tear down the Fell House and its beautiful outbuildings and build 11 townhomes.

   He is asking for a huge variance -- townhouse developments are supposed to be on 10-acre lots, not on one that is less than three acres.

   Our group, the Concerned Citizens of Allendale, is trying to save the house and property.

    We are a 501c3 non-profit group.

    Our Web site is savethefellhouse.org.

    Please, help us save this wonderful home and property.