The National Parks Service has distributed a letter to the Hamilton Heights community informing residents of the impending move of the Hamilton Grange and the preparations already under way. The big news in this letter is that the original plan for cutting the house in half and backing it out onto Hamilton Terrace has been scrapped. The new plan from the contractors calls for keeping the house intact and jacking it up and over the north side of the church onto Convent Avenue. From there it will be moved south on Convent Avenue to West 141st street and then slightly east and downhill to it's new home in St. Nicholas Park.
The timeline for the move has also been adjusted. Rather than April 2008, it now seems like the project team is shooting for March. Below are the latest photos showing the site preparations in St. Nicholas Park.
The timeline for the move has also been adjusted. Rather than April 2008, it now seems like the project team is shooting for March. Below are the latest photos showing the site preparations in St. Nicholas Park.
***NOTICE***
January 8, 2008
Dear Hamilton Grange Neighbor:
The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce that we are proceeding with the relocation of Hamilton Grange National Memorial to its new site in St. Nicholas Park.
We have selected a final move route for the relocation of the Grange via Convent Avenue and 141st Street. The Grange will be moved in one piece by lifting the building from its current location and moving the structure onto Convent Avenue to begin its short but historic journey to its new St. Nicholas Park location.
Work in St. Nicholas Park, such as construction fencing, selected tree removal and foundation excavation, will begin shortly within the next few weeks. We expect the actual move of the Grange to occur by approximately March 2008.
January 8, 2008
Dear Hamilton Grange Neighbor:
The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce that we are proceeding with the relocation of Hamilton Grange National Memorial to its new site in St. Nicholas Park.
We have selected a final move route for the relocation of the Grange via Convent Avenue and 141st Street. The Grange will be moved in one piece by lifting the building from its current location and moving the structure onto Convent Avenue to begin its short but historic journey to its new St. Nicholas Park location.
Work in St. Nicholas Park, such as construction fencing, selected tree removal and foundation excavation, will begin shortly within the next few weeks. We expect the actual move of the Grange to occur by approximately March 2008.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation and are committed to minimizing construction inconvenience before, during and after the move of Hamilton Grange. As the project progresses and additional information becomes available, we will communicate to property owners on or directly affected by the move route.
If you have any questions, please contact the site supervisor, Albert Atchison, at 212-666-1640. To receive move updates via email or to send us questions and comments, please visit www.nps.gov/hagr. You may also write to us at the following address:
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
287 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
If you have any questions, please contact the site supervisor, Albert Atchison, at 212-666-1640. To receive move updates via email or to send us questions and comments, please visit www.nps.gov/hagr. You may also write to us at the following address:
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
287 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
1 comment:
On May 9, 2006, The Hamilton Grange Memorial was closed to the public to allow for extensive architectural and structural investigations as part of a long term plan to move the house to nearby St. Nicholas Park. The park location was judged a more appropriate setting for display that would permit restoration of features lost in the 1889 move. The new location would also keep the house in the neighborhood and keep it on land that was within the boundary of Hamilton's original 32-acre estate.
Work in St. Nicholas Park for tree removal and foundation construction began in February 2008. The actual move of the Grange began with elevation of the building in one piece over the loggia of St. Luke's Church and onto Convent Avenue. The Grange was placed on specially-built stilts that held the entire house approximately ten feet off the ground in the middle of Convent Avenue, between W. 145th and 142nd Street while traffic was routed around the house. The house completed its journey on June 7, 2008 by being rolled one block west on Convent Avenue and then one block south on 141st Street (down a 6% grade) to the new St. Nicholas Park location. The six-hour event was a popular neighborhood attraction covered extensively in the press. [8][9]
Once the house is secured to its new foundation, the original porches will be rebuilt and the original main entrance doorway and main staircase within the entry foyer will be restored. Landscaping around the Grange's new home will include tree plantings, a stone wall and paths. The Grange will have security detail during the day and possible video monitoring during the evening hours.
CHeers!
Danny
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