One of the few historic homes in Newark that is usually open to the public could soon look like it did when it was constructed more than 135 years ago.
The Newark Museum of Art has plans for a rehabilitation project involving the Ballantine House at 43 Washington Street. The house dates back to 1885 and is attached to the main museum, but it is temporarily closed at the moment.
The museum submitted an application to the City of Newark that calls for a $10.6 million exterior renovation of the home, which was once home to members of the family behind the Ballantine Brewing Company.
The plans involve everything from replacing existing sandstone and missing roof shingles to restoring more than 90 windows and rebuilding masonry.
“The exterior envelope of the Ballantine House may look more or less in keeping with its historic design, but it has been significantly altered in terms of materials and no longer exhibits material integrity,” a presentation regarding the proposal says.
“[The] Ballantine House has had significant alterations to the exterior. All prior repairs have failed,” the document adds. “The current goal is to implement a long-term solution using proven materials.”
In order to comply with a funding requirement from the Association of Art Museum Directors, work must be completed by April 2022, according to the presentation.
