A 124-year-old mansion in Morris County could end up surrounded by new homes under a redevelopment proposal that would add as many as 38 residences to the historic property.
The plan centers on the Baker Mansion at 45 Lehigh Street in Dover, where officials are considering a project that would preserve the building while allowing new housing on the surrounding land. The revised redevelopment plan is expected to go before the Town Council for approval on Tuesday, November 10.
The proposal has already faced a difficult path through Town Hall. An earlier version failed to win final approval from the Town Council, and the revised plan would increase the maximum number of homes from 30 to 38.
The mansion dates to approximately 1902 and was once the estate of William H. Baker, a prominent Dover merchant whose family owned substantial property in the area and employed local residents around the turn of the 20th century.
The roughly 2.6-acre property sits near Dover’s border with Wharton.
Under the revised redevelopment plan, dated October 9, the mansion would be preserved and renovated for a new use instead of being demolished.
The proposed work includes repairing its brick and stone exterior, restoring interior woodwork and other architectural details, and removing certain additions made over the years.
The goal is to return portions of the building closer to their appearance during the 1920s and 1930s while adapting the property for future use.
The plan would also allow up to four new buildings around the mansion, bringing the maximum number of buildings on the property to five.
Those new buildings would be limited to two stories and 35 feet in height. At least 35% of the redevelopment area would have to remain open space, with landscaping and buffers separating the development from neighboring properties.
Parking is another part of the proposal.
The plan requires two off-street parking spaces for every home. Some parking and related improvements could extend onto adjoining property in Wharton, but those portions of the project would require borough approval.
The housing itself would include a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom residences.
Between 50% and 70% of the units would be studios or one-bedroom homes, while 30% to 50% would be two-bedroom homes. Studios could account for no more than 15% of the total.
At least 20% of the homes would be designated as workforce housing, intended for households earning between 80% and 120% of the area’s median income.
The plan specifically identifies teachers, health care workers, police officers, and firefighters among the types of workers such housing is intended to serve.
That income range differs from the traditional low- and moderate-income affordable housing requirements associated with many New Jersey residential developments.
The redevelopment effort has also raised questions about how additional housing could affect the surrounding neighborhood.
Residents and council members have expressed concerns about drainage, construction, trees, and possible impacts on nearby properties.
Mayor James Dodd has supported the redevelopment approach, arguing it would preserve the privately owned mansion while allowing new housing.
“For more than 120 years, the Baker Mansion has stood as a testament to Dover’s history and the families who helped build our community,” Dodd wrote in an October statement.
Dodd said officials had considered other possibilities for the property, including a restaurant, event venue, or museum, before pursuing the residential redevelopment plan.
He also acknowledged the concerns surrounding the proposal but argued that detailed questions about drainage, construction and landscaping should be examined during later reviews of a specific development application.
The mansion’s preservation has also drawn support from members of the Baker family.
During the October 13 council meeting, a descendant of William H. Baker spoke in favor of the redevelopment proposal on behalf of herself and her mother, according to DoverNow.
The publication reported that residents also spoke both for and against the proposal, although preserving the mansion was a common priority.
The latest plan follows an unsuccessful attempt to establish redevelopment rules for the property earlier this fall.
After that version failed during a final council vote, officials returned with a revised proposal.
The council introduced the new measure on October 13 and advanced it by a 5-4 vote, according to DoverNow.
The proposal was also referred to Dover’s Planning Board for review of its consistency with the town’s master plan.
The revised redevelopment plan is now expected to return to the Town Council for consideration on November 10. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the municipal building.
Even if the redevelopment plan receives final approval, that would not mean construction of 38 homes has been authorized.
A developer would still need to submit detailed plans and obtain the necessary approvals before construction could begin.
For now, the November 10 meeting could mark a significant step toward determining the future of the property, with the proposal seeking to preserve the historic mansion while allowing new housing.
