The New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Lee Solomon ruled against reinstating a stay on the razing of the Duke Mansion on Monday. The executive director of the Duke Farms Foundation also stated that they already allowed for the demolition to resume as early as this week.
According to New Jersey On-Line, N.J. Supreme Court Justice Lee Solomon issued his ruling of the demolition of Duke Mansion at noon. The attorney for a citizens group DORIS or Demolition of Residence is Senseless; David Brook filed the motion on Sunday at around 10:30 P.M.
A state court on Friday has ruled to remove the emergency stay that was issued in March following the request of a community group that's been fighting for months to stop the demolition. The panel, moreover, instigated that group failed to show "a reasonable probability of ultimate success" with their court case against The Duke Farms Foundation.
But, as claimed by The Washington Times, it wasn't clear when the demolition work would really resume. A large part of the Hillsborough Township mansion had been tattered down the day before the emergency stay request was issued earlier this month.
"We are grateful that the courts agreed with us," said Michael Catania, the foundation's executive director on Saturday. The executive director also added, "We are hoping to get started again (on the demolition) in the near future, but we haven't set a schedule yet."
The mansion has become abandoned since the Duke's death in 1993. The Foundation officials also claimed that it is in despair and would even take at least $10 million for reconstruction.
The lawyer and the leader of the community group DORIS, stated that the group has a choice to take its case for an emergent motion to the New Jersey Supreme Court. But he also said that was not likely to happen.
During the legal dispute, DORIS also called on the foundation to explore possible rehabilitative measures or the mansion that they would generate income and attention. For several months, it has fought with the demolition and turned the courts after the Hillsborough Township Historic Preservation Commission, which approved the demolition plans in October, as reported by ABC NEWS.
Meanwhile, the attorney claimed that if the appeal would become victorious, DORIS plans to demand the mansion be restored to its original state. The foundation officials also expressed that they planned to open around 50 acres at Duke Farms to the public if the demolition were approved.
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