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Murray Hill Square

A Major Transformation of a Village that Began at the Train Station (source & date unknown)

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In 1974 few people in New Providence, New Jersey believed that the run-down area adjacent to the Murray Hill Train Station could be developed into the focal point of the community, as visualized by an ambitious developer and his Architect, but after overcoming numerous technical and legal barriers this six-acre site has been transformed into a village of quality second only to Williamsburg itself.

Today visitors to Murray Hill Square find it difficult to believe that they have not actually entered an 1800s village. The seventeen buildings that occupy the trisected site encompass a wide range of architectural styles and details from the days when all workers were craftsmen. A stroll along the brick walks, through the lavish gardens, and into the formal courtyards, places one into the atmosphere of the elegant 1890s.

Architect Alexander A. Bol, AIA has in this his first major project as a sole practitioner, combined a site of unusual configuration, along with a very demanding program, into a series of delightful spacial and visual experiences. The building designs are based upon actual structures, most of which existed in New Providence, and were selected either for their historic significance or architectural style. In designing the buildings Architect Bol had in most cases only one picture of the original structure to work from and had to develop the other elevations within the style indicated by the often vague photographs.

This four-million-dollar project has approximately 50,000 square feet of rentable space with about three-quarters of that devoted to commercial use and the balance to professional offices. Complete interior layouts are developed for all tenants and are basically residential in scale and design, although special circumstances such as the brick infill between the post & beam structure of one building prompted the designing of hand-forged brackets for flexibility in hanging paintings for the tenant, an art gallery.

The buildings are mainly brick or wood frame with the ground levels being devoted to retail shops and the second-floor spaces to professional offices. However, in a few buildings such as the “Grist Mill” the entire structure is occupied by a men's apparel shop, with an impressive three-story central space that is pierced by large hand-hewn beams and trusses.

The community's large old schoolhouse has been reproduced in all of its Victorian glory including the very intricate bell tower and is now the home of a very unusual children's clothing store.

Although three of the buildings are actual vintage structures it is difficult for the untrained eye to select them from the others as the materials used throughout were carefully selected to match those that would have been used 150 years or so ago. Foundations and retaining walls are of brick and stone while roofs vary from slate and clay tile to hand-split shakes and wood shingles cut into geometric shapes. A list of millwork detail notes such oddities as four over twelve double-hung windows, turned pendants & finials, and five-foot-high vergeboards. Interiors are completed with such materials as random-width pine floors, plaster walls & ceilings, hand-hewn beams, fabric-covered panels, and wood panels and mouldings specially milled to duplicate many styles no longer manufactured.

The architectural styles of the buildings include Victorian, Gothic, and Colonial.

As Architect for the project, Bol coordinated all aspects of construction from the installation of underground utility systems, through supervision of all detailing and finishing on the job. Peculiarities of the detailing not only required scores of full-size details but also created situations necessitating panel layouts to be drawn directly on the walls of a room and an intricate festooned bargeboard detail to be drawn in the field, directly on the pine boards by the Architect himself.

Since the official grand opening of Murray Hill Square in July 1976, the Architect's principal attention has been devoted to designing phase II, with groundbreaking in October 1976. The planned expansion on an adjacent 3.6-acre site will include sixteen buildings with over 55,000 square feet of rentable space. When completed the entire project will accommodate over seventy tenants and offer more than 650 off-street parking spaces.

'Simply elegant.'

Independent Press 11.03.1981

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That's what everyone is saying about the 50 new luxury condominiums at Murray Hill Square, the documentary village ideally situated in the peaceful, scenic foothills of the Watchung Mountain Range.

Brick-lined courtyards. Towering shade trees. Formal gardens of boxwood. A cobblestone path and Old English street lanterns. The distinctive ambiance and impeccable good taste known as Murray Hill Square, a place where family, home, and community come together to celebrate a quiet affinity for a delightful bygone era.

Whether your preference is the purity of Williamsburg or the ornateness of Victoriana, there's an authentic reconstruction for you at Murray Hill Square-more than half of the condominiums are single or two-unit residences. Imagine yourself in a one-, two- or three-bedroom "old home" newly built with wide-board floors. Exposed brick fireplaces. High ceilings. Custom moldings. Ample storage space. And professionally designed kitchens. More than a hallmark of quality... a subtle reminder of old-world craftsmanship combined with all the labor-saving style that is. 20th-Century living at its best.

Located only 22 miles from Manhattan- and easily accessible by direct train, bus, or highway route, Murray Hill Square is also convenient to prestigious stores, exclusive country clubs, the finest public and private schools, and recreation-all within ten miles. And everyday shopping within walking distance. No wonder others are calling the place, "The Ultimate Condominium."

For a copy of our brochure, or an appointment to personally tour all the charming sophistication that is Murray Hill Square, contact: Norman C. Lubeck, Holmes Agency, Exclusive agents for
Murray Hill Associates,
83 Floral Avenue,
Murray Hill, New Jersey, 07974. Phone 201/464/6511.

Murray Hill Associates is a joint venture of the Lincoln Capital Corporation (a subsidiary of Lincoln Federal Savings & Loan Association) and Intermanagement, Inc., an affiliate of The Boyce Organization, a real-estate management and development firm. This advertisement is for the purpose of soliciting non-binding reservations and is not an offering, which can be made only by formal prospectus.

Murray Hill Square joins the 'renaissance'

The Star-Ledger 11.08.1981

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National Census-takers report that, for the first time since 1820, the population of small-town America is growing at a rate faster than that of urban centers. As part of this "rural renaissance," Murray Hill Square, a village of 50 luxury condominiums in Murray Hill, has opened for preview sale and, within the first week, recorded reservations of at least one home per day.

"This shows us," says real-estate developer David M. Boyce of Murray Hill Associates, "that people are once again looking for a quiet, peaceful place where family, home, and community can come together. They want to sense a feeling of belonging, yet have a right to individualism and privacy, too."

"They're looking for a place where The American dream can be rekindled or sustained," adds partner John R. McCord.

Located in the outskirts of New Providence, Murray Hill Square sits on a six-acre site once part of a larger 400-acre parcel purchased in 1874, by Carl Schultz, the mineral-water magnate who built the train depot there and thus was allowed to name the area after the exclusive district of Manhattan where he had lived previously. It was only within the last few years that the reconstructed village of authentically reproduced colonial and Victorian homes, boxwood formal gardens, brick-lined courtyards and Old English street lantern-lit paths has taken shape.

From the purist of Williamsburg to the most ornate of turn-of-the-century design, the homes are based upon actual structures discovered across a four-state region and selected for either their historic significance or architectural style. At that, age-old records, plans, and photographs were unearthed and present-day historical societies consulted long before a single foundation was dug.

"It would be extremely difficult for the untrained e eye to determine the one vintage structure from the others," remarks project. architect Alexander A. Bol, explaining that the construction materials used throughout Murray Hill Square are as close to "period" as humanly possible.

For example, roofs have been made from slate and clay tile or hand-split cedar shakes. Exterior millwork called for such oddities as four-over-twelve double-hung windows, turned pendants and finials, plus five-foot-high vergeboards. Even the interiors feature random-width pine floors, hand-hewn beams and wood panels and mouldings specially milled to duplicate styles no longer manufactured.

Billed as "The Ultimate Condominium," Murray Hill Square consists of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes more than half are single-family or two-unit residences. As such, prices from completed units range from $118,000 to $300,000, which includes everything from professionally designed and equipped kitchens to security alarm systems.

Because final floor plans await each buyer's approval or alteration to fit specific lifestyle needs, Murray Hill Square can also be termed "custom housing." The developers have assembled a team of on-staff professional space planners and interior designers to assist, if needed, in the renovation of the now-open living spaces.

"Where else," asks designer Lafe Hill, "can you o have a love affair with an 'old house' and still be able to 'restore its interior exactly the way you want it?"

For an appointment to tour the village's first completed home, a sun-filled, two-bedroom Williamsburg 'Wetherburn's Tavern" containing some $50,000 worth of contemporary furnishings and antiques, contact Murray Hill Associates at 83 Floral Ave., Murray Hill.

Housing Revives Old-Time Mall

New York Times 11.29.1981

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NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J. A closed shopping center built as an old-time village with shops located in a grist mill, a tavern, a schoolhouse, and other period buildings is being converted into condominium apartments in this community just west of Summit.

A model was recently opened for what will eventually be 50 condominium houses and apartments. The shopping center, Murray Hill Square - on six acres on the outskirts of New Providence -was planned and constructed by Natale G. Conti, a builder who lives in New Providence. The mall opened in 1976.

Although all the shops were eventually rented, the venture failed when the expected volume of business did not materialize, and the shops closed one by one.

The merchants who had shops there also attributed the center's demise to its management, poor location, a lack of support from New Providence, and the quaint charm of the mall itself, which they say attracted tourists rather than a steady local trade.

The institution that held the mortgage on Mr. Conti's $10 million venture, the Lincoln Federal Savings and Loan Association of Westfield, officially reclaimed the property last Oct. 16, although negotiations were begun in May 1980. It had at first tried to sell the complex as a shopping center, but no buyers materialized.

The institution then entered into an agreement with David M. Boyce and John R. McCord, partners in the Boyce Organization, a real-estate management and development concern in New Providence.

The conversion, which is expected to cost about $2 million, is being undertaken by Murray Hill Associates - a joint venture of the Lincoln Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of Lincoln Federal Savings, and Intermanagement Inc., an affiliate of the Boyce Organization.

Alexander Bol of Union was the architect for both the shopping mall and the new project. Murray Hill Square consists of two squares of 12 buildings each, cobblestone paths, and boxwood gardens. A grouping of five buildings is being reserved for commercial sale.

Mr. Conti, who heads the Conti Construction Company, says the idea for the original square grew out of his purchase in 1973 of the land on which his office and a dilapidated garage and barn stood.

The builder installed water and electrical lines paved much of the area and put in sewers. After a visit to the Williamsburg restoration in Virginia, Mr. Conti decided a similar idea could work on his property. He then approached New Providence officials for permission to develop the property for commercial use and eventually sold them on the idea.

Mr. Bol, the local historical society, and others were consulted to insure that the buildings Mr. Conti planned to construct were authentic reproductions of old structures in the area.

''From a construction standpoint, the project lends itself easily to the work we have undertaken,'' Mr. Bol said. Blending modern conveniences with an old-style setting worked out well, he said, and few seem aware of things like air-conditioners.

A school building is a copy of an 1850 schoolhouse that once stood on Springfield Avenue here and now, shorn of its exterior trappings, serves as the borough hall.

Another is a reproduction of a grist mill, which once housed a clothing shop. The Elkwood railroad station, once a stop on the Erie Lackawanna run to Summit, was copied -with a slate roof, copper rain diverter, bell tower, and boarding deck.

So far, only one building - a copy of the Wetherburn Tavern at Williamsburg and the former site of a shoe store - has been renovated. The model unit is priced at $259,000. The exterior conversion of the building was minor, only one window was removed, but the interior work was extensive, Mr. Boyce said. The tavern will eventually have three units.

''It's wonderful to see life coming back to the square, to see something positive happening,'' Mr. Conti said. ''Apparently, we created something worthwhile. I can't wait to see the families here.''

Mr. Conti said he was grateful that the Boyce Organization had preserved the historical flavor of the square. There are seven buildings being converted to single-family homes. More than half the buildings will have two-unit residences. A few buildings will have apartment units.

The downstairs area in the completed duplex model contains, in addition to the foyer, a large living room with a fireplace; two ''conversation areas''; a dining area; a den; a kitchen, with a separate breakfast area, double ovens, and oak cupboards, and a bathroom.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, each with its own bath or what could be a large dressing room or office. Each unit has a security system linked to the local Police and Fire Department and each room has a cable television outlet.

''The security system seems to be something people want today, particularly in luxury housing,'' Mr. Boyce said. The one-, two- and three-bedroom units will range in price from $118,000 to $300,000 or about $110 a square foot. Maintenance is estimated at $165 to $185 a month.

One of the commercial buildings has been sold to an insurance agent. Mr. Boyce said he expected the rest would be purchased by professionals.

''There's risk in any real estate venture, but we feel the product is here,'' Mr. Boyce said. ''Nat Conti did an excellent job in placing these buildings so that they have real community. We think the people in the area will support it precisely because it is such a unique blend of old and new.''

Murray Hill Square To Be Featured In National Magazine

Suburban News 07.25.1984

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MURRAY HILL - Murray Hill Square, a local condominium, is to be featured in the October issue of Early American Life magazine. The eight-page display will be the lead article with pictures in full color. Mimi Handler, managing editor of Early American Life, first contacted Murray Hill Associates in November- 1983. Follow-up visits with Ms. Handler and Editor Frances Carnahan resulted in a decision to do an extensive photography session at Murray Hill Square.

The display will be titled "Old House, New Look.” Although Murray Hill Square itself is less than one decade old, the homes have been built to be authentic replicas. Mason House, a home with Colonial-Victorian flavor, was chosen by Ms. Handler to be the focus of the presentation. Furniture was chosen by the editors to decorate the living, dining, and studio-- bedroom areas of Mason House. Furniture arrived at Murray Hill Square over a period of weeks from Cohasset Colonials, Harden, Haversham Plantation, Hitchcock, and Thomasville furniture manufacturers. China from Royal Worcester and Villeroy Boch, floral carpets from Stark Carpets; and brass from Mottahedeh were also chosen and situated.

The period represented in the decorating is late Federal-- American Empire, 1820-1850. This era in American history was a prosperous time. The Colonial hardship was over and Americans were interested in dis- playing their prosperity. and spending their new found wealth. The people enjoyed painted furniture, floral carpets, and lots of color. Mason House was decorated like an upper middle-class home would have been during that time. Hitchcock gained its first real success during that period. In addition to the detailed interior photographs, exteriors of Murray Hill Square will be shown.

The October issue of Early American Life will be on the newsstands on July 31.

Morris not among safest places

The Star-Ledger 08.27.1984

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By JIM MORRIS

Daily Record Staff Writer

Art Schrafft didn't need a book to tell him New Providence was safe. Schrafft, 31, moved from Convent Station, where he grew up, to this Union County town five years ago, and he has no interest in moving back across the Passaic River into Morris County.

"This is a real family town. It's just a sleepy little residential area," he said, while his 22-year-old son, Teddy, splashed in the kiddie pool at the community swim club. "My wife feels totally safe and secure on the streets here at night."

New Providence, he says, has not been overwhelmed by development, which he says has spoiled the charm of the Morristown area.

Schrafft isn't the only one high on New Providence. Along with neighboring Berkley Heights and Summit, it was included among the safest towns in the country in a recently released book, "Safe Places for the '80s." The book, written by Holly and David Franke, ranks the 110 towns in 39 states on the basis of real estate costs, medical facilities, schools, recreation, and, of course, crime statistics.

The Frankes sought towns near metropolitan areas, where jobs are concentrated, they said. Their 1972 book, "Safe Places," focused on small, rural communities.

Roy Jordan, 52, knows both rural and suburban life. He moved from rural Alabama to Summit in 1952 and said he feels just as safe in his Broad Street home as he did growing up in Paneola, Ala. "This is it. Summit is the only place," said Jordan, a forklift operator and father of seven. "It's the only place to raise them (children) in the state of Jersey. There's nobody on the corner here. There're no prostitutes here. They're no bums here." There is recreation, though.

School-age children in all three towns said recreation keep their safe town from being boring.

In Summit. Todd Nichols, a 15- year-old Summit High School sophomore, said organized sports and other diversions, like the Summit Youth Center with its video games, pool table, and parties, help keep Summit kids out of trouble.

John Richel, a senior at Governor Livingston Regional High School in Berkley Heights, said organized recreation begins in the third grade and follows children through high school.

Still, kids account for problems in the area. New Providence Patrolman Al Bleich said complaints of shoplifting, pool hopping, loud parties, and shooting off firecrackers often are traced to kids. But compared to urban crime, those infractions are minor, he said.

"It's definitely a quiet town," Bleich said.

Parents like it that way. "It's a wonderful place to raise a family. You really do feel safe here," said Ruth Sessler, a New Providence resident of 23 years.

Fred Toney, a 58-year-old Newark resident, said he is attracted by the Passaic River's fish rather than the area's low crime rate. He said he likes the area for Sunday fishing but has no interest in leaving his Newark home.