Failing to Landmark Yorktown’s Underhill Property Hurts Town
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
Having just learned about the Underhill House in the last 24 hours, my understanding of the situation is that your community faces an important decision. The Underhill House and the property it rests upon have been identified as being eligible for both the State and National Register of Historic Places. This speaks to the significance of this property both to the state and nation.
I write to you as someone who has ties of memory and family to Yorktown. I found no fewer than 28 family members with the name Underhill in my family tree from Yorktown. The earliest relative to arrive in Yorktown was Isaac Underhill, who had several children, the earliest born in the 1750s.
And while my surname is not Underhill, I only need to go back two generations in my family to find an Underhill. My grandmother, Patricia Underhill, who is now deceased, was an accomplished preservation advocate and greatly influenced me in my career. Her father, Harold Underhill, had two daughters. Our family is included in the Underhill Genealogy published by the Underhill Society of America. And for a period of time, I served as president of the Underhill Burying Ground on Long Island where our colonial forebear was laid to rest in 1672 and several hundred relatives are buried.
Mine is a direct family connection with the Underhill family, as well as a depth of experience and knowledge in historic preservation spanning more than two decades. My career has taken me to communities throughout the U.S., from Long Island, to Texas, to Kentucky and presently New Jersey. In each of these places I have contributed to historic preservation-led community revitalization.
When it comes to redevelopment it is understandable that there are difficult decisions that communities face. In the instance of the Underhill House, it is my understanding that a proposal for development has been approved by your Planning Board. At issue is how to deal with the house itself. From my internet review I can tell you this is a handsome property and would be a showplace if well-cared for. Having personally restored two homes myself, I can tell you that preservation is possible with enough time, will and money. Most communities would envy having such a storied home that is connected with their community history and identity.
As someone who has advocated for making places livable for older adults and who has worked with AARP very closely for many years, I will relate that your vision to build housing is commendable. There is not enough good housing available, especially that which meets the needs of older adults. To have a blend of new development on a historic property with a landmark building holds great potential. Losing this property, however, will disconnect your community from the important heritage and make Yorktown look more like every other place.
As someone with Underhill ties who has also been involved in nearly a half-billion dollars of redevelopment projects, I would be happy to offer my services to facilitate the successful preservation of the Underhill House.
Thank you,
Isaac D. Kremer, MSARP
Metuchen, N.J.
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