Controversial demolition of Doris Duke mansion approved

HILLSBOROUGH - After a nearly four-hour meeting in which tempers flared, the township Historic Preservation Committee voted 6-1 Thursday evening to approve the Duke Farms Foundation's controversial application to demolish the former home of billionaire philanthropist Doris Duke.

The vote concluded a hearing that spanned three long meetings since July, pitting fans and former employees of Duke against the very foundation she established in her last will and testament for the purpose of transforming her beloved residence into a sanctuary for endangered species and for agricultural research.

But the fight, which made headlines around the world, may not be over.

After the nonprofit foundation applies for a construction permit, David Brook, the attorney presenting opponents of the demolition, says his group may appeal to the township's Zoning Board or file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

The foundation wants to tear down the 65,000-square-foot mansion on the 2,700-acre estate once occupied by the world's wealthiest woman because it could cost as much as $20 million to renovate and it no longer fits Duke Farms' mission as an ecological theme park.

Opponents argued that the home, which was built by tobacco and electrical magnate James Buchanan Duke, and later expanded by his daughter throughout her lifetime after she inherited Duke's fortune as a teenager, has historical value and significance to the community. Duke Farms was Doris Duke's legal residence and her favorite residence despite other more glorious homes at Shangri La in Hawaii and Rough Point in Rhode Island.

But commission members agreed with the foundation's expert witness, Philadelphia-based architectural historian Emily Cooperman, who described the house as a "white elephant" and argued that the Duke Farms as a whole, with its waterfall and man-made lakes and gargantuan stone farm and coach barns, is more significant than the house.

"I was very disappointed to learn many months ago that Duke Farms was about to make an application for demolition of the main residences,” Commissioner Greg Gillette said before casting his vote in favor of the application. “But those are my personal feelings and I will put them aside.”

“The loss of the house does not diminish the property.”

Only Commissioner Tim Stollery believed the house was worth preserving.

“History will judge us and I think this is a mistake, guys,” he said before voting against it.

Duke Farms Executive Director Michael Catania said after the meeting that the foundation would apply for a demolition permit as soon as possible.

The foundation had to first make its case to the Historic Preservation Commission because the township considers Duke Farms a historic district.

Catania said the foundation is working on developing a plan to open up the 50 acres that the residence currently sits on to more walkways and bike paths that would connect to the scenic Nevius Street Bridge in Raritan Borough.

More than 100 people attended the meeting Thursday night at the township municipal complex, with opponents sitting on one side of the courtroom wearing DORIS stickers, while Duke Farms volunteers and employees sat on the other sporting blue Duke Farms T-shirts.

More than 30 people spoke during the public hearing. Most were against the plan.

Some opponents often jeered and heckled and booed speakers who were in favor of the demolition.

Ed Henry, president of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in New York, said the decision was the result of “years of study” and said the foundation could not justify renovating a mansion after already spending $50 million on improving Duke Farms when “there are so many needs” the foundation tends to, such as medical research, child welfare and building bridges to the Muslim world.

"I think Duke Farms has done a lot of great things. However, I really believe that they could do better by saving the mansion,” Hillsborough resident Susan Ochse said, calling the mansion the “heart and soul” of Duke Farms.

But Hillsborough resident Kathy Lesko said that as a volunteer at Duke Farms she gets “very few questions about the residence.”

“It’s just raving about (Duke Farms) being open and the beauty of the property,” she said. “They (the foundation trustees) have given us a jewel and we need to trust them to make the best decision about the property.”

The foundation had considered alternate uses for the mansion, including offices and a visitors center, a conference center, a bed and breakfast, restaurant, hotel and a retreat for artists. The foundation also considered subdividing the property.

But the foundation rejected those alternatives because they did not want to make the property commercial or encourage vehicular traffic through the property.

The foundation also wants to keep the park free to visitors.

Staff Writer Sergio Bichao: 908-243-6615; sbichao@mycentraljersey.com