THE OPPORTUNITY

The Township of Cranbury’s historic district began as a resting place for travelers in the early 18th century, evolving into a crossroads community in the 19th century. The historic district represents the community’s history and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It includes 218 historic properties. In 2018, the township required a historic architectural survey to document and evaluate 110 of these properties.

THE CHALLENGE

The survey, the second of two phases, required intensive documentation of 110 commercial, residential, and public properties in accordance with NJ Historic Preservation Office guidelines. These requirements include documentation, mapping, and condition assessments for each resource and entering the information into the state’s historic resource database.

THE PS&S SOLUTION

PS&S conducted a field survey before performing site-specific research on each property. The data compiled for each property document the buildings’ architectural elements, condition, and contribution to the historic district with written descriptions, photographs, and maps. The final report provides the results of the survey and contextualizes the development of the district and the significance of its resources. It highlights key-contributing properties that exemplify the district’s architectural history and nationally important built heritage.