City Hall prepares for Phase II of its 'makeover'

Preliminary work got under way for the second phase of City Hall's preservation with the measure- ment last week of the 66 windows in the building in preparation for the project. The plan calls for the windows to be restored, though some are in such bad condition that they will have to be rebuilt to the specifications of the original building plans.

Restoration and replacement of the windows will account for about $146,000 of the $500,00 project. Funding comes from a $250,000 preservation grant awarded to the city in 2004 by the New Jersey Historic Trust and $250,000 in required matching funds from the City that were included in a 2002 bond.

"Completion of this project will restore one of the Queen City's landmarks to its place of pride," says Plainfield Mayor Al McWilliams, "and help to overcome the decades of neglect the seat of city government has suffered."

But windows and repair of the window wells on the lowest floor are only part of the second and final phase of the restoration project.

Phase II will also include the repair and cleaning of the limestone walls, repair, cleaning and repointing of the brick exterior, as well as restoration of the limestone trim.

The final two elements will be the restoration of the cast-stone torcheres that flank the main entry and the restoration and replacement of the two decorative roof urns. The torcheres have suffered freeze-thaw cracking. The roof urns were removed during the Phase I restoration of the building's cupola because of safety concerns.


Keywords: Plainfield, City Hall, preservation