Long Branch To Build 15 Senior Housing Units At First Reformed Church

LONG BRANCH, NJ — The city of Long Branch plans to build 15 new senior affordable housing units at the First Reformed Church, located at 650 Broadway.

The city will also preserve the 175-year-old church, which is an important part of Long Branch history.

Under a deal worked out between the city and the developer, the church will be leased to the city for use as a public space and to preserve its historic character. The developer agreed to lease the church to the city for one dollar. All historic artifacts, church organ, pews, stained glass, existing windows and doors in the church will be turned over to the city and maintained by Long Branch as part of the leasehold agreement.

The church will be used for lectures, classical music nights and other small events hosted by the city of Long Branch.

A gallery room will also be created and will be dedicated to 1896 U.S. vice president Garrett Hobart, who was born and raised on Broadway not far from the church.

"We are very happy that this 175-year-old church will be preserved here in Long Branch. We are also thrilled to have another 15 affordable housing units dedicated to Long Branch seniors," said Mayor John Pallone.

Long Branch has a rich history of American presidents visiting and spending their summers here. President William McKinley and Vice President Garrett Hobart were frequent visitors of the First Reformed Church. The original stained glass, with images of McKinley and Hobart, pews and organ, are still inside the church.

A lot of historic preservation work is happening in Long Branch: The city is preparing to open the new Long Branch Fire and History Museum.

The city of Long Branch also purchased the closed Santander bank building (the bank branch closed last May) and will make it the new home of the Long Branch municipal court. Long Branch also preserved the vintage Coca Cola sign, and is currently repurposing the buildings at Monmouth Medical for a new Health and Technology Center. The historic Church of the Seven Presidents Museum is also being renovated.

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