Council Working to Save Historic Building from Demolition

Standing in the midst of modern highways and high-rises is “Rambo’s Hotel,” the setting of stagecoach chase scenes and Old Western duels during Fort Lee’s heyday in the early twentieth century film industry, and the building that the borough council and historical society are attempting to save from demolition.

After its previous owner passed away, the First Street property was purchased by developer Joseph Romano, who intends to demolish the building to construct a duplex on the site.

“This is what happens with a lot of historical houses. The family wants to sell, and that’s their right,” film commission director Tom Meyers said, adding that redevelopments over the years have left few remaining historical buildings in the borough.

From day one, Meyers said, the historical society has worked to try to preserve the building by coming to council and zoning board meetings as well as colleting signatures on a petition to save the house.

“The petition really has a global reach,” Meyers said, explaining that the house has international recognition due to its role in a budding film industry. “We have very diverse support within the town but the most amazing thing for us was to see some of the names from overseas.”

Originally, the project had been scheduled to go before the zoning board April 23, but was pulled from the agenda at the request of the developer. In the meantime, the council has been in closed-door discussions to acquire the building.

“I don’t think anyone in government is supportive of acquiring the Rambo House if it’s going to mean an increase in taxes or a burden on our taxpayers,” Mayor Mark Sokolich told Patch.

Instead, Sokolich said, the council is looking at “various financial options” for acquiring the property, something he said he is confident can be done, but declined to give details, citing pending negotiations.

“The mayor and council is aware of the importance of the building, and the interest locally and outside of Fort Lee in trying to keep this building alive into the twenty first century,” Meyers said.

But although he says that, should the council fail in its acquisition, the historical society would continue to petition the zoning board to deny the variances required for the redevelopment of the Rambo site, Meyers concedes that the best chance at preserving the historic site.

If the council is successful, the society will work toward adding the building to the national historical registry and preserving it indefinitely, possibly using the site for educational purposes. Rambo’s is already on the county registry.

Unless the project is again pulled from the agenda, Rambo’s fate will be considered at a zoning board meeting next Tuesday.