DRBA To Tear Down Building Considered for Coast Guard Museum

ERMA — A building dating back to World War II at the county airport Dr. Joseph Salvatore intended to use as a Coast Guard museum seems instead destined to meet the wrecking ball in the near future.
Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), which operates the airport, filed a request with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in June to demolish the building, which served as a mess hall from 1942 to 1945.
Salvatore, who is president of Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum at the county airport, told the Herald he received a letter in April from DRBA informing him the authority had not accepted his proposal to convert the building into a museum. He said the letter stated his proposal did not reflect the best use of the property.
Salvatore said it was disheartening to receive the letter after spending three and a half years on the project.
The situation worsened when Salvatore received an email indicating the SHPO granted permission to DRBA to tear down the building Aug. 27 following a 30-day public comment period.
Salvatore said both he and his wife would lie down in front of a bulldozer before they let the building be torn down. He said the historic structure could be saved.
“All they have to do to stabilize it is fix the roof right now,” said Salvatore.
James Salmon, spokesman for DRBA, told the Herald the authority recognizes and applauds Salvatore’s record of significant contribution to historic preservation. Salmon said DRBA declined his proposal for several reasons:
• DRBA expected to commit financial and personnel resources including clean up of the the building and grounds and repair the roof.
• DRBA to continue to carry insurance on the building.
• Cost of repairs exceeding $2.5 million to receive a certificate of occupancy not including any abatement of lead paint, mold or asbestos.
He said the building has had a number of alterations from its original design.
At one time in the past, the building was occupied by a company that produced artwork for perfume bottles and left hazardous waste behind. Salvatore said the county paid for hazardous waste removal from Enserv.
Salvatore said asbestos inside the building could easily be remediated. The building has been neglected since the bottle decorating company moved out, he said.
The airport is loaded with empty land. He said he did not believe DRBA had any intention of replacing the building with a new structure.
Salmon said the building was in a prime commercial location and the building was a roadblock to any type of development.
Salvatore said the Coast Guard Historical Society spoke to DRBA Commissioners at a past meeting and expressed their interest in a museum. Salvatore said there were a number of retired Coast Guard members living in the area who have offered their help with the project.
He said he believed the building could be restored for $500,000. Holes in the roof could be repaired for $8,000, said Salvatore.
DRBA’s application to the SPHO said the building is in poor condition and had some remaining environmental issues. Salmon said the building was not maintained because DRBA was involved with litigation with the previous tenant including bankruptcy court.
Salvatore hired preservationist Joan Berkey to create an historic district at the airport including the former mess hall. The process takes two steps: deciding eligibility and having it registered as an historic landmark.
The former mess hall building is eligible to be listed on the national register, said Salvatore.
The building is in better condition than the hangar his organization converted into the Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum, he said. The hangar had a hole in the roof 100 feet by 150 feet, said Salvatore.