Jan Kesner leads campaign for historic preservation status
JAN KESNER, president of the Ridgewood-Wilton Neighborhood Association, stands at the landscaped corner at Wilton Pl. and Second St.
Jan Kesner wants to see her neighborhood protected from encroachment by McMansions and rezoning.
A 27-year resident, she is president of the Ridgewood-Wilton Neighborhood Association (RWNA).
“We are working on obtaining an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone,” said Kesner. “Robbie O’Donnell, who was instrumental in getting the zoning for her Wilshire Park neighborhood, is helping us.”
Currently, RWNA is getting close to the 70 percent of signatures needed to get the project started.
In addition, Kesner said the Association has been leading a tree-planting project and the establishment of an Overnight Parking District.
“We are replanting the Second Street Green Island with low water and low maintenance plants and also changing the water delivery system from spray to drip. The First Street Green Island will also be replanted using a similar watering system.
“The goal of planting trees in all available parkway space is to establish a shady canopy on our Ridgewood-Wilton streets, not only pedestrian friendly, but it’s also ecologically responsible.”
The tree, which has been agreed upon by the Urban Forestry Division, is the African fern pine. It is evergreen, consistent in mature height and type with the existing trees on the street and fast growing, she said.
Kesner, who up until three years ago ran an art gallery bearing her name, is considered a leader and a pioneer in the field of fine art photography. She now works as a private dealer.
The Association was originally formed in 1978 when the city wanted to widen Wilton Place, which would have destroyed the residential character of the neighborhood. After a successful campaign to prevent the widening, the “Wilton Historic District” was established and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are eight homes in the neighborhood designated city Historic-Cultural Monuments.
By Jane Gilman
Category: Real Estate
