Before and After: Reimagining Hoboken Architecture

DOMINUS (707 Willow Street)
The Bethesda Pentecostal Church on Willow, built in 1895, had been vacant a long while. Not much evidence was left behind, beyond a brief listing on a pipe-organ website. (The church once housed a 1904 model from the Hinners Organ Company of Pekin, Illinois.) Yet it was still a striking structure when Red Bridge Homes took over the property, with thoughts of erecting a condominium. But how to preserve the church’s classic beauty while constructing an ultra-modern residence on the same spot?

“Our architect, Frank Minervini, came up with the idea to keep the facade,” says Red Bridge managing partner John Heidenry.

Work at the property began last December, and many challenges became apparent. “During demolition, we thought that the facade was going to collapse,” Heidenry says. With assistance from their structural engineer, Red Bridge was able to keep it intact. Then during construction, the facade literally became quite a hurdle, making it difficult to unload building materials. “Nothing that couldn’t be fixed by using a crane,” Heidenry adds with a smile.

Hoboken Architecture — Dominus (707 Willow); photo by Joe Epstein