August 28, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Mahwah Township settles Crocker Mansion tax appeal by Frank J. McMahon The Township of Mahwah has reached a tax appeal set- tlement on the litigation brought against the township by Crocker Mansion Estate, LLC, the owner of the Crocker Mansion on Ramapo Valley Road. The Crocker Mansion is located in the Rio Vista area of the township and it was previously part of the Immaculate Conception Seminary of the Archdiocese of Newark that was located on the site until the mid-1980s. The mansion was sold to a private purchaser in 2008 after a long period of restoration. According to the resolution recently passed by the town- ship council, the Crocker Mansion property was assessed for the tax year 2012 at a total of $6,487,000. The town- ship’s tax assessor imposed a 2012 added assessment in the amount of $972,500, prorated for six months, for a total 2012 assessment of $7,459,500, the resolution states. The township’s governing body, believing that the fair assessment of the property for tax year 2013 was sub- stantially higher than the 2012 assessment, authorized by reso1ution the filing of a tax court complaint in order to raise the 2013 assessment. The township’s assessor increased the 2013 assessment from $7,459,500 to $18,453,000 due to the ongoing renovation of the premises. The property owner then filed a tax appeal challenging that $18,453,000 assessment and both the township’s com- plaint and the property owner’s appeal were consolidated in tax court. Subsequently, a settlement between the two parties was reached and the $18,453,000 property tax assessment was reduced to $13,500,000. That settlement, however, was predicated upon a waiver of any and all pre-judgment inter- est by the taxpayer. The settlement will reduce the 2013 property tax obliga- tion on the current property owner by $82,418 and leave a 2013 property tax obligation of $224,640. The Crocker Mansion site consists of the restored man- sion of approximately 45,000 square feet; a restored care- taker’s house of approximately 2,000 square feet, which is constructed of the same exterior materials and compatible design as the mansion; the entrance drives, gates, walls, reflecting pond; and the property of approximately 12.5 acres. The land development company Rio Vista restored the mansion over a period of four years before it was sold in 2008 to a private owner for $8.88 million. The renova- tion included the complete reconstruction of the original fireplaces, pergolas, exterior brickwork, and extensive ter- races, walks, and walls of the mansion. The interior res- toration included the replacement of all plumbing systems and fixtures, new heating, ventilation, and air condition- ing systems and controls, and repair and restoration of the elaborately carved wall paneling, ceilings, and other deco- rative features. The gate entrance on Ramapo Valley Road was also restored with site and driveway lighting installed in the style of the period of the mansion. Conduits for commu- nication and security facilities to each gate entrance have also been installed to afford privacy and security for the mansion. The long and winding driveway leading to the mansion is landscaped and paved and new utilities including power, gas, sewer, and water have been extended to the mansion. According to information found on the Crocker Man- sion, LLC and Rio Vista websites and in the book, “From Pioneer Settlement to Suburb, A History of Mahwah, New Jersey, 1700-1976” by Henry Bischoff and Mitchell Kahn, the mansion is recognized as one of the most architectur- ally outstanding early-20th century estate homes in Amer- ica. The mansion was built between 1902 and 1907 as the country residence of George Crocker, the son of one of America’s great railroad pioneers. The mansion is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Buildings. Crocker died in 1909, and the estate passed to Emerson McMillin, a New York City businessman whose origins were in Ohio and who prospered in the fast growing gas light business in that state. McMillin had large holdings in gas properties and securities and he supported President Wilson’s policies after World War I, including the promo- tion of the League of Nations and the World Court. The Crocker Mansion was the site of many meetings of the League and the World Court. McMillan resided in the mansion until his death in 1922 at the age of 78. His estate was sold to the Darlington Development Company, which made it available to the Darlington Golf and Country Club. The mansion was turned into a hotel, and the great hall became a restaurant. A private landing field for planes was constructed. But the development cor- poration and the country club soon found themselves in financial difficulties and the McMillin estate regained the property through foreclosure. At that time, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark was looking for a new site for its theological seminary, which was located on the campus of Seton Hall College in South Orange. The diocese purchased the property in June 1926 for $478,000, and classes for seminarians began there in 1927. The diocese operated the Immaculate Conception Sem- inary there until 1986, when the building was sold. The property was restored and resold to the private owner.