SOMERSET, NJ-With an eye toward enhancing the famed 70-mileDelaware-Raritan Canal State Park in Central New Jersey, Canal WalkAssociates, LLC--a wholly-controlled affiliate of PremierDevelopment--is in the midst of the restoration of a 19th CenturyDelaware and Raritan Canal Bridge Tender’s House locatedapproximately 0.5 miles from its Canal Walk active adult communityon Schoolhouse Road here.

The renovation of the historic House--which lies on propertyowned by the State of New Jersey and is overseen by the New JerseyDepartment of Environmental Protection and the Delaware and RaritanCanal Commission--includes considerable structural improvements andextensive exterior and interior upgrades, according to MichaelSommer, senior vice president of the Westfield, N.J.-based PremierDevelopment, which is investing significant capital to fund therestoration project.

Once completed, the house--originally used as a home for thosewhose job it was to open the swing bridge when canal boats camethrough--is expected to be available for public viewing with thepossibility of future office space, serving as yet anotherhistorical marker along the Delaware-Raritan Canal and towpath,which are part of the National Recreational Trail System.