This an update to our series on the fate of the Bell Labs facility in Holmdel, NJ.
The Independent reported that Committeeman Terence Wall is circulating a petition in opposition to the creation of any housing on the land which once housed the fabled lab. The land and buildings, including the main building designed by Eero Saarinen, was sold last year by Lucent Technologies to PREI, a commercial redeveloper in Pennsylvania.
After reading a New York Times article advising of PREI’s intent to demolish all the buildings used by Bell Labs, Sellsius enlisted uberblog Engadget to help save the historic facility. Worldwide interest erupted, spurred by Engadget’s passionate post, and PREI agreed to create a world class commercial site, centered around the main building to be preserved, along with a library to house Bell Labs’ artifacts. The residents of Holmdel praised PREI for incorporating the historic building in its commercial redevelopment plans (and the added tax revenue to the town) but expressed concern over the extent of residential housing to be included on the site.
