From NBC40 — The seems to be some controversy about the possibility of an historic landmark being used partially for office space. Volunteers at the Batsto Mansion say it should be used for the public to learn and enjoy, not for state employees to do business.

After nearly a year of work, the $2 million restoration project on the historic Batsto mansion is near completion, but now it seems there may be a slight change in plans. “Any changes can’t be taken lightly,” said volunteer Bill Schaal.

According to volunteers at the historic village, located in the heart of the Wharton State Forest, the state is considering using a part of the building, which in on the federal and state registry of historic places, as office space for state employees, which was not part of the original plan. “It’s a terrible waste,” said volunteer Vera Stek, “it’s a loss to the people of New Jersey. I think that there must be other alternatives.”

“There are other alternatives other than using the focal point of this village,” said Schaal.

The mansion is considered the crown jewel of the historic village and volunteers here feel very passionately about letting visitors see it in all its glory. “People who come here for a tour are very disappointed when the mansion is closed,” said Stek, “However, when the mansion was open, people were also disappointed that they couldn’t get into the servants quarters. There’s a mystery about what’s behind the closed door.”

“Without being able to show the servants quarters, we cannot really do justice to the contributions of those individuals,” said Schaal, “many of whom were our ancestors who came over here as immigrants.”

According to volunteers, it’s the servant’s quarters, which is the oldest part of the building, that is being considered for offices. Plans to put up a parking lot adjacent to the mansion could also be in the works. “You should never use a historic site for anything other than interpreting the history,” said Stek.

While the rich history of the mansion is understood, its future still remains unknown.

A closed-door meeting was held today with the Southern Region and park Superintendents, who refused to comment on the situation.

Several calls to the state office were not returned.