Spatial Analysis of Real Estate Property Values for Green Pond “Puddingstone” as Building Stone, Morris County, New Jersey, USA

Keywords: building stone, Green Pond Conglomerate, puddingstone, Garden State MLS, NJ, Morris County, Real Estate, Spatial Analysis
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Green Pond Conglomerate “puddingstone”, a maroon colored quartzite with white quartz pebbles, forms a bedrock ridge in the Paleozoic Green Pond Outlier, extending northeast from Morris County into Passaic County, New Jersey, then into Orange County, New York. Throughout Morris County, rounded boulders of the puddingstone are common in the Pleistocene glacial sediments. Our previous research finds the puddingstone boulders along with other fieldstones in buildings, retaining walls, and field fences. However, there are several instances of structures completely faced with the durable and attractive puddingstone, in and around the cities of Morristown and Madison, mostly limited to affluent houses and one prominent church of the mid- to late-19th century. In these cases, puddingstone boulders were partially dressed, in rubble stone fashion, a labor-intensive effort. We believe the only source for the puddingstone building material is from the glacial boulders.

The objective of this study is to identify the monetary value of properties constructed with puddingstone vs comparable properties not constructed with puddingstone and compare if there is an increase, decrease, or no value difference of using puddingstone as a building stone. Using ArcGIS Pro, Spatial Analysis’ multiple geoprocessing tools to analyze properties in Morris County NJ to help determine how valuable puddingstone is for construction. Data factors such as, parcels, taxes, Garden State MLS, median home income, are some of the attributes gathered during the research to output multiple map analysis that show results of why puddlingstone is such a unique building stone, and enhanced justification toward historic preservation.