At the regular October meeting of the Township Committee, Vincent DeNave, Assistant Administrator, provided an update on the disposition of the Glen Alpin property (GA). Back Story: GA is the property at the northwest corner of Rt 202 and Tempe Wick Road. On the 9.2 acres is a Gothic revival house, and multi-car detached garage and formal gardens…all in need of extensive repair and renovation. HT purchased the GA property twenty years ago using a mosaic of funding sources. Just a few years after the purchase, it became clear that HT’s original plan for the property was not economically feasible for HT. For many years, GA was in limbo – deteriorating slowly and with HT having now power to find a long-term solution for the property. But just a few years ago, HT effected a “diversion” of the property – a complex transaction with government entities – which successfully freed it from most of the funding entities and allows HT to dispose of the property subject to many conditions and approval of the NJ State Historical Preservation Office (aka SHPO, pronounced Ship O). As well, HT still has a six-figure liability to Morris County. With the execution of the “diversion”, HT began to quietly entertain and solicit proposals for the GA property.
A bit over a year ago, a proposal by an investment group was made public view in a story, with pictures, in the Observer Tribune. This plan, which called for an 80-room hotel, conference center and small homes, was met with heated public pushback at the next TC meeting. In this plan, the GA house was preserved, but it was dwarfed by the other massive construction. At that meeting, the TC was sympathetic to the publics’ concerns. Ultimately SHPO rejected the plan proving that that entity was going to exercise a strong in what becomes of GA.
In recent months, there has been a call for more public input into the process of finding a solution to GA. At the most recent October meeting, there was again a call from a representative of “Neighbors for Harding” (a citizen group) to establish a committee of citizens to advise on GA and a request for the TC to deliver a regular update on the status of GA. In response to this request/comment, Mayor Jones asked Vincent DeNave, assistant administrator, to update everyone on where the process stands. DeNave started out by saying that TC is looking at the situation differently in the wake of the big hotel project that was rejected by SHPO. The GA sub-committee (Jones, Platt, DeNave) has interviewed “suitors” some of which have no use for the Gothic Revival mansion. The requirement that the new owner must preserve the mansion to Department of the Interior Standards is a “loss leader” for bidders, the significant costs of which must recouped by the profits from whatever is built on the rest of the site. This can severely limit the attractiveness of the property, however some of the interested parties want to use the restored mansion as the focal point of their endeavor.
DeNave said a wide variety of parties have looked from strip malls to houses of worship, to restaurants and others. At the moment, about 5 parties remain interested. But with only sketches and a written use statement necessary to be submitted, it’s not clear how strong their interest is.
DeNave said the subcommittee is very sensitive to the issues and concerns that have been raised by the public – noise, traffic, density, additional school-age children, aesthetics, burden on public services. He said the committee is not focused merely
on revenue maximization.
Of the 5 proposals on the table currently, DeNave thought that one is likely to be rejected by SHPO due to too great density. The parties will next be required to submit financial information.
DeNave said that it is too early for full public disclosure but that might be possible when the suitors’ number 2 or 3. Platt commented that suitors require confidentiality, so disclosure at this point is counterproductive. A discussion ensured with most people expressing appreciation for the update and agreeing that a regular update would also be appreciated. A regular update might be in the offing with the proviso that there will often be nothing to report. A citizen asked the important question: “Is the option to continue to mothball the GA house off the table?” Mayor Jones said that given HT “took other people’s money” – Morris County, SHPO, Green Acres – and they want it back (as much as $300K) doing nothing is not an option. Further, SHPO wants something to be done to preserve this historic site and will not sit by as it slowly deteriorates. TC member Chris Yates, added that kicking problems down the road, never works out for a town as the obligation and liability just grows.