Politics & Government

State and Marlboro Strike Deal for Marlboro Psych Property

The state will clean up the property based on environmental regulations, and give the 411 acre piece of land back to Marlboro in 2014.

The Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital has been . Today, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Mayor Jon Hornik announced the official plans for the future of the property as preserved open space.

On behalf of the Governor's office, Guadagno officially announced it will , knock down and clean up 600,000 square feet of buildings, all without costing Marlboro taxpayers money. The Township will purchase the property in 2014, through open space funds, to preserve the large piece of land.

Guadagno said, "We will be sure that [the property] is opened on time and under budget," adding that preserving open space is a quality of life issue for New Jersey residents.

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Guadagno said full demolition and cleanup plans have not yet been coordinated, but the Christie Administration will work closely with the Department of Environmental Protection to complete the project by 2014.

"Much has transpired since the hospital property was originally constructed in 1929, much not good, which included patients leaving the facility grounds without authorization, and an undercover investigation which exposed wrong doing by former Gov. Richard Code which led to the closing of the facility in 1998," Hornik said.

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Sen. Joe Kyrillos said he remembers visiting the hospital, as his parents had a friend who was a resident physician at the hospital.

"I have some very vivid memories of coming here then, to visit that family," Kyrillos said. "I was a young boy a long time ago, and the usefulness and the constructiveness of this place was a long time ago."

Marlboro Township has created several redevelopment plans, but has been negotiating with the state for years about the price.

"With the facility's closure on July 1, 1998, began continued negotiations to try to get an understanding of how the hospital property could be delivered to the residents of Marlboro Township," Hornik said.

In 2003, the township was slated to buy the property for $20 million. The Township Council and the Marlboro Planning Board originally planned for the development of hotel-conference buildings, a limited number of homes and municipal use, according to a 2003 News Transcript article.

But development plans were halted due to environmental concerns about the property. The 411 acre property is owned by the state, and is completely closed to the public due to environmental hazards.

In 2008, when Hornik took office, he asked the state to outline what would happen with the property. According to township documents, The Township Council took over the plans for redevelopment.

Guadagno and Hornik each thanked the Sen. Jennifer Beck, State Treasurer, Department of Environmental Protecting, the Monmouth County Freeholders, members of the Christie administration and the Marlboro Town Council and open space committees.

Beck, who was not in attendance, said in a news release, "Today's announcement complements and continues the legislative work I and my colleagues have done...It is a good day for our residents in Marlboro and Monmouth County."

Freeholder Lillian Burry said she remembers when the Monmouth County Parks System came into existence 51 years ago, and began with just 30 acres of land. Today, she said, the parks system owns 16,000 acres and plans to reach 19,999 acres within the next few years.

Hornik said, "With today's announcement, we finally begin the last leg of a long and storied journey which will end with the 411 acres known as Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital, being returned to residents of Marlboro Township and Monmouth County and be used as active and passive recreation."


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