Since last year, the Glen Alpin Conservancy has tried and failed to help Harding Township continue the project they are legally, and morally obligated to complete: to rehabilitate Glen Alpin. They continue to disregard the responsibility they undertook when they purchased Glen Alpin in 2005 with grant funds.

The township believes they can sell their share of the historic house. During the two years that Glen Alpin has been for sale, the Conservancy made two offers to manage and finish rehabilitation – our last offer included raising all funds to rehabilitate the house privately – both offers have been denied without explanation.

The township has proven that they are incompetent to finish the restoration of the house and it sits unused and unsold for over two years. It has become an eyesore to the community. No wonder it is on the Morris 10 Most Endangered list again!

The township committee wanted this project in 2005 and accepted grant money to purchase it then. Because they paid only $175,000 of open space funds for the house on 9.5 acres, they accepted grants that carried a legal obligation to restore the house and open it to the public. In allowing Glen Alpin to deteriorate the township has become totally irresponsible to us all –as well as the County and the State.

Meanwhile, the house has not been properly cared for:

• Mold is growing inside the house because the town “saved money” and turned down the heat.
• It is impossible to properly clean the house because there is no water since the pipes broke during construction.
• There is no septic or plumbing for the house.

So the town has created a paradox.

They refuse to spend any more money on Glen Alpin, but – by spending no money now – they will have to spend much more money in the long run to fix what they are allowing to deteriorate.

The most cost effective answer for the town is to complete the restoration with as much grant money as possible. Keeping in mind, a significant portion of the town’s share could be raised with private funds!

The town alone created this problem. They need to finish what they started and fix Glen Alpin! The longer they wait, the bigger their problem will be.

Justine Kovacs, President, Glen Alpin Conservancy