OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEYProposed Sale of NJDEP Property–Franklin Township, Hunterdon County–Historic Deats Case House (updated 3/4/26)
Last modified on March 4th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED SALE OF HISTORIC PROPERTY
UPDATE–MARCH 4, 2026
A document summarizing, and providing answers to, the public comments received by the Department
through March 4, 2026 has been posted below under “Additional Information”.
The Q and A document will be updated to respond to any additional comments received through the close of the public comment period
on March 6, 2026, but is being posted now to provide additional information to the public about the proposed sale.
Two additional documents related to the comments have also been posted below.
PROPERTY INFORMATION
Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House
County Route 615 (377 Pittstown Road)
Franklin Township, Hunterdon County
Block 26, Lot 8 (part of), Block 27 lot 7.02 (part of)
NJDEP MANAGING PROGRAM: Fish and Wildlife
NJDEP FACILITY: Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area
PROPOSED ACTION
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) is proposing to sell the historic Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County at public auction, subject to a historic preservation easement to be held by the New Jersey Historic Trust.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on the proposed sale prior to approval of the sale by the NJDEP Commissioner and the State House Commission.
SITE HISTORY
Block 26, Lot 8 is located in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County (“the Property”). The Property has frontage on County Route 615 (Pittstown Road) and the Capoolong Creek. It is currently administered by the NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife program as part of the Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area (“WMA”).
The Property is located in the Pittstown Historic District (“District”). The District is listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places (collectively, “the Registers”). The Property contains a residential structure that is classified as a contributing building in the District. The residential structure was constructed in the 1850’s and is listed on the Registers as the Deats, Case and Co. Tenant House (hereafter, the “House”). Additional information on the District and the House (Structure #46) may be found in the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form linked below.
The Property was acquired by the NJDEP in 2003. The NJDEP acquired the Property to resolve the encroachment of the Property’s septic system onto the WMA and to extend the WMA to and across the Capoolong Creek. For several years after the acquisition, the House was used as employee housing by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. However, it is no longer needed for that purpose and the NJDEP does not have the financial resources to maintain it to appropriate historical standards for public use.
Therefore, as it has done for other historic buildings on its lands, the NJDEP is considering selling the House, subject to a historic preservation easement, for private use. The House will be sold “as is”, and the NJDEP will not assume any responsibility for repairs to the House or any remediation on the Property. The proceeds of the sale will be returned to the Green Acres fund for use in a future State open space acquisition project. The historic preservation easement will be held, monitored and enforced by the New Jersey Historic Trust.
The map linked below depicts the portion of the Property the NJDEP is considering selling (outlined in red). The proposed sale would also include a small portion of Block 26, Lot 7.02 (outlined in green).
The proposed lot lines are subject to adjustment. However, the NJDEP does not intend to enlarge the area proposed for sale. The area to be retained by the NJDEP includes a dilapidated garage that will be removed from the Property. This area will be used for public parking to provide fishing access to the Capoolong Creek. As noted on the map, the Capoolong Creek frontage will continue to be owned by the NJDEP.
In addition to maintaining the structure to historic standards, as a condition of the sale the purchaser will be required to install, at its expense, a new septic system, including a retaining wall, and a new well on the Property. A septic system design for the House was commissioned by the NJDEP and received approval from Hunterdon County in 2019. A copy of this approval is linked below for informational purposes only. Potential purchasers should not assume this approval is still valid or that the plan upon which it was based meets current County code requirements and/or NJDEP environmental permitting requirements. The purchaser will be responsible for obtaining all current permits and approvals that are needed for the required improvements.
If the NJDEP proceeds with the sale, the purchaser would be allowed to use the property for any use consistent with its current NB (Neighborhood Business) zoning (or any future zoning requirements imposed on the Property by Franklin Township) and the historic preservation easement. The Franklin Township zoning code may be found at Township of Franklin, NJ Zoning Code.
The selected purchaser will be responsible for all technical costs associated with the sale, including preparation of a survey to the NJDEP’s specifications, any title and hazard reviews the purchaser wishes to undertake, and recording fees.
SALE PROCESS
The NJDEP will not be conducting a formal public hearing on the proposed sale but is instead offering the public the opportunity to submit written comment on this matter in advance of seeking the necessary approvals for the sale. If the NJDEP decides to proceed with the proposed sale, it is subject to approval by the NJDEP Commissioner and the State House Commission. If approved, the proposed sale will then be subject to additional public notice as part of the public auction process.
The opening bid for the proposed sale is not known as this time but will be determined based on an appraisal before the NJDEP seeks approval for the sale from the State House Commission. Due to the lead time involved with commissioning and reviewing the appraisal, the NJDEP anticipates that the earliest State House Commission approval could be obtained is in September 2026.
If the sale is approved by the State House Commission, the NJDEP will sell the Property through an online auction with the assistance of the NJ Department of Treasury. Potential purchasers will be offered the opportunity to tour the House as part of the auction process.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the Pittstown Historic District
Deed for the NJDEP’s Purchase of the Property
Survey for the NJDEP’s Purchase of the Property
Map Showing Area Proposed to be Sold and Potential Locations for a New Well and Septic System
2019 Hunterdon County Board of Health Approval for Septic System Design and Well
UPDATE–MARCH 4, 2026:
Q and A on Proposed Sale of Deats Case Tenant House
Minutes of the June 16, 2016 Historic Sites Council Meeting
September 1, 2016 Letter Conditionally Approving Demolition of Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House
PUBLIC COMMENT
Written comments on (or questions about) the proposed sale may be directed to:
Jocelyn Gulla, Esq., Regulatory Officer
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration
401 E State Street
P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 401-07
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
Please send a copy of any comments submitted on this proposal to:
Mary Monteschio, Esq., Regulatory Officer
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey Fish and Wildlife
Mail Code 501-03
P.O. Box 420
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420
Written public comments on the proposed sale will be accepted until March 6, 2026.
Please note that electronic submission of comments is preferred.
For emailed comments, please include “Deats, Case & Co. Tenant House” in the subject line of the message.