Last modified on January 29th, 2026 at 4:47 pm

OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED SALE OF HISTORIC PROPERTY

 

UPDATE–NOVEMBER 5, 2025

The formal public comment period for the proposed sale closed on October 3, 2025. 

The Department is still reviewing the comments received during the public comment period.  The Department will not be responding to individual comments, but will be posting answers to several frequently asked questions prior to taking any formal action to sell this property.  

As noted below, the sale of this property requires the approval of the State House Commission, and it is necessary for the Department to determine the appraised value of the property, which will serve as the opening bid at a public auction, in order to obtain this approval.  The Department is currently in the process of obtaining an appraisal of the property before making a final decision about whether to proceed with the proposed sale.  The process of obtaining the appraisal is expected to take several months.

 

PROPERTY INFORMATION:

Saxtonville Tavern
2226 Daniel Bray Highway (Route 29)
Delaware Township, Hunterdon County
Block 46, Lot 14

NJDEP MANAGING PROGRAM:  Parks, Forests and Historic Sites

NJDEP FACILITY: Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park

PROPOSED ACTION:

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is proposing to sell the historic Saxtonville Tavern (Tavern) in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County at public auction, subject to a historic preservation easement to be held by the New Jersey Historic Trust.  Prior to initiating the sale process, the NJDEP is offering the opportunity for public comment on the proposed sale.

SITE HISTORY:

The Tavern is located at 2226 Daniel Bray Highway (Route 29) (Block 46, Lot 14).  It was constructed in 1782 as an inn and is a contributing resource to the Delaware & Raritan Canal Historic District (a historic district listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places).  The Tavern, along with eight acres of surrounding land, was acquired by the NJDEP in 2007 from the McAloan family (which had owned the property since 1874.)

The two-story stone Tavern structure was most recently used as a single-family residential dwelling.  The structure currently contains a total of 2856 square feet of living space.  It has seven rooms, including four bedrooms and one bathroom.

At the time of acquisition, the NJDEP intended to use the Tavern structure for its park management operations.  However, the NJDEP has now determined that it does not need this structure for its operations and does not have the financial resources to maintain it to appropriate historical standards.  Therefore, as it has done for other historic buildings on its lands, the NJDEP is considering selling this structure, subject to a historic preservation easement, for private use.  The proceeds of the sale will be returned to the Green Acres bond 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 exact lot size for the proposed sale has not yet been determined.  However, as depicted on the aerial map linked below, the area to be sold will consist of a level lot at the base of the Delaware River Bluffs, and consists of approximately 0.20 acre of land.  While the NJDEP wishes to convey as large a lot as it can to facilitate future productive use of the new lot, it does not wish to divest itself of the entire Route 29 frontage of current Block 46, Lot 14 and wants to retain ownership of the existing wooded frontage to the north and/or south of the Tavern structure.  The NJDEP will also retain ownership of the remaining acreage acquired from the McAloan family, which contains part of the Delaware River Bluffs.

As depicted on the map linked below, the right of way for Route 29, which is held by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, runs along the front edge of the Tavern structure.  Therefore, the future purchaser of the Tavern will need to obtain an access agreement from the NJDOT for the use of the driveway and lawn areas located within the right of way.

If the NJDEP proceeds with the sale, the purchaser of the property would be allowed to use the property for any use consistent with its current A-1 zoning (or any future zoning requirements imposed on the property by Delaware Township) and the historic preservation easement.  A copy of the current A-1 zoning specifications for Delaware Township is linked below.  A full copy of the Delaware Township zoning code may be found at Township of Delaware, 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, and deed recording fees.

SALE PROCESS:

The NJDEP will not be conducting a formal public hearing on the proposed sale but is instead offering 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.  The NJDEP anticipates that the earliest the approval could be obtained is in March 2026.  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 on the basis of an appraisal before the NJDEP seeks approval for the sale from the State House Commission.

If the sale is approved by the State House Commission, the NJDEP will sell the Tavern property through an online auction with the assistance of the NJ Department of Treasury.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Aerial map of the area proposed to be sold
• Photos of the Tavern (2020)
• Saxtonville Tavern historical information
• Deed for the NJDEP’s purchase of the Tavern
• Survey for the NJDEP’s purchase of the Tavern
• Maps depicting Route 29 Right of Way line
• Delaware Township Zoning Code excerpts

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
jocelyn.gulla@deptest.nj.gov

Please send a copy of any comments submitted on this proposal to:

Mark Texel, Administrator
New Jersey State Historic Sites and Parks
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites
501 East State Street
P.O. Box 420, Mail Code 501-04
Trenton, NJ  08625
historic.sites@deptest.nj.gov

Written public comments on the proposed sale will be accepted until October 3, 2025.  Please note that electronic submission of comments is preferred.   For emailed comments, please include “Saxtonville Tavern” in the subject line of the message.