The township council voted Tuesday night to move ahead with a plan to sell the township-owned Civic Plaza on Chambers Bridge Road, a former strip mall converted into township offices.
The property was purchased by the township about a decade ago for $960,000. Township officials have said an appraisal of Civic Plaza was performed recently, and a minimum bidding price, called a reserve price, will be in line with what the building was found to be worth in that appraisal process.
Though no exact figures were given, several township officials hinted that the price could be in the $2 million range.
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"There will be a reserve at a minimum of two times what we paid for it," said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.
The plaza currently houses a number of township offices, most notably the recreation department, as well as a pizza parlor that rents space from the township. If sold, the recreation department would be moved to the Police Athletic League building on Drum Point Road, which the township owns.
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But despite full support from council, some residents said they were uncomfortable with selling the complex.
"It's paid off, and now we're going to sell it?" asked former councilwoman Helen Fayad, who suggested the township use the complex as a senior center.
Acropolis later said that the complex was once looked at to be used as a senior center, but the lack of a kitchen made it unsuitable. The current township senior center is located at the VFW hall on Adamston Road. The township pays the VFW to use the facility through a federal grant, the mayor said.
Another resident said the timing of the sale concerned him.
"Five years from now, if the real estate market improves, we might be able to get more money than we would right now," said Sam Foster.
"When the time is done, I think we'll do much, much better by selling Civic Plaza," Acropolis maintained, saying that selling off the property was part of an overall consolidation plan in township government.
"I personally don't think the township should be in the real estate holding business," said Council President John Ducey, adding that township officials will investigate unloading other publicly owned properties in the future.
"We're going to take a look at some other properties around town and hopefully see these properties get back on the tax rolls," Ducey said.
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