The township also approved $7,600 for asbestos project oversight and air monitoring as cleanup proceeds at the 28-acre site.
MONTVILLE, NJ – Montville has authorized the removal of 10 deteriorated structures from the township-owned property at 96 River Road, advancing the cleanup of the former Condurso Garden Center site.
The Township Committee approved Resolution 2026-308 on Aug. 18 following an architectural assessment and site tours involving township officials and local historic groups.
The structures include greenhouses, sheds, a garage, block buildings, an open metal building, a summer kitchen and a former dormitory. The township’s resolution describes them as decommissioned, in major disrepair and not listed on a historic register.
The authorization is limited to the 10 structures identified as being in the poorest condition. Township records say the remaining buildings will be evaluated again after the initial removal work is complete.
In a separate action, the committee awarded a $7,600 professional-services contract to Aero Environmental Services Inc. of Succasunna. The company will provide project management and air monitoring for exterior asbestos removal involving two structures, according to Resolution 2026-310.
The $7,600 contract is for environmental oversight. It is not the price of demolishing all 10 structures.
Montville purchased the approximately 28-acre property at a public auction in September 2025. Township officials said they pursued the site to prevent high-density development, connect it with two nearby township-owned tracts and preserve options for recreation, open space or historic use.
Officials knew before the purchase that the former commercial property would require cleanup and remediation, according to the March 24 Township Committee minutes.
At that March meeting, the committee introduced a $1 million capital authorization from the Open Space, Recreation and Farmland Dedicated Trust Fund for cleanup work involving soil, wood chips, debris, damaged structures and possible hazardous material. A resident’s written comment asked the township to provide more detail about the anticipated costs, the hazardous material and the use of open-space funds.
The new resolutions do not identify a demolition contractor, a total removal cost or a construction schedule. Those decisions would require further municipal action or procurement.
The removals were included on the committee’s Aug. 18 final agenda, following an Aug. 11 township update previewing the building evaluation.