What does the future hold for site of former Sussex County jail? Rumors swirl
Sussex County officials appear to be taking steps to ready the former county jail off High Street in Newton for sale but declined to say if they have a bona fide offer on the table.
There have been rumors for a couple of years that a local entrepreneur wants to buy the multi-story brick structure and turn it into an upscale restaurant with a boutique hotel in the upper four floors. The idea would use the "jail" as an overall theme for both the restaurant and how the rooms would be arranged/restructured.
And, as an added bonus the top floors of the building offer one of the best scenic views from Newton toward the north.
At its last meeting in September, the county commissioners were told that the antenna arrays atop the jail are being moved to the adjacent "new" courthouse as part of a project to upgrade some of the county's communications system.
Asked earlier this week about a potential sale based on his comment to the commissioners, County Administrator Ron Tappan said only that the antennae are being moved and the county is having a survey done of the entire complex. On tax records, the complex is on six acres and includes the new courthouse, the jail, a three-level parking garage and the Sheriff's Office in a former theater building which faces High Street.
That six acres does not include the Historic Courthouse or the other county-owned buildings which house the prosecutor's offices and surrogate's office which also face High Street.
Sheriff Michael Strada said his department had previously moved all equipment from the jail, which has been vacant and unused for several years. He said he has heard the sale rumors but has no other knowledge about potential buyers for the property.
Sussex County has not used the jail, known as the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility, for several years. Prisoners now are sent to Morris County jail under a contract with that county.
A 2014 inspection and study put initial estimates to fix, repair or update the then-35-year-old jail would total around $6 million over the ensuing decade. That sum included $681,000 for work which needed to be done within a year.
That high cost led to the county seeking alternatives and the initial move was to send long-term prisoners to Morris County. That agreement led to a $1.5 million per year contract with Morris to house all prisoners.
Efforts by the Herald to reach the rumored "buyer" were unsuccessful.
As a hotel/restaurant, the building would not put the strain on parking in the three-level garage that an office complex would. However, an agreement to lease or otherwise use the parking facility would likely be included as part of the sale, although any subdivision of the large lot could include part of the on-ground parking near the jail structure which sits on the northwest corner of the property.
Tappan declined to discuss any potential sale of the property or future use. The county doesn't pay property taxes on the jail or any of the other structures within the "county complex" along High Street.
However, under a private/business ownership the property and its use would be subject to local, county and school taxes.
With no formal offer on the table, there has been no public comment on what to do with any proceeds of a sale.
This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sussex County NJ former jail site eyed for sale, development
