(rshsdepot) Sparta, NJ - NYS&W

["J. Henry Priebe Jr." <root_@_net.bluemoon.net>]

http://www.njherald.com/secure_story/287733828452763.php

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Red tape continues to tie up station sale

Friday, December 15, 2006

By STEVE NOVAK 

Herald Staff Writer 

SPARTA . The historic Sparta Railroad Station has been sitting unused for more
than 70 years, and it may need to wait a few more months more. 

Though township officials have expressed a tepid interest in purchasing the
four-acre Station Road property, a former Superfund site, they are frustrated
by the lack of information coming from the federal government about the future
auction. 

"Despite repeated calls (to various government agencies), I do not have a date
or a minimum bid price," Township Attorney Tom Ryan said at a recent council
meeting. "All (funding options) are contingent on the feds moving on the
auction." 

Ryan said the property's assessed value was about $237,000, but the minimum
bid in auction could be driven up by more than $1 million in tax liens accrued
on the property by the federal and state government, an amount that continues
to grow the longer the property is held. 

"Unfortunately, that's kind of typical of bureaucracy," Mayor Manny Goldberg
said in a conversation Thursday, expressing some concern that the longer the
government holds the site, the higher the minimum bid price may be. "I don't
think they would try to make back everything they are losing, but they are
certainly going to try to get back as much as they can." 

Ben Barry, a Superfund press officer, said it is tough for the Environmental
Protection Agency to set a date right now. 

"There are several departments involved in this and we don't know who will be
leading the auction," Barry said, indicating the EPA does not commonly handle
bids. "We will be able to better determine the auction situation after the new
year." 

The A.O. Polymer company, which used to own the site, abandoned the property
12 years ago after receiving several violation notices from the EPA. Through
the Superfund clean-up program, the government organization treated polluted
groundwater in the area and removed the property from its National Priority
List in 2000. 

The township's interest in the property came earlier this year when several
railroad and historical organizations . including the Tri-State Railroad
Historical Society and the Sparta Historical Society . requested the town
consider purchasing the site so the groups could refurbish the 124-year-old
station. 

Local historian and author Bill Truran said he has been trying to find other
people that could develop an interest for the site. 

"Right now, the land is laying fallow," Truran said. "We (historical groups)
want to preserve the station, but the town could use the rest of the area for
soccer fields or basketball courts." 

Truran's idea was endorsed by the Sparta Planning Board and passed on to the
council. 

"I think the council is willing to look positively on this," Goldberg said.
'We want to make sure it would be available to the public ... (but) the
council has not reached any kind of decision yet." 

However, if the federal government continues to "drag its feet" setting up the
auction, Goldberg said, he may consider contacting district representatives in
Congress to help expedite the process. 

In the meantime, the council has expressed some interest in finding potential
funding help. At the council meeting, Ryan suggested Green Acres or Historic
Preservation funding may be available, though with only limited auction
information, he could only speculate. 

But, Ryan said, other groups may be eyeing the property, including at least
one private party. He also indicated the New York, Susquehanna & Western
Railroad, which still has freight running on those tracks, may consider taking
down structures near the tracks that it deems hazardous. Town Manager Henry
Underhill said the station was not likely in danger, but one of the old A.O.
Polymer structures might be.


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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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