Historic Greystone Buildings to be Demolished Soon

The remaining structures on the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital campus, including the historic Kirkbride building, will be demolished in a "matter of months."

Members of the state Department of Treasury informed Morris County officials Friday the buildings will soon be demolished, according to the Daily Record.

"This is a major coup for the people of Morris County,” Sen Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) told the Daily Record. “This means Morris County will get an additional 165 acres to go with the 300 acres of Greystone land already turned over, so people can enjoy it, in perpetuity."

Pennacchio and Sen. Anthony Bucco introduced a bill last year that would limit the sale of the remaining state-owned portions of Greystone only to Morris County to be used as open space.

While Morris Plains officials supported the bill, Parsippany unanimously passed a resolution against the bill.

Greystone has been a controversial issue since a decision to demolish the remaining buildings came with a $50 million price tag. The decision came after Gov. Chris Christie announced plans in late 2011 to remediate and convert Greystone Park in Parsippany. The park includes a sewage treatment plant, wetlands and the original psychiatric hospital, which closed in 2008.

The state's plan had been to demolish the rest of the buildings, despite receiving interest from private groups to redevelop the site.