Greystone Demolition Could Begin Before End of 2014

The State Treasury Department is currently accepting bids to demolish and bring down the famous Kirkbride Building at the former site of Greystone Psychiatric Hospital, and hopes the work will begin before the end of the year.

According to nj.com, the project consists of tearing down the Kirkbride Building along with 60 other former hospital structures on the property, as well as removing hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint from the area.

Since Governor Chris Christie announced plans to replace the closed facility, which shuttered in 2008, and announced a 165-acre park would be created, a campaign to preserve the century-old landmark was mounted.

The Preserve Greystone organization created a documentary and six proposals from various investors were presented to keep the buildings standing. None of them were “economically viable,” the state said in the nj.com report.

The cost to demolish the buildings has been estimated at $50 million.