State seeks ‘economically self-sustaining use’ for former Greystone main building

As part of state plans to convert the original Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital property into open space, the state will study whether the original main hospital building still has the potential for economically self-sustaining use.

As part of state plans to convert the original Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital property into open space, the state will study whether the original main hospital building still has the potential for economically self-sustaining use.

Gov. Chris Christie announced plans on Thursday to convert 165 acres of the Parsippany property to useable open-space parkland. The site has been dormant since the original facility closed in 2008.

Christie said his administration is committed to implementing a plan that responsibly resolves the site’s future.

“By doing so, we are fulfilling the state’s obligation to clean up this dormant site in an environmentally and fiscally sound manner,” Christie said in a statement.

State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff will lead the study, and any recommendations regarding a use for the hospital building will be included in the plan for the site.

There will be requests for proposal for environmental and design consultant services, with an assessment of the site to be completed throughout 2012. Later RFPs will be issued to complete required remediation and demolition work throughout 2013.

The administration estimates that the project will cost $27 million, which will be financed through Economic Development Authority bonds and open-space funding.

The original hospital opened in 1876. The property also contains a sewage treatment plant, wetlands and a modern hospital facility that opened in 2007, which will continue to operate. The state already turned 300 acres of the site over to Morris County as open space.