State considers sale of historic Douglas House in Hunterdon County, seeks public comment
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is considering the sale of Douglas House, a historic residence located within the Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township, and is inviting the public to submit comments on the proposal.
The property, which fronts County Route 615 (Pittstown Road) and Capoolong Creek, is currently administered by the NJDEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife as part of the Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area. The public comment period on the proposed sale runs through March 6, 2026.
Douglas House, also known as the Deats, Case and Co. Tenant House, was constructed in the 1850s and is classified as a contributing structure within the Pittstown Historic District. The district is listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
The NJDEP acquired the property in 2003 to address a septic system encroachment onto the wildlife management area and to extend public land access to and across Capoolong Creek. For several years, the house was used as employee housing for the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Officials said it is no longer needed for that purpose and that the department lacks the resources to maintain the structure to appropriate historic standards for public use.
As a result, the NJDEP is considering selling the house for private use, subject to a historic preservation easement. The property would be sold “as is,” and the department would not be responsible for repairs or environmental remediation. Proceeds from the sale would be returned to the state’s Green Acres fund to support future open space acquisitions. The preservation easement would be held and enforced by the New Jersey Historic Trust.
Under the proposal, the sale would include the house and a defined portion of the property, along with a small section of an adjacent lot. NJDEP officials said the area proposed for sale would not be expanded. Land retained by the state would include Capoolong Creek frontage and space for public parking to support fishing access. A dilapidated garage on the retained portion would be removed.
As a condition of sale, the purchaser would be required to maintain the house to historic standards and install a new septic system, retaining wall and well at their own expense. While a septic system design was approved by Hunterdon County in 2019, officials said buyers should not assume the approval remains valid or meets current requirements. The purchaser would be responsible for securing all necessary permits and approvals.
The property could be used for any purpose consistent with its current Neighborhood Business zoning or any future zoning imposed by Franklin Township, provided the use complies with the historic preservation easement.
The NJDEP will not hold a formal public hearing on the proposal but will accept written public comments before seeking approval from the NJDEP commissioner and the State House Commission. If approved, the sale would proceed through an online public auction conducted with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Officials said the opening bid would be determined by an appraisal, with State House Commission consideration expected no earlier than September 2026.
Additional information about the proposed sale and instructions for submitting public comments are available on the NJDEP website.
