County Announces New Plan to Buy Part of Bancroft

Camden County officials have announced a new plan for a public purchase of 13 of 19 acres of the Bancroft property on Kings Highway East.

The plan revives an effort that has been filled with obstacles and setbacks and may have contributed to the defeat of at least one official in local elections in the spring.

“Once more details are known about this application, we will hold a public meeting to discuss the facts and our options moving forward,” Mayor Jeff Kasko said.  “We look forward to hearing from county officials when they are further along in their process.”

Camden County's Open Space Advisory Committee has received an application from the New Jersey Conservation Foundation for funding to buy a portion of the Bancroft property on the east side of Hopkins Lane, according to a news release from Haddonfield borough Administrator Sharon McCullough on Wednesday afternoon. 

The 13-acres, if purchased, would be added to the adjacent county park. County officials have authorized two appraisals, which  are scheduled to be completed by early September.

If a deal can be reached, county officials will open discussions with the borough commissioners, McCullough's statement said. It was not immediately reported what the nature of the negotiations would be.

Former borough Commissioner Ed Borden was a leading proponent of a $12.5 million Haddonfield Board of Education referendum to buy the entire Bancroft property. The measure was defeated by voters in January and Borden lost his bid for reelection in May. Many voters cited the Bancroft project as a factor in their vote. The total purchase price was $16 million and included $3.5 million of state and county grants.

Kasko, who was appointed mayor in May after tallying the most votes among six candidates for the three seats on the Board of Commissioners, also supported the failed Bancroft purchase. News of the county effort to revive the sale was not on the agenda of the commissioner's meetings last week.