Hopatcong Continues Land Sales

Written by Michael Daigle

While many residents have been complaining about their increasing taxes and home devaluation as a reason they are unable to sell their land, the Hopatcong Borough governing body seems to have no trouble moving real estate.

The borough sold off another unneeded parcel of land to a resident at their early Aug. council meeting in an effort to get the property back on the tax rolls. 

The sale, following a brief auction with only one bidder, was one of several held this summer as the borough tries to whittle down its inventory of small, unused  properties.

This sale of 4 Bass Rocks Road brought in  $3,900 from the adjacent landowner, the only qualified bidder.

Earlier this year the borough sold two other properties: 16 Brown Trail, sold for the minimum bid of $3,750; and 10 Brown Trail, for a bid of $8,150.

An auction for 410 Lakeside Blvd. , was set for Sept. 4.  The minimum bid is $14,400.

In related news,  the Borough Council approved additional funds for a  housing rehabilitation project at 104 Evergreen Ave.  Administrator Robert Elia said the estimate for the project is now $24,200 because of additional septic work discovered when work crews began the repair on the system.   The usual ceiling for such projects is $15,000, Elia said.