TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council unanimously approved a nearly $29,000 soil-remediation contract Dec. 2 for cleanup of lead-contaminated soil in a limited area near the home at 450 Pascack Road.
The $28,969 contract with Renova Environmental Company of Ocean Township calls for excavation and backfilling of soil at the site, primarily behind the house. Officials said Lisko Environmental of Belmar will manage the remediation. Pascack Press has requested a copy of the Renova contract.
Under a separate contract with Lisko Environmental, total remediation costs will reach $83,457.67, including the lead-contaminated soil work. All expenses will be paid from a $250,000 escrow account established by the seller, Robert Morris, as part of the property’s $750,000 purchase price, officials said.
Both town administrator Mark DiCarlo and attorney Siobhan Spillane Bailey estimated that, prior to these recent costs, only about $20,000 had been drawn from the escrow.
The township took ownership of the 3.2-acre parcel — which includes two rundown structures and a large section of wooded land — in early May 2025. DiCarlo disclosed the escrow account during a Pascack Press site tour in June.
DiCarlo said earlier this summer that Lisko had detected lead contamination, likely from pre-1978 lead-based paint used on the house, and that a remediation plan was forthcoming.
During the June tour, the site’s structures were filled with items yet to be discarded. The mostly wooded property, which runs between Ridgewood Boulevard East and Washington Elementary School/Memorial Field, is planned for passive recreation, including a walking trail.
In summer 2020, a developer proposed a 48-unit senior complex on the parcel, but withdrew after public opposition. Over the years, the site had been listed for sale for up to $2.1 million on commercial and residential real-estate websites, without takers.
At one point, former township attorney Kenneth Poller suggested eminent domain as a possible path to acquire the long-sought property, though the idea was never pursued. Nearby residents continually urged officials to buy the parcel, fearing a developer might acquire the unusually shaped lot.
DiCarlo told councilor Michael Ullman that the Renova contract will address all known environmental issues at the site. He said the Lisko contract includes five tasks, one of which is the Renova work. He did not provide a timeline for completing the excavation and backfill.
In May, we reported on Mayor Peter Calamari’s update on the property. He said the “future vision” includes a nature trail, exercise area, landscaping, benches, sidewalks, and parking. “Our immediate focus will be on cleaning up the property, and I will keep you updated on our progress. As always, I thank you for your continued support,” Calamari wrote.