Last week, the structure located at 4 West Main Street in Brookside was demolished in preparation for the construction of Mendham Township’s new Police Headquarters. 

To ensure that the new Police Station includes aesthetics inherent to the Brookside Historic District, on November 9, 2020, the Township Committee established the Construction Project Exterior Design Advisory Committee. The committee worked collaboratively with the Township and Cornerstone Architectural Group from December 2020 - March 2021 and presented their final design to the Township Committee. In March 2021, the Township Committee voted to approve the proposed design. 

In order to preserve the historic fabric of the Brookside Historic neighborhood, there will be minimal parking adjacent to the new police building and vehicular access will be maintained from Cherry Lane through the municipal parking lot. Additionally, to limit site disturbance and preserve the landscaping around the building, the building will also utilize the existing septic field and use the large municipal parking lot for the police fleet and personal vehicles.

To ensure this project stays on schedule, over the last year, the Township and Cornerstone Architectural Group have been working with the State’s Historic Preservation Office, Department of Corrections, and Department of Environmental Protection. On July 12th, the bid proposal and specifications for Mendham Township’s new Police Station were advertised, and on August 10th, eight bids were received. Cornerstone Architectural Group on behalf of Mendham Township has verified the adequacy of the three lowest bidders.

During the Township Committee meeting tomorrow night - Monday, August 16th, the Township Committee is expected to make a decision on the bid award. If a bid is awarded and a contract is signed, construction for the new Police Station could commence as early as the middle of September 2021, with the building substantially completed by the middle of Summer 2022.

The new Police Station project is part of a larger Township infrastructure plan which also includes upgrades to the existing Town Hall building and Library. 

To learn more, visit mendhamtownship.org. 

Sarah Neibart

Mayor, Mendham Township