PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP – The Burlington County Commissioners have reached an agreement with Rowan College at Burlington County to purchase the former Pemberton campus, and the County will move forward with demolition of the vacant structures on the property. Under the agreement, Burlington County has purchased the 225-acre property on Pemberton-Browns Mills Road for $1 million and will demolish the vacant buildings that have fallen into decay and disrepair. “We are taking this action to remove blight and protect public safety. The remaining buildings on campus need to come down and the property needs to be maintained,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson. “With the property now under County control, we will start demolition work and maintenance of the property so it is no longer an eyesore and attractive nuisance.” The agreement was finalized last month, and on Dec. 27th the Commissioners voted to authorize the County to move forward with the demolition of the remaining structures. The final sale price was considered fair market value for the property and would provide RCBC additional financial support, Hopson said. The campus property borders the Rancocas Creek and was previously the original campus of Burlington County College, now known as Rowan College at Burlington County. The property has remained vacant for more than five years since the college transitioned from Pemberton to its new main campus in Mount Laurel on Route 38. The decision to phase out the Pemberton campus was made by the college’s Board of Trustees after a facilities study identified more than $50 million in needed repairs and necessary improvements at the Pemberton location. The study also found that Mount Laurel, which first opened in 1995, was the preferred destination for the majority of the college’s students. Since the campus closure, RCBC had been unable to find a suitable buyer for the campus, and maintaining the property had become a big challenge. Concerning the future of the property, Hopson said the County does not have immediate plans besides the demolition of the structures to address the safety hazards, but all possibilities will be explored. “This was a beautiful property and our intent is for it to once again become an asset for Pemberton and the entire county.” Hopson said. — Courtesy of Burlington County