NJ City Gov to Seize 175-Year-Old Farm by Eminent Domain, Replace with Affordable Housing

[mountaineer]

City Gov to Seize 175-Year-Old Farm by Eminent Domain, Replace with Affordable Housing
Family fights township attempts to replace historic farm with government project
Chris Bennett
June 11, 2025 06:53 AM
AgWeb

For three decades, Andy Henry has declined $20-30 million offers for his 21-acre, 175-year-old farm. Ironically, local government is using his perseverance to take the entire property via eminent domain and replace pasture with affordable housing.  ...

On South River Road, in Middlesex County, N.J., warehouses and industrial buildings have replaced the once abundant farms of yesteryear—except a lone holdout. “My family sacrificed on this land for 175 years,” Henry adds. “All the other farms disappeared. We did not. We will not.” ...

Cranbury Township Committee also has a plan: Cover Henry’s farm with housing units.

On April 24, 2025, Henry’s mailbox clinked with an official letter of notice from the Committee, tagging his farm as an affordable housing site. “It was incredibly stunning,” he says. “The letter said if I didn’t agree on a price—they’d take my land by eminent domain.” ...

On May 12, the Committee officially approved a plan to take the Henry family farm. Timothy Duggan, an eminent domain specialist and attorney representing Henry, says the Committee’s intentions are “misguided and rushed.” ...

The Henry family home in the 1880s

[catfish1957]

Another example of why many of us utterly despise government at every level.

[DefiantMassRINO]

They will use "affordable housing" as the justification for the use of eminent domain because "affordable housing" is a good crisis that shouldn't be wasted by bureaucrats.

Once the property is in their possession, I suspect the land will be used for something more than, or other, than affordable housing.  "Affordable housing" is the crisis of the moment that they can exploit to enrich themselves.

Government uses eminent domain when they want to build highways through poor neighborhoods or rural areas, and when some developer is greasing their palms.

Remember that case in Connecticut.  The Government used eminnent domain to take waterfront property that was mostly modest homes and cottages to build an office park for a pharmaceutical company.  Once the tax incentives ran out, the pharmaceutical company left.  They destroyed a community for grift and unkept promises of increased tax revenue.

[Timber Rattler]

Another result of Kelo.

[catfish1957]

Not sure about NJ laws, but if there are truly any 175 y.o. structures left, I'd...

1. File an injunction against Emminent Domain.
2. File an application for listing with every Historical Preservation Organization and/ or Agency in New Jersey. 
3. Reach out to property rights advocacy groups for assistance, and lawyer up.
4. Win the case or bog it down with bureacracy. Threaten to do it and hold out for decades if needed.
5. Watch them give up

[mountaineer]

What do you want to be certain government officials will profit from the building of said "affordable housing"? Kickbacks, anyone?

[Fishrrman]

"For three decades, Andy Henry has declined $20-30 million offers for his 21-acre, 175-year-old farm..."

OK, I'm gonna play the realist here.

Let's compromise with the above numbers and say Mr. Henry could get $25 million for his property.

He could take that cash and buy a much bigger (than 21 acre) farm in Central or North-Central Pennsylvania, which would probably come with a homestead that looks pretty much like the one in the picture above (which looks like what I'd call a "Pennsylvania Gothic" style).

He might even have the old house dismantled piece-by-piece and rebuilt at his new spread.

He'd end up with a couple hundred acres, an infrastructure ready-to-go, and get on with life.

Sometimes it's better to just "take the money and run..."

[roamer_1]

"For three decades, Andy Henry has declined $20-30 million offers for his 21-acre, 175-year-old farm..."

OK, I'm gonna play the realist here.

The thing you don't understand is the difference in economy between country and city.
He's already proven that it ain't about the money... And I get him perfectly.


https://youtu.be/cdVN4ZiJUTE

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

We certainly need affordable housing but I wish they could've found a better solution than this.

[Smokin Joe]

The thing you don't understand is the difference in economy between country and city.
He's already proven that it ain't about the money... And I get him perfectly.

Yep. It's mine. It was my daddy's, and his daddy's,...etc.

Some roots don't pull so easy.

It's purt'near spiritual.

[catfish1957]

Yep. It's mine. It was my daddy's, and his daddy's,...etc.

Some roots don't pull so easy.

It's purt'near spiritual.

I own the homestead and acreage  one of my great grandparents built about 110 years ago.  I've been offered twice its value three times.  That tradition and honoring of family  heritage has no price.     And I will never set a value set to or ever sell it.
I know exactly how he feels,  And this property has been in his family 175 years,

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

City Gov to Seize 175-Year-Old Farm by Eminent Domain, Replace with Affordable Housing
Family fights township attempts to replace historic farm with government project
Chris Bennett
June 11, 2025 06:53 AM
AgWeb

The Henry family home in the 1880s

I 100% agree that this is disgusting, but then again, people don't allow the opposite, if this guy were to sell his land to a developer and build apartments/condos oftentimes the local boomers would be up in arms.