A 175-year-old farm in Cranbury that was supposed to be bulldozed by the township and turned into affordable housing will be saved.
After months of public pleading to spare their farm, the owners, the Henry family, sued Cranbury. They challenged the township’s assessment that their property was the only location for the town to build a 265-unit housing complex, in order to fulfill their fourth round affordable housing obligation, to meet state mandates.
Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced an agreement between all the parties involved, the township, the Henry family and the Fair Share Housing Center. In a statement Murphy said: “For 175 years, the Henry Family Farm has stood on South River Road in Cranbury as a proud symbol of that agricultural tradition … New Jersey will always protect its farmers and farmland. And we will always live up to our reputation as the Garden State.”
Cranbury officials will now look to other locations within the town to meet their affordable housing obligations. And the Henrys will continue their near 200-year legacy as farm owners in the Garden State.
