A New Jersey family is at the center of a heated battle to save their 175-year-old farm from being taken over by Cranbury Township, which intends to use the land to build affordable housing.
Andy Henry and his brother, who co-own the 21-acre property located near the New Jersey Turnpike, were shocked to receive a letter from township attorneys on April 24. The letter stated that the town plans to acquire the land through eminent domain, a process that allows the government to take private property for public use.
The farm, which has been in the Henry family since 1850, holds deep emotional and historical value. Over the years, the Henrys have refused multiple multimillion-dollar offers from developers—some as high as $30 million—opting instead to preserve their family’s legacy and the land’s agricultural roots.
“We’re not going to give it up,” said Andy Henry in a local interview. “It’s part of who we are.”
Town Pushes Forward Under State Housing Mandates
Cranbury Township officials argue that the decision to seize the land is driven by legal obligations tied to affordable housing. Under New Jersey’s Mount Laurel doctrine, municipalities must provide their fair share of affordable housing units. The doctrine stems from a series of landmark New Jersey Supreme Court rulings that prohibit exclusionary zoning and aim to increase access to affordable housing across the state.
Local governments are often required to submit affordable housing plans to the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) or through the courts in accordance with state mandates. These plans include identifying properties suitable for development. Cranbury officials say the Henry property meets the criteria and is one of the few viable locations left.
Understand eminent domain policies via the NJ Office of the Attorney General
But the Henry family—and many community members—disagree with the township’s assessment.
Not the Right Place for Housing
The Henrys argue that their farm is in an industrial zone, surrounded by warehouses and bordered by the busy New Jersey Turnpike. They say these conditions make it an unsuitable and potentially unhealthy location for future residents.
Jay Taylor, a former mayor of Cranbury, has spoken out in support of the Henry family. “If you’re serious about giving people access to good homes, you don’t put them next to tractor-trailers and 24/7 warehouse traffic,” Taylor said. “This is not where people should live.”
According to Taylor, there are other options that the town should explore instead of forcing a family to give up land that has been in their possession for nearly two centuries.
Community Backs the Family
Support for the Henry family has surged throughout Cranbury and surrounding areas. In a show of solidarity, several residents dressed in cow costumes during the town’s Memorial Day parade to raise awareness and protest the planned seizure of the farm.
One local protester said, “It’s not just about land—it’s about heritage, history, and fairness.”
Andy Henry says that although the family has always supported affordable housing in principle, it shouldn’t come at the cost of long-standing local heritage or without proper community input.
Legal Fight Ahead
The Henrys are now preparing for a court battle to block the township’s eminent domain action. Their lawyers argue that the seizure is unnecessary, inappropriate, and may violate the principles of fair land use.
The family says they are not opposed to affordable housing but want the town to consider better locations and avoid targeting a farm with such deep historical and generational ties.
As the legal process begins, the Henrys remain firm in their resolve to fight for their land—just as their ancestors preserved it through generations of change.
