In Cranbury, New Jersey, a 175-year-old family farm is facing seizure by the local government. The township has announced its intention to take the Henry family’s 21-acre farm through eminent domain to build affordable housing. Chris and Andy Henry, brothers who inherited the farm from generations before them, are now making a last-ditch plea to protect the land that has been in their family since 1850. As reported by Nyah Marshall of NJ.com, the brothers say losing this farm would be like losing a piece of American history.
Despite the brothers’ clear refusal to sell, Cranbury officials have moved forward with plans, arguing that they must comply with state housing mandates. According to the town, this is not a matter of want – it’s a matter of law.
The Henry Family Legacy
Chris and Andy Henry grew up on the farm. It was their childhood home, their Eagle Scout project site, and a place they’ve maintained with love, even after moving to New Mexico. Their great-grandfather bought the land before the Civil War, and their parents, both WWII veterans, passed it down to them. Their mother’s name is even etched on the town’s war memorial, a symbol of their deep roots in the community.
According to Steve Lehto, attorney and host of Lehto’s Law, the family has invested over $200,000 into preserving the property since fully inheriting it in 2012. The land is still in use today – leased to a tenant who raises sheep and cattle, making it a rare working farm surrounded by industrial development.
Eminent Domain: The Township’s Justification
Cranbury officials argue that they are being forced to act. The town must submit a plan by June 30 to the state of New Jersey showing how it will meet its requirement to provide 265 affordable housing units over the next decade. This is part of a statewide mandate based on the Mount Laurel Doctrine, a series of court rulings requiring municipalities to accommodate their “fair share” of affordable housing.
Mayor Lisa Knierim told NJ.com the decision was made to avoid a builder’s remedy lawsuit, where developers could override local zoning and build wherever they please. “Whether people like it or not, that’s what this job is,” Knierim said. She claimed more than 50 sites were reviewed before choosing the Henry farm.
A Property Worth Millions – And a Legacy Worth More
The farm, nestled between the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 130, has been surrounded by warehouses for decades. But the Henrys never gave in to development pressure. According to Lehto, the brothers have reportedly turned down offers between $20 and $30 million from commercial developers over the last 30 years. “It didn’t matter how much money we were offered,” Chris Henry said. “We saved the farm no matter what.”
And now, the irony: the same government that praised their persistence wants to use that very land for something else. Lehto calls it “mindboggling” that someone could stand so firmly on principle, only for their rights to be overridden by policy.
The Plan to Bulldoze and Build
The town hasn’t yet disclosed what kind of housing complex would be built, or where exactly on the property it would go. According to Jay Taylor, a former mayor who supports the Henrys, this uncertainty has left neighbors uneasy. Taylor added that the land is in a warehouse zone and is undesirable for housing.
Still, the Cranbury Township Committee voted unanimously on May 12 to begin the acquisition process. If the family refuses to sell, the land could legally be taken by eminent domain. Under the law, the government can seize private property for public use, so long as the owner is paid “just compensation.”
Public Support Strongly Favors the Family
Lehto pointed out something critical in his podcast: “I can’t find anyone who supports the township’s actions.” That’s not an exaggeration. Residents have rallied around the Henry family, contributing over $53,000 toward a $100,000 legal fund to help them challenge the town’s plan in court.
Local citizens have taken to social media, signed petitions, and shown up at town hall meetings to voice their concerns. They argue that while affordable housing is important, building it in the middle of an industrial zone and on one of the last remaining farms in the area makes no sense.
Why This Matters Beyond Cranbury
The Henry farm is just one of many properties across New Jersey being evaluated for development under the state’s affordable housing rules. By 2035, municipalities must collectively add or upgrade over 146,000 affordable units, according to NJ.com. That’s a huge number, and it has many towns scrambling to find available land.
But what does it mean when the land that gets chosen isn’t vacant, or unused, but sacred? A working farm, preserved for nearly two centuries through war, development, and economic hardship, is now treated as just another real estate opportunity.
Historic Homes and Vanishing Landscapes
The farmhouse on the property, originally built in the 1800s and rebuilt after a fire in 1879, is still standing. Lehto mentioned that an architect from upstate New York recently scheduled a visit to study its porch for a restoration project. That detail highlights just how rare and how culturally valuable this home really is.
But if the current plan goes through, it could all be flattened. “They want to knock down the house and level everything,” Lehto said, clearly disturbed. The idea that a township could willingly erase a living piece of history is deeply unsettling.
A Personal and National Loss
It’s easy to dismiss this story as a local zoning issue. But it’s not. It’s a window into how fragile heritage can be, even in a nation that claims to value it. The Henry family farm isn’t just about land – it’s about sacrifice, family, identity, and endurance. They held on when everyone else sold out. They preserved something, not just for themselves, but for the town.
And now, that loyalty is being rewarded with legal action to push them out.
Progress Without Principles?
Here’s where it gets personal. Watching a town choose bulldozers over balance is hard to stomach. Affordable housing is necessary, no one’s denying that, but why does it so often come at the cost of the very communities it’s supposed to serve? In this case, a piece of New Jersey’s living past could be paved over for a short-term solution in a long-term battle.
As Lehto rightly said: “Not everything needs to get built up.” In a state as crowded and developed as New Jersey, sometimes what’s rare is what matters most. It’s not just about finding land – it’s about making thoughtful choices. And this one feels anything but.
The Battle Isn’t Over Yet
As of now, the Henry brothers plan to fight the township in court. Their attorney argues the seizure is “misguided and rushed” and lacks any reasonable justification for using eminent domain. The legal fight could take months or even years. But the stakes are enormous – not just for the Henrys, but for anyone who believes in preserving what little green space is left in a concrete world.
And while the state might win the legal right to take the land, what it will lose in trust, culture, and community may never be recovered.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.