be T.U.F.

My land is NOT for sale!

Press Release
July 8, 2004 - Franklin Township

Unhappy with the constant threat that they may lose their homes to a developer using the Township’s power of eminent domain, homeowners in what has become know as "block 123" in Franklin Township plan to continue the fight for their homes with a protest march this coming Sunday. The homeowners plan to picket outside the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, a key player is the First Baptist Community Development Commission (CDC).

The whole issue began several years ago when Franklin Township decided to initiate a redevelopment program in the northern end of the Township. There are several properties in that end of town that have dilapidated or burned out homes or boarded up business on them that are intermixed with well-maintained homes in a working-class neighborhood. Many of the residents have lived here for decades. Mary Barry, one of the residents living under the shadow of eminent domain say she has lived in her home for over 40 years and she's not about to move. "I've put on my shield, I've raised up my sword, I've got my sleeves rolled up and I'm ready to fight them", she said. "Everything I have is in my home and I'm not giving it up to a grocery store" she said.

She has neighbors who have not lived there as long but are as engaged in the fight as she is. One of those neighbors, Francine Certo-Bowers, is launching a door-to-door campaign to make sure her neighbors are aware of the possibilities. She said many don't have the true facts.

The fight against eminent domain in the Redevelopment District took on a new life at last Tuesday's Township Council when a proposal to create another Redevelopment Agency in town for the Bennetts Lane area came under fire. At a prior township meeting Middlesex County Developer, Jack Morris, came before the township and asked them to rezone a large tract of land between Bennetts Lane and Veronica Avenue. He proposed to build a Home Depot, a large "box" store, several medical buildings and about 585 homes.

Morris’ proposal is what prompted residents from both areas to attend the July 6th Council Meeting. The room was filled with resident representing both areas. As the meeting started, however, a surprise came from the dais as Deputy Mayor Fred McKenzie made a motion to have the Council rescind their resolution to have the Planning Board study Morris' proposal. A formal vote will be taken on the measure at next Tuesday's Council meeting. Happy, yet somewhat surprised and speechless, the residents still made their way to the podium, one by one, to make sure the Council understood their opposition to the proposal in the Bennetts Lane area.

Once McKenzie made the motion to rescind the Bennetts Lane study and to remove the threat of eminent domain in that area, the homeowners in the Redevelopment area saw a ray of hope and started the push to get eminent domain removed from the Redevelopment agency, too. Mary Berry was but one of the speakers denouncing the plan and asking to have the power of eminent removed from the Redevelopment Agency. Many suggested that the vacant Shop Rite store just a short distance away on Veronica Avenue again be used for a Pathmark instead of taking homes to build a new super market while leaving the existing building vacant. Doris Bennett, who led the charge in the Bennetts Lane effort, noted that the owner of the site isn't even advertising the stores as for rent. Two days after her comments at the Council four large "store for rent" signs appeared on both Veronica Avenue and Route 27.

The pressure to remove the power of eminent domain and possible disband the redevelopment agency is also supported by many of the local businesses. Courtney Throckmorton is one business owner in the area that has been fighting this since early on. "We should just let the capitalistic system work as it's starting to do in one are of the district,” Throckmorton said at Tuesday's meeting. Cindy Santangelo echoed his sentiments. The Santangelo family has owned and operated Frank's Hardware on Somerset Street since the late 40's. "We're afraid to invest in our business - which we are willing to do - but we can't with this threat hanging over our heads."

The sentiment seems to be consistent through both areas of the township and the new mantra is "my land is not for sale"

For additional information please contact

Chip Hoever, CMCA
68 Veronica Avenue - Suite 4
Somerset, NJ 08873

(732) 296-0555
(732) 296-0777 - fax