There’s no one that can put up quite a fight than a family trying to save their legacy from being taken away. For 175 years, the Henry family’s Farm in Cranbury, New Jersey, has passed the test of time.
This historic 21-acre property is at the center of a high-stakes legal and emotional battle as local officials move to seize the land through eminent domain for an affordable housing project mandated by state law. This certainly is one fight the Henry Family will not back down from, but will they with this war?
The Henry Family’s Deep Roots
This remarkable property was purchased by their great-grandfather, Joseph McGill, in 1850. Five generations have lovingly tended the 21-acre property. “My family sacrificed on this land for 175 years. All the other farms disappeared. We did not. We will not,” said Andy Henry.
Andy and Christopher Henry, the current stewards, grew up on the land and have invested over $200,000 to ensure its preservation, leasing it to local farmers who continue the tradition of raising sheep and cattle.
The Shocking Notice
The Henry family was blindsided when they received a letter from Cranbury Township on April 24, announcing the town’s intent to seize their entire 21-acre farm through eminent domain. “We got a letter on April 24 informing us of this unfortunate decision that they wanted to take the entire 21 acres,” Henry said.
“So, of course, ever since then, we’ve been pushing back. And now they’re saying, ‘Well, actually, we’ll just take half of it and leave the house.’ That would leave us with a non-viable farm for at least 40 cows and many sheep.” Despite having turned down lucrative offers from developers for years, the Henrys never imagined facing a forced sale, especially for a project that wouldn’t even work at the farm’s location, which is surrounded by warehouses and removed from essential amenities.
The Offers Refused
This property has been one of the most-wanted properties for quite some time now, but the Henry Family has refused every single offer that has come their way. Over the years, Christopher and Andy Henry have turned down offers as high as $30 million from developers wanting to turn the property into warehouses despite the farm’s prime location between the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 130.
Their refusal to sell is not just about sentimentality; it is a meaningful stand for preserving agricultural history and rural character in a region increasingly dominated by industrial development.
The Eminent Domain Filing
This family now has to fight more than just local developers because township officials are invoking eminent domain to acquire the Henrys’ 21-acre farm. They claim the land will be used for a state-mandated affordable housing project, helping New Jersey’s obligation to add hundreds of affordable units in the coming decade.
The process began with a formal letter to the family, followed by the township’s passage of an ordinance authorizing the seizure, despite the Henrys’ vocal opposition and refusal to negotiate a sale.
Trump Administration Weighs In
This fight for a family legacy has caused quite an uproar online, so much so that it caught the attention of the Trump administration. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins publicly announced that her office was “looking into this situation immediately,” declaring, “We must protect family farms at all costs.”
The USDA has formally warned Cranbury Township to halt its eminent domain proceedings. The agency cites that the farm may be protected under the Farmland Protection Policy Act and urges the township to defer any action until a federal review is complete. “Let me be clear: advancing this project without complying with federal farmland protection requirements could place your township and any funding partners in violation of federal law,” wrote U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Community Rallies in Support
In a small town like Cranbury, it is no surprise that the community has stepped up for this family farm. Residents have packed township meetings, making passionate appeals for officials to reconsider the use of eminent domain and urging them to explore less destructive alternatives.
In a show of solidarity, community members even dressed as cows during the Memorial Day parade to highlight the farm’s agricultural heritage and the absurdity of replacing it with dense development. Residents have even helped start a GoFundMe in honor of the farm and have already raised $100,000 to help the Henrys cover mounting legal costs.
Not Suitable for Affordable Housing
The property sits in the northeast corner of Cranbury, bordered by massive warehouses and busy commercial corridors. The nearest bus stop is about two miles away, meaning that residents would have to walk the New Jersey Turnpike on foot, which raises serious concerns about safety and practicality for families or individuals without cars.
The farm is also far from schools, grocery stores, and other community resources critical for affordable housing residents to thrive. Housing advocates and local officials alike have noted that this isolation undermines New Jersey’s affordable housing mandate’s core purpose: to provide homes in areas with accessible jobs, transit, and services.
The Ongoing Legal Battle
The Henry family has filed a lawsuit in Middlesex County Superior Court, arguing that the farm’s location makes it unsuitable for housing. Their complaint contends that the farm’s seizure is not a legitimate use of eminent domain, as it fails to meet the goals of New Jersey’s affordable housing mandates and delegates too much power to private developers.
“Since Cranbury would not listen to its residents and decided to move forward with an affordable housing plan which requires the Henry farm to be taken by eminent domain, we were forced to file a court challenge to the decision to authorize the Township to take the Henry farm,” Timothy Duggan, the family’s attorney.
Broader Implications for Family Farms
This fight goes far beyond protecting an old family farm; it’s taken a stand against the government by safeguarding generational land and the agriculture industry. The Henry case has become a rallying point for property rights advocates, highlighting the risk that no agricultural land is truly safe if the government can seize a farm with 175 years of family stewardship.
“We are pleased that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins has become involved and supports our efforts to protect the Henry farm,” Duggan added.
