Middletown To Build Veterans' Housing On Belford Property

BELFORD, NJ — The Middletown Township Committee unanimously voted to buy a property at 37-45 Leonardville Road in Belford, which Middletown says it will convert into affordable housing units for income-eligible veterans.

The building that will be demolished is an old tool rental place, across from the Carvel ice cream shop. A rendering of how the housing will look will be available by Memorial Day, and Middletown aims to complete construction by Veterans Day 2020, which is in November.

“The Township Committee and I are excited about the prospect of turning a blighted property in Campbell’s Junction into affordable housing units deemed solely for the honorable men and women who have served our nation,” said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry in a statement.

For the project, Middletown will partner with the Middletown Housing Authority, which currently manages hundreds of affordable housing units in town.

Once Middletown closes on the property, the next step will be to demolish the existing tool rental building and clean up the site. They plan to place a rendering of the proposed project in that location so residents can see it in time for Memorial Day.

In 2019, Middletown took the bold and extremely unusual step of withdrawing from its state-mandated affordable housing obligation, calling the demands imposed by Fair Share Housing Center "unrealistic and ever-increasing."

But Perry said Middletown "is a firm supporter of investing in affordable housing projects that make sense."

“We will always step up to create affordable housing for those in need of assistance, especially our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said the Middetown mayor. “We encourage other municipalities to follow suit.”

Keep reading: Middletown Withdraws From NJ's Affordable Housing Mandate