A South Jersey township is looking to distressed motels as it works to meet a state-mandated affordable housing goal.
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The Mount Laurel Planning Board plans to discuss the possibility of condemning two Route 73 hospitality properties for this purpose on Thursday night, 70and73 reported.
The 108-room Red Roof Inn at 603 Fellowship Road and the 90-room Rodeway Inn down the street at 1132 Route 73 were each the subject of studies conducted by Harbor Consultants. Officials believe the properties could house 90 and 86 affordable units, respectively.
Mount Laurel could potentially use eminent domain to acquire them, Township Solicitor George Morris told 70and73.
"If the Planning Board accepts the studies' findings, then the Township will begin to negotiate with the property owners to acquire the lands," he said. "If acquired, a redeveloper will be selected to develop housing at these locations."
These motels are two of nine hospitality properties Mount Laurel has identified that could be turned into affordable housing.
If they were all purchased and converted, they could bring 826 affordable units to the township.
The Harbor Consultants studies found that the Red Roof Inn and Rodeway are both in disrepair and field regular police activity.
A Mount Laurel Fire Department directive issued last year prevents personnel from entering the Red Roof Inn without a police escort. There were 258 arrests and 440 police service cases there between 2021 and April 2026.
Last year, Mount Laurel reported an immediate need for 46 affordable units and an upcoming need for 380 more by 2035.
The determinations came in response to a 2024 bill strengthening the enforcement of the Mount Laurel doctrine, a 1975 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that required municipalities to use their zoning powers to advance the production of low- to moderate-income housing.
The 2024 measure led to a boom in affordable housing construction in suburban municipalities statewide.
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