Mount Laurel moves to convert two hotels into 176 affordable apartments as part of nine-hotel plan

Mount Laurel is advancing a plan to convert underused or distressed hotels into affordable housing. Two hotel properties—the Rodeway Inn on Route 73 and the Red Roof Inn on Fellowship Road—are the first targets in a broader push that names nine hotels as potential redevelopment sites.

Town officials and their planning consultant say the township has little vacant land left suitable for traditional residential development. As a result they expanded their search to developed properties that could be repurposed into apartments with affordable units. The work is part of Mount Laurel's fourth-round affordable housing commitments filed with the court.

Harbor Consultants prepared redevelopment studies for both hotels. The reports document numerous code violations, incidents reported to the fire and police departments, and physical conditions the consultant described as evidence of disrepair. The Rodeway Inn is about 50 years old and listed for sale at $6.2 million in the redevelopment study. The Red Roof Inn dates to the early 1980s and has a Fire Department directive prohibiting entry by firefighters without police present.

At a Planning Board meeting, the board supported designating the two properties as condemnation redevelopment areas. Township Solicitor George M. Morris said that, should the board accept the studies' findings, the township will begin negotiating with property owners to acquire the land. The redevelopment designation process considers whether the township should have powers to negotiate for acquisition, including eminent domain.

Owner response and contested findings

Vijay Shroff, a long-time Mount Laurel resident and an owner of the Red Roof Inn, contested the redevelopment designation at the Planning Board hearing. He disputed the study's characterization of the property's condition, said the owners maintain the site, and emphasized the land value of the property. Shroff asked that his firm be considered as the redeveloper if the project proceeds.

Board's acceptance of the study findings will trigger formal negotiations with property owners. The township has indicated these reports are the first in a series that could lead to additional redevelopment-area designations. Key decisions ahead include whether acquisitions proceed, whether eminent domain powers are invoked, and which developers are selected to convert the hotels into affordable housing units.