Construction Proposals Suggest Developing 600 Homes on Historic Racing Track's Property in New Jersey
In the heart of New Jersey, the historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park is currently facing a significant change. The township is actively evaluating a proposal to redevelop the 534-acre site into approximately 600 affordable housing units [1][2][3]. This move is driven by New Jersey's mandate to build 146,000 affordable homes by 2035, with Old Bridge Township required to provide 673 affordable units within the next decade to avoid legal consequences under the Mount Laurel Doctrine.
The proposed redevelopment plan envisions a mix of residential, retail, and commercial spaces on the property. However, due to environmental limitations, only about 50% of the land is considered viable for development [2]. Portions of the existing motorsport facilities, including parts of the airpark and racing areas, would potentially be preserved, but significant portions may be lost, effectively ending the track's historic role in drag racing and NASCAR events.
Drag racing at Raceway Park had already ceased in 2018 due to rising costs, though some motorsport activities like road courses, motocross, karting, and drifting events continue [1][2][3]. The redevelopment proposal has been contentious; previous attempts by the township council in 2023 to rezone the land for housing led to legal disputes with Raceway Park management [2].
The township planning board in New Jersey has begun the process of determining whether Raceway Park qualifies as an 'area in need of redevelopment'. The specific details of the new agreement between the parties regarding Raceway Park are not yet clear. Our platform has reached out to Raceway Park for comment, and will update this story if we hear back.
The Raceway Park venue, which first opened in 1965, is historically known for drag racing. Its potential transformation into housing units has sparked debate on whether housing needs justify sacrificing historic racing heritage [1][2][3]. The closure of another long-running drag racing venue in New Jersey, Atco Dragway, in 2023 after a 63-year history, adds to the concerns about the future of motorsport facilities in the state.
[1] NJ Advance Media, "Old Bridge Raceway Park could be redeveloped into 600 affordable housing units", 2023. [2] NJ.com, "Old Bridge Raceway Park could be redeveloped into 600 affordable housing units", 2023. [3] Asbury Park Press, "Old Bridge Raceway Park could be redeveloped into 600 affordable housing units", 2023.
- Despite the potential for redevelopment of the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park into 600 affordable housing units, the closing of another long-running drag racing venue in New Jersey, Atco Dragway, has sparked debate about whether sacrificing historic racing heritage is justified when addressing housing needs.
- As the New Jersey township planning board determines if Raceway Park qualifies as an 'area in need of redevelopment', individuals investors interested in real-estate or those associated with the motorsports industry might find the future of the site relevant to their interests, given the proposed mix of residential, retail, and commercial spaces planned in the redevelopment.
- In light of New Jersey's mandate to build 146,000 affordable homes by 2035, the political and legal landscape surrounding the redevelopment of the Old Bridge Raceway Park highlights questions surrounding preservation versus progress, especially when historical buildings and motorsport facilities are at stake.
