Gloucester County land auction targets affordable housing buildout

Max Spann Real Estate & Auction Co. is auctioning a 14.40-acre municipally owned site in Washington Township, Gloucester County, on Sept. 16. The property is zoned for inclusionary housing and could support more than 140 units, giving developers a rare chance to help satisfy New Jersey’s Fourth Round affordable housing requirements.

Why it matters: - The Washington Township site is one of the first publicly marketed development parcels in southern New Jersey positioned to help meet New Jersey’s Fourth Round affordable housing obligations. - The property’s zoning, size and infrastructure create a near-term opportunity for inclusionary residential development in a market where entitled affordable housing sites are in demand. - The auction could give a municipality a transparent way to dispose of land while drawing competitive bids from developers, builders and affordable housing specialists.

What happened: - Max Spann Real Estate & Auction Co. announced an online auction for a 14.40± acre municipally owned residential development site at the corner of East Holly Avenue and Densten Road in Washington Township, Gloucester County. - Online bidding opens Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at 9:00 AM and concludes Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM. - Developers, investors and builders can register and access due diligence materials at More information.

The details: - Washington Township adopted its Residential Affordable Housing Inclusionary 1, or RAHI-1, zoning district earlier this year as part of its Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. - Township planning information says the site allows inclusionary residential development at densities of up to 10 units per acre with a required affordable housing component. - The site could support more than 140 residential units, subject to government approvals and final engineering. - Public water and sewer are available to the property, according to Township officials. - The parcel has about 1,098 feet of frontage on East Holly Avenue and more than 550 feet along Densten Road. - The property sits near Route 47 and Route 55 and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, preserved open space and community amenities. - Nearby destinations include Washington Lake Park, Hollydell School, the Washington Township Fire District headquarters, shopping, restaurants and medical services. - The site also offers access to Rowan University, Route 55, Route 47 and the greater Philadelphia metro area. - The property address is 201 East Holly Ave., Sewell, NJ 08080.

Between the lines: - New zoning tied to affordable housing obligations is turning municipally controlled land into a more marketable asset for developers. - Max Spann said municipalities across New Jersey are implementing Housing Element and Fair Share Plans, and well-located inclusionary sites are expected to become more valuable. - The firm also pointed to a recent auction in Wall Township, Monmouth County, where an affordable housing development site drew strong interest and generated sales proceeds of more than $9.5 million for a potentially 300-unit project. - Max Spann said it has represented more than 200 government entities, making it the largest auctioneer of government owned real estate in New Jersey.

What's next: - Max Spann will market the Washington Township site through its Accelerated Auction Marketing Program to local, regional and national developers. - The company expects the campaign to generate competitive bidding before the Sept. 16 auction deadline. - Interest in the site will likely track broader municipal adoption of zoning and settlement agreements tied to Fourth Round affordable housing requirements.

The bottom line: - Washington Township is offering developers a rare, entitled-style affordable housing opportunity on municipally owned land, with infrastructure and zoning already in place to support a large residential project.