Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Hamilton Township Council to Vote on Demolition of East State Street Properties Damaged in 2015, 6-Alarm Fire

October 19, 2021

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The Hamilton Township Council is set to vote on the demolition of East State Street properties damaged in a 2015 six-alarm fire. 

If approved by Council at their meeting on Tuesday, seven of the eight condemned properties damaged in the fire that tore through the 1700 block of East State Street, displacing dozens of residents, will be demolished. A private developer purchased the eighth property prior to the acquisition of the other vacant properties in 2021 by the Township. 

When stepping into office, Mayor Martin promised to address the vacant and abandoned properties within the Township. By acquiring the East State Street properties, the Township will look to convert the vacant properties to affordable housing units.  

“For six years, the residents of Hamilton have been reminded of the awful fire that took place in 2015,” stated Mayor Jeff Martin. “Moving to tear down the vacant buildings and convert the properties into new affordable housing is the right thing to do after all of this time. We have more work to do on many other vacant and abandoned properties, but this is a great place to start.”

The Hamilton Township Council will meet this evening at 6:30 pm at the Hamilton Township Senior Center located at 409 Cypress Lane. 

Photos added on 10/22/2021 as viewed from the air of the abandoned properties
MidJersery.News file photos from 6/15/2020–Photo taken June 15, 2020: Property remains abandoned 5 years after a “historic” 6-Alarm Fire in Hamilton. “Unsafe Structure Notice” are posted on several buildings in the 1700 Block of East State Street in Hamilton dated April 22, 2019
5 Years After 6 Alarm Fire, BLM Protesters Bring Attention To Abandoned And Fire Damaged Properties In Hamilton Bromley Section

Mentioned at a June 16, 2020 Black Lives Matter Protest in Hamilton:

  • Black Lives Matter protester Tracey D. Syphax
“I am going to mention one more thing about the Bromley Section of the city. We know that structure racism exists, houses burned down in the Bromley Section almost 5 years ago, those houses are still sitting there, that would happen in no other neighborhood in Hamilton but Bromley. That has to change. That’s racism. That’s separation. That’s underclass and we must speak up against that. We have some action items that we are going to demand Hamilton and Mercer County hold to before this is over.” –Black Lives Matter protester Tracey D. Syphax

“I am going to mention one more thing about the Bromley Section of the city. We know that structure racism exists, houses burned down in the Bromley Section almost 5 years ago, those houses are still sitting there, that would happen in no other neighborhood in Hamilton but Bromley. That has to change. That’s racism. That’s separation. That’s underclass and we must speak up against that. We have some action items that we are going to demand Hamilton and Mercer County hold to before this is over.” –Black Lives Matter protester Tracey D. Syphax

Mentioned at the Black Lives Matter Protest in Hamilton Township, June 16, 2020:

7 minutes 25 seconds in this video you can hear the statement about the fire 5 years ago in the Bromley Section: