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For decades, the beloved brick walkways winding through the outlets at Liberty Village in Hunterdon County were a destination for shoppers in the days leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah.

The outdoor mall — founded as the nation’s first major outlet center in the 1980s — drew shoppers from around New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

Only three stores in the roughly 23-acre complex — the Ann Taylor Outlet, the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory and Brooks Brothers — remain open. Though it was only a few days before Christmas, not a single shopper was anywhere in Liberty Village on Dec. 15.

“People weren’t shopping at it,” said Flemington Mayor Betsy Driver. “The stores have been closing, the retail market has been changing and it’s now basically a ghost town.”

Two Ann Taylor Outlet employees said on Dec. 15 they’ve still been busy on weekends, but business on weekdays has slowed down. The shop is slated to stay open through January, then move to another location in Flemington.

When it opened in 1981, Liberty Village was considered the nation’s first major outlet shopping center. It enjoyed enormous success and expanded in the late 1990s, but has since declined amid a lack of visitors.

Flemington Borough officials declared it an area in need of redevelopment in Dec. 2021, Driver said. The borough council adopted a redevelopment agreement last year with the Hoboken Brownstone Company, a real estate firm based in Hudson County.

George Vallone, owner of Hoboken Brownstone, plans to redevelop the site into mixed-income housing units, he said. The borough council adopted an agreement with Vallone last year, making him the outlet mall’s designated redeveloper, Driver said.

Vallone said he’s getting the property ready for demolition, which he hopes to start by the spring of next year.

He used to go to Liberty Village with his family “all the time,” he said. “It was phenomenal. Literally thousands of people went there.”

At its peak, the outlet mall was assessed to be worth $33 million, Vallone said. Now the property is assessed to be worth $3 million, only 10% of what it was in its heyday, he added.

Vallone plans to redevelop the property into 164 townhomes, three group homes and a set of apartments. It will also include a 7,500-square-foot park and a town hall, which the company will donate to the borough.

Veterans and adults with disabilities will occupy the group homes, he said. The property will also have 27 affordable housing units.

The redeveloped property will “lower the tax burden on all the other taxpayers” in the borough, he said.

The plan is to have construction of the townhomes and group homes, part of the redevelopment’s first phase, complete by 2027.

HOLMDEL - A $12,000-per-month fully enclosed dementia care village right off the Garden State Parkway at exit 114 was approved by the zoning board in a 5-2 vote Wednesday night, marking the end of an application that began more than a year ago and divided neighbors against each other.

The village will be built by the elder care nonprofit United Methodist Communities, not to be confused with the church.

The project was bought by the nonprofit for $5.5 million from a previous developer that dropped plans for a neighborhood with an affordable housing component. The land was known as The William Potter Homestead or Potter’s farm, which closed in 2020, after the Potter’s family, who had owned the land since 1920, moved to Upper Freehold.

According to chair of the zoning board Ralph Blumenthal, William Potter III, who had given statements to the board in favor of developing the farm into a dementia village, died two weeks ago.

Holmdel:Township picks new township committeeman with just two members voting

The village, modeled after the urban dementia village in the Netherlands called Hogeweyk, will include 11 one-story residential buildings, a pair of two-story residential buildings, a two-story administrative building and a recreation center. The entire village will be enclosed by a secure perimeter. A grocery store, restaurant and theater are planned to open with the site to mimic normalcy for its residents with dementia. A total of 105 beds could be available, with 10% being reserved for residents on Medicaid, which would help fulfill future affordable housing quotas for Holmdel.

Cindy Jacques, vice president of housing and community initiatives with the United Methodist Communities, said in April that there will be a staffing ratio of about one staff member for every eight residents. She said at night there will be four caregivers and two floaters for the four neighborhoods. A registered nurse and a security person will also be on site.

The original design would have had only one way in and out of the village, but after substantial revisions, the plan would include seven emergency gates in addition to the main entrance. Keys to the gates will be housed with the township’s various emergency response teams.

Holmdel:How a health scare led farm owners to strive to 'live more naturally'

Opposition to the plan questioned whether the plan should be built on the land it is located on.

Kevin Asadi, an attorney hired by certain residents in the adjacent County Woods neighborhood, said, “This project belongs in the Route 35 overlay district not in a rural R40-B zone.”

The opposition:Neighbors fear dementia care village could erase history, quiet

The Route 35 overlay district is Holmdel’s commercial district, where a three-story Brightview Senior Living Facility was approved in February. Asadi argued that the R40-B zone is for residential development that mimics the existing neighboring houses and not a dementia village.

Asadi also brought Joelle Winter, an administrator at a Cherry Hill-based dementia facility called Arden Court, in July. Winter said staffing for the 54 beds is difficult. In a three-month period, she said her facility received 234 job applications and interviewed 21 candidates who showed up. Of the 21, she only hired four who were qualified.

“I have staffing challenges,” she said. “That happens a lot since COVID and even before.”

For subscribers:Holmdel cops who muted audio during DUI arrest named in malicious prosecution suit

Other neighbors have spoken in favor of the dementia village’s construction.

Stephen Grywalski, who lives a few houses from the proposed property, said, “There’s no longer an option to save the farm. The Potter family sold the property a couple years ago and I’m concerned that if it’s not approved, the current owner will then be forced to sell and there’s many examples all around of what could happen. … There’s a need for housing and care of these people with dementia throughout the world. We should be honored to call this groundbreaking, state-of-the-art community our neighbor.”

Before a vote, board members gave statements explaining their reasoning.

Board members Valerie Avrin-Marchiano said the application was one of the hardest and, while many neighbors agreed with the application, others did not.

She said there are seven other assisted living facilities in Holmdel and the design of this property looks like army barracks. She ultimately voted against it.

The other board member to vote against the proposal was Irfan Lateef, who said with the cost of living increasing and the economy possibly going into a recession, he was afraid the township would be “saddled with a property that cannot be possibly used in (any) other suitable fashion.”

He said the proposal would change the bucolic atmosphere of that neighborhood. “I don’t think by putting (that) large facility there, we can mitigate this impact. It alters the character of the township.”

Board member Jason Buerkle said he moved to Holmdel because of the rural nature of the township, but said he believes property owners have a right to develop their land.

Board member Francine Campis said she would like to see the farm preserved “but honestly that ship sailed long ago.” She said she feared that if the board denied that application, another owner could propose another project that becomes more controversial.

Blumenthal, the board chair, said Holmdel’s population is aging. He said he was “very intrigued” by the proposal because the facility would feel less like a hospital.

Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at [email protected].

Ghost towns aren’t just limited to the wild west. They are also common in northern states, like New Jersey. Many New Jersey ghost towns, though, are difficult to find. Only a few buildings, if any, remain in many of these deserted and forgotten spots.

Follow along to discover 6 abandoned and forgotten ghost towns in New Jersey.

Batsto Village

Starting our list of ghost towns in New Jersey is the Batsto Village. It’s one of the easiest ghost towns to visit in the state. This deserted town is certainly not forgotten. It’s a historical unincorporated community with many remaining old and fascinating buildings. Basto Village first began to grow in 1766, when Charles Read built the Batsto Iron Works along the Batsto River. This Iron Works successfully produced household items like pots and pans. The ghost town truly expanded in the 1800s when families moved to find work. When the iron industry declined, Batsto Village relied on glass-making.

Now, you can visit this historical site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Guided tours are available, which include the Batsto Mansion and the Atsion Mansion. The visitor center hosts an informational museum and a beautiful exhibit gallery. Events are also held in the Batsto Village, like the Country Living Fair.

Ong’s Hat

Not much remains of Ong’s Hat (or Ong’s Hut, depending on which legend you believe). Although a ghost town, it’s not forgotten! Ong’s Hat has a long history. Although historians aren’t sure when the village got its name, it’s older than the revolutionary war. This name appears in a 1778 map of Hessian encampments in New Jersey. The town’s peak may have been in the 1860s. However, by the 1930s, while the town’s name remained on maps, there was nothing there but a few brick remains, an open clearing, and an abandoned shed. Some historians aren’t sure if Ong’s Hat was ever a real village. Today, it is a terminus of the Batonia Trail, one of the longest in the state.

If you think Ong’s Hat is strange, you aren’t the only one. According to a conspiracy theory-based story dating back to the 1980s, a group of scientists travels to a creepy parallel universe from Ong’s Hat. One of the core writers/storytellers wrote a book titled, The Incunabula Papers: Ong’s Hat And Other Gateways To New Dimensions. Although he stated that this work was pure fiction, some people believe that Ong’s Hat is part of a bigger conspiracy.

Feltville

Next on our list of ghost towns in New Jersey is Feltville. Like Batsto Village, Feltville is relatively well-known. Many buildings remain in this abandoned ghost town. Although almost completely abandoned except for three families, Fetlville is now Feltville Historic District. Another name for this village/site is the Deserted Village.

Although the town/village was built in 1825, the first European settler moved to the area in 1736. Peter Willcox, the first settler, built a sawmill, but its days were limited. It was demolished as the population of the area grew. A century after Peter Willcox moved to the area, David Felt purchased land from Willcox’s ancestors and built a mill on Blue Brook, two dams, and a village for workers. Although successful under David Felt, he sold the land to different businesses, that eventually left the area and the buildings abandoned. One of these businesses was a summer resort.

Allaire Village

Another New Jersey ghost town is Allaire Village. Although a ghost town, it’s also a living history museum. You can find this interactive museum in Allaire State Park. Long before European settlers came to the area, the land under the village was an Indian ceremonial ground.

The village was built in 1750. One of the first settlers was Issac Palmer. However, the village is named after James P. Allaire, who purchased the land in 1822. At the village’s peak, it was home to about 500 people. However, the village’s success declined drastically after the wood-burning furnace business collapsed. Although mostly left abandoned after the late 1800s, some buildings were used by passing residents. The village was also used as a backdrop for a few silent movies.

Waterloo Village

Waterloo Village is a historic site in Stanhope, New Jersey. This village is called the Waterloo Village Historic Site. It’s open to the public, with tours available Saturdays and Sundays between June and September. Not only can you visit this historic site to learn more about the village and its buildings, but also hike surrounding nature trails.

Waterloo Village was built in 1820. Its location about halfway along the Morris Canal made it a convenient stopover and service center. This 19th-century ghost town is located on about 70 acres of land. This open-air museum is on the National Register of Historic Places. Buildings that remain standing include Smith’s General Store, the Blacksmith Shop, Peter D. Smith House, Smith Homestead House, and the United Methodist Church.

Walpack Center

Last but not least is the Walpack Center. It’s an unincorporated community in the much larger Walpack Township. This ghost town was previously a farming community built in the 1800s. Although not completely abandoned, it declined tremendously during the 1900s as larger cities grew around this community. You can visit the Walpack Center Historic District to see old buildings like a small schoolhouse built in 1856.

Summary of 6 Abandoned and Forgotten Ghost Towns in New Jersey

FLEMINGTON – The borough council voted unanimously Monday to ask the land use board to investigate whether Liberty Village should be designated a redevelopment area.

Mayor Betsy Driver said the designation could provide an "incentive" for the redevelopment of the outlet mall, once the county seat's premier tourist attraction, where the vacancies now outnumber open stores.

"Liberty Village is going to be a challenge," the mayor said.

Because "the world has changed," Driver said, "I don't think it's to be an outlet mall."

Driver said she would like to see the property become something other than a mixed-used development or a residential community.

The mayor said she hopes that a developer could "build something that will create jobs for the residents." The site is ideally situated for clean manufacturing, like the production of circuit boards, Driver said.

Another "ideal" possibility, Driver said, is a "planned village shopping center," like Peddler's Village across the Delaware River in Bucks County.

But, Driver added, she didn't know if that concept could offer a developer enough return on the investment.

One of the obstacles redeveloping the property is that the parking area is in wetlands, which limits the possible uses.

READ: Hunterdon freeholders endorse power companies covering lost food costs

A redevelopment designation would give the borough council more control over "what we would like to see."

Namdar Realty Group, which bought the nation's first outlet mall from the Simon Group in 2019, offered to pay the cost of the redevelopment study, but that is not allowed by state law, the mayor said.

Cost of the study is estimated at less than $10,000. If the property is eventually designated a redevelopment area and Namdar is selected by the borough council to be the redeveloper, then the Long Island firm could reimburse the cost of the study, the mayor said.

"It's down the road," she said.

Namdar Realty Group, of Great Neck, New York, is a privately held, commercial real estate investment firm, owning and managing more than 51 million square feet of commercial real estate throughout the United States. Founded in 1999, Namdar started with a single acquisition of a small retail storefront in Long Island.

The company has since grown to become one of the fastest growing private real estate investment firms in the country and is continuing to grow at an unprecedented rate, averaging more than 20 acquisitions annually over the last four years, primarily large retail malls, shopping centers, office and medical buildings.

Namdar also owns the Phillipsburg Mall.

Email: [email protected]

Mike Deak is a reporter for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

If you’re looking for a cute little town to relax and take a stroll, Historic Smithville is the perfect spot.

Historic Smithville is a quaint colonial village with 50 shops, 10 places to eat, cobblestone walkways, footbridges, and a beautiful lakefront view. They also have paddle boating, a merry-go-round, a kids train and retro arcade games.

The village is an unincorporated community in Galloway, a township in Atlantic County. It's about 13 miles north of Atlantic City.

The Smithville Inn was built in 1787 by a local developer named James Baremore. It was a great stop for stagecoach travelers from Leeds Point to Cooper’s Ferry. It became a staple for many, but with railroads, automobiles and highways on the rise, Smithville became less of a destination.

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Smithville was basically an abandoned stagecoach stop, until it was purchased and refurbished by a local couple, Fred and Ethel Noyes in 1952.

They opened an antique shop that would then turn into The Smithville Inn. It was a dining destination for locals and visitors.

With the popularity of the Smithville Inn, they began to build a town around the restaurant. They purchased historic buildings from South Jerseys past and brought them into the village, many of which you can still see today.

After walking around and checking out all the historic buildings, you can sit at one of the provided picnic tables or seating options and enjoy the lakefront view. You can also go paddle boating on the lake for $15.

There is also a colorful and fun merry-go-round that only costs $3 to ride.

They have everything you can want including boutiques, candle stores and candy stores. When you enter the shops, you may realize that many of the people greeting you behind the counter are the owners, which I personally loved.

Next time you are looking for a fun day trip, consider checking out Historic Smithville.

New Jersey's smallest towns by population

New Jersey's least populated municipalities, according to the 2020 Census. This list excludes Pine Valley, which would have been the third-smallest with 21 residents but voted to merge into Pine Hill at the start of 2022.

Google Maps

#20: Rocky Hill

Population 743 … The population of the Somerset County borough grew by 61 people, 9%, between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, pushing it out of the 20 smallest towns in New Jersey … until the dissolution of Pine Valley pulled it back onto the list.

Google Maps

#19: Wrightstown

Population 720 … The borough borders Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County.

Google Maps

#18: Washington Township

Population 693 … The Washington Township in Burlington County is the smallest of the six Washingtons in New Jersey – five townships and one borough. All told, more than 90,000 people live in those Washingtons combined.

Google Maps

#17: Barnegat Light

Population 640 … The second-smallest municipality on Long Beach Island in Ocean County.

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#16: Andover

Population 595 ... The Sussex County borough broke off from larger Andover Township – population 5,996 – in the early 20th century.

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#15: West Wildwood

Population 540 … There are 12,419 residents if you combine Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood and West Wildwood – but this Cape May County borough is the smallest of them.

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#14: Fieldsboro

Population 526 … A tiny borough in northern Burlington County, bordering the Delaware River.

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#13: Stockton

Population 495 … A borough on the Delaware River in Hunterdon County. Its population slipped below 500 for the first time since the 1950s.

Google Maps

#12: Allenhurst

Population 472 … The permanent population of this Monmouth County borough has dropped by more than half in 50 years.

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#11: Corbin City

Population 471 … A small city – indeed, the smallest in New Jersey to call itself a city – in southern Atlantic County.

Google Maps

#10: Millstone

Population 448 … A small borough in Somerset County.

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#9: Shiloh

Population 444 … A small borough in Cumberland County.

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#8: Rockleigh

Population 407 … This well-to-do borough borders New York State in northern Bergen County.

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#7: Harvey Cedars

Population 391 … The borough is the smallest of the six municipalities that make up Long Beach Island in Ocean County. All told, the census counts 7,552 full-time residents of LBI – but of course, far more in the summer.

Google Maps

#6: Mantoloking

Population 331 … The barrier island borough on the Barnegat Bay in Ocean County is among New Jersey’s wealthiest municipalities.

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#5: Cape May Point

Population 305 … The borough is at the tip of the peninsula in Cape May County, the southernmost point in the state. Most of the residences are vacation homes.

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#4: Loch Arbour

Population 224 … This village in Monmouth County is the third-smallest the state, covering 0.13 square miles, of which about one-third is water.

Google Maps

#3: Teterboro

Population 61 … Most of this Bergen County borough is Teterboro Airport, though the residential population has actually tripled from where it was for most of the second half of the 20th century.

Google Maps

#2: Tavistock

Population 9 … The Camden County borough was established a century ago so that members of the Tavistock Country Club could golf on Sundays.

Google Maps

#1: Walpack

Population 7 … The Sussex County township’s population peaked 160 years ago at 851. It was 384 as recently as 1970 but now is the smallest in the state, after the federal government claimed the land through eminent domain for a dam project that was never built – now the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey

A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.

From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.

Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the American Hiking Society.

If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.

Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.

You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.

Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.

If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.

Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.

I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions:

Sunfish Pond on Google Maps

Sunfish Pond by the Water Gap in Hardwick Township

Ken Lockwood Gorge on Google Maps

Ken Lockwood Gorge in Califon ... a walk along the river, scenic & goes on for miles

Tillman Ravine on Google Maps

Tillman Ravine near stokes state forest! Following the stream to larger pools in the spring and summer are so nice to walk through! It is beautiful and so lush green!

Wyanokie Hi Point Trail on Google Maps

Wyanokie Hi Point trail in Ringwood

South Mountain Fairy Trail on Google Maps

South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail. Not really hiking, more of a walk in the woods but so much fun with kids. They get to look for fairy houses while you walk and end at a stream they can go in when it’s warm or throw rocks in.

Batona Trail on Google Maps

Batona trail through Batsto Village

Spilt Rock Reservoir on Google Maps

Spilt Rock Reservoir!! Great trails and scenery!!!

Mount Tammany on Google Maps

Mount Tammany in Delaware Water Gap NP! Beautiful views of PA & NJ!

Stairway to Heaven on Google Maps

The backside of Stairway to Heaven from Barry lakes — high breeze wildflowers lead to beautiful wooden bridge over peaceful stream amidst peaceful serenity of the quiet woods.

Stairway to Heaven on Google Maps

Stairway to heaven ... beautiful scenery and challenging

Sourland Preserve on Google Maps

Sourlands preserve as they have boulders to climb on and several different trails