Fred Vereen Jr. is the first to admit that he was surprised to be standing in front of the Eggerts Crossing Village community building, celebrating the affordable housing development’s 50th anniversary.
“I never thought I would be standing here, talking about our vision 50 years later,” Vereen said. He was one of the founders of the Eggerts Crossing Village development, off Johnson Avenue.
Vereen was joined by Harold Brown, one of the surviving co-founders, as well as some of the founding members’ children, tenants and others at the Aug. 15 celebration. A plaque listing the names of 30 founding members was unveiled and placed on the wall in the Fred Vereen Jr. Community Building.
The 100-unit Eggerts Crossing Village affordable housing development opened its doors in 1974, after years of battling stiff opposition from some segments of the Lawrence Township community.
The Rev. Jeffrey Vamos, pastor of The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, alluded to that opposition. His predecessor, the Rev. H. Dana Fearon III, was among the backers of Eggerts Crossing Village.
“We were talking about the things that you think are impossible, but they can happen,” Vamos said as he prepared to deliver the invocation. “It takes people with vision.”
Vamos offered thanks for all of the supporters – some of whom have died and some who are still living – who fought the good fight in making the affordable housing development a reality.
“Eggerts Crossing Village – a dream that many thought would remain fixed in imagination, but through the intrepid efforts of leaders like those we celebrate today, became a reality,” he said.
Three of the descendants of co-founder Theodore Hendricks – Mayor Patricia Hendricks Farmer and her brothers, Carlos Hendricks and Darryl Hendricks – attended the 50th anniversary celebration.
Farmer said her ties to Eggerts Crossing Village run deep. She recalled that her father went to meetings about the development. One of her aunts was among the first residents to move into the development.
Her father, Vereen and those who supported developing Eggerts Crossing Village had an impact on many people’s lives, Farmer said. They provided people with affordable housing.
“So many dreams came out of here,” Farmer said. “I know the difference it made in the lives of people I know and love. I can only wish for 50 more years.”
Sam Olando, a 14-year resident who raised his family in Eggerts Crossing Village, told the attendees that living there had made an impact in his life. Many of the children who have grown up in the development went on to attend college, for example.
“Most of us who live here don’t understand why it exists,” Olando said. “We live in a safe place. (But) you need to get involved to make it better.”
State Sen. Shirley K. Turner (Mercer-Hunterdon) described the day as “not only a good afternoon, but a great afternoon” when a development such as Eggerts Crossing Village can celebrate its 50th anniversary.
“I want to thank you,” Turner said. “A home is one of the means of survival. We don’t have enough affordable housing in our society. I salute Fred for his vision.
‘When there is no vision, the people perish,'” she said, quoting the Bible.
Steve Friedman, whose late father, attorney David Friedman, represented the backers of Eggerts Crossing Village, said this was one of his father’s most prized projects. He was proud of the work he did to bring the development to fruition.
Vereen was obviously pleased.
“Things always work out,” Vereen said. “If you are doing the right thing, it will happen. It always does.”
