New Jersey
‘Extremely unique’ NJ mansion that cost $27M to build heads to auction with a $10M reserve price
An enormous custom estate is now up for auction in southern New Jersey — and although it cost its creators some $27 million to build, the reserve price is just $10 million.
Located a 30-minute drive from Philadelphia, straddling the border of two townships — Moorestown and Cinnaminson — the approximately 40,000-square-foot compound is currently accepting bids through Oct. 9, the Wall Street Journal first reported.
The megamansion’s owners, the pharmacological entrepreneurs Calvin and Orsula Knowlton, decided to try the auction route after struggling to find a buyer through a traditional listing, the married couple told the Journal.
“It’s extremely unique, but it’s extremely unique in particular for this neighborhood and this particular marketplace,” added Misha Haghani of the auction company Paramount Realty USA, which is handling the sale in collaboration with Kevin Steiger of Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s a home for which there are almost no comps.”
The Knowltons paid $640,000 for the 7-acre property in 2017. They initially, and simply, planned to restore and expand the early 1800s era farmhouse on the lot.
The farmhouse turned out to be moldy beyond repair, but demolition of it proved a bureaucratic nightmare involving both townships’ zoning and planning authorities.
Finally, in 2018, construction started on what ended up being a colossal and still not entirely finished homebuilding endeavor (the Knowltons eventually decided to stop working on the behemoth, as its next owner may have different preferences), according to the Journal.
As it stands, the four-story residence boasts amenities including a chapel, a home theater, a wine cellar, six fireplaces, a golf simulator and an English-style pub. There’s even what Calvin Knowlton called “the most giant reflecting pool I’ve ever seen,” a double-height foyer with dual curved staircases, a sprawling dining room, and a sauna-equipped gym that can be accessed by what the listing describes as “a unique tube elevator” in the primary suite’s bathroom.
The exterior was inspired by Philadelphia’s Second Empire-style city hall building.
Although the Knowltons moved into the manor back in 2022, they’ve been spending the majority of their time at their home on North Florida’s Amelia Island, and are selling as they anticipate continuing to mostly be there, they told the Journal.
New Jersey
24-year-old elected mayor of NJ town as incumbent faced backlash in wake of massive warehouse fire
BELLEVILLE, New Jersey (WABC) — Frank Vélez, a 24-year-old town councilman, was elected as the new mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, on Tuesday.
Vélez may be young, but he has years of experience after he became involved in politics at 19 because his sister has special needs.
He has served on the school board in Belleville and the town council, and he was on the staff of former congressman Bill Pascrell.
Vélez said his win is a testament to hard work.
“We ran on getting back to the basics, the quality of life. Talking about responsible development and just talking about getting back to the priorities of working people,” Vélez said.
Incumbent Michael Melham faced backlash for his handling of a massive warehouse fire that shut down schools for more than a week.
There has been growing pessimism in town, highlighted by the massive 14-alarm warehouse fire this month that caused residents to evacuate and schools to shut down for days.
Parents and educators wrote a joint letter critical of Melham and school leadership for failing to communicate with parents during the emergency.
“In the hours and days following the fire, our community was left navigating uncertainty with little or no official instruction, resorting to group chats and scavenging social media for guidance or information, both of which should have been provided by the government that we entrust for such tasks,” the letter read in part.
Vélez said he’s ready to get to work.
“I feel grateful. I am humbled, and I’m just- just so ready to get to work as the next mayor of Belleville. And I’m so grateful to everyone for support. This was a resounding victory,” Vélez said.
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Round-trip bus fares for fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been cut by 75% as officials scrambled to secure backup transportation between the Big Apple and New Jersey, a new report said.
The New York/New Jersey host committee slashed fares from $80 to $20 for ticket holders traveling from three Manhattan locations to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ — and boosted capacity from 10,000 to 18,000 seats by adding yellow school buses for the eight World Cup games, The Athletic reported.
Buses will shuttle up to 18,000 people on non-school matchdays, and about 12,000 on school-day games between June 13 and July 19.
The steep price cut comes after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pumped $6 million into hacking down fares – with the investment setting aside about 20% of bus tickets for state residents who have purchased match tickets, the outlet reported.
Sources familiar with ticket sales told the Athletic that about 25% to 30% of tri-state area residents have already scooped up admissions for games at MetLife Stadium.
Alongside the major investment, Highland Fleets, which manages electric school bus fleets, worked with the New York City School Bus Umbrella Services – after contacting Hochul, the committee, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani – to secure additional buses, with about 300 hitting the road on peak matchdays.
The transit rides will leave from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a Midtown east location east of Grand Central Terminal, and a Midtown North location west of Central Park, the outlet reported.
Highland Fleets chief operating officer Ben Schutzman said the goal was to create “affordable and accessible” bus services during the World Cup, while a Mamdani spokesperson praised the mayor’s support for discounted rides for ticketholders.
“Mayor Mamdani supports any effort that makes transportation more affordable for New Yorkers – including reduced-cost buses for World Cup ticketholders,” the mayor’s rep told the outlet.
“We look forward to rolling out additional free and affordable events to ensure that all New Yorkers can enjoy the World Cup.”
The price-slashing effort comes days after New Jersey Transit trimmed its widely slammed World Cup fare hike by 30% after securing funding from “sponsors and other sources.”
The new price will be set at $105 for a round-trip ticket from Manhattan to MetLife after fares were bumped more than 1,000% from the standard $12.90 ticket to a whopping $150.
The eight games being played at the Garden State stadium are set for June 13, June 16, June 22, June 25, June 27, June 30, July 5, and July 19.
Two men are facing charges after more than 260 pounds of methamphetamine were seized by law enforcement in New Jersey last month, the largest meth bust in state history.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey said Marcos Cesar Acosta, most recently of Chicago, and Carlos H. Cordero-Guiterrez, a Mexican citizen and national, were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances after they were arrested on April 28.
Federal officials said Acosta, 47, traveled to New Jersey to supervise delivery of the meth in a truck driven by 53-year-old Cordero-Guiterrez. After the truck arrived in the state, law enforcement seized three storage boxes, one duffel bag and a garbage bag full of drugs from the vehicle.
According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, the 260 pounds of meth had a value of $6 million.
“By preventing hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from hitting the streets, this historic seizure has made New Jersey a safer place,” U.S. Attorney Frazer said. “And it has also sent an unmistakable message to drug traffickers who plan to enter the Garden State: stay out. We will find you and you will answer for any attempt to bring poison into our communities. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless work in this case and for putting themselves at risk for the benefit of public safety every day.”
The seizure was carried out in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation Division.
Officials said conspiracy to distribute meth carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million.
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