The developers bought the property in 2005 after the Franklin Mint, a private maker and marketer of commemorative coins and collectibles, closed its iconic circular Middletown headquarters in 2004.
In a recent letter to the "greedy developers," an anonymous resident tells them to "get the f--- out of our town," referring to one developer as a "soulless bastard" and to another as a "canker."
"I pray every day that you selfish pricks go broke and have to sell the land. If there's a God in heaven you'll develop a conscience and get out of here," says the letter, which the developers say was sent to their P.O. box.
Mark Dambly, president of Pennrose Properties, said his mailbox outside his Middletown home was smashed a couple of weeks ago. He reported it to State Police.
"I don't need people destroying my property, hanging out at the end of my driveway and sending me threatening letters," Dambly said. "I got a wife and children."
Dambly, who has lived in the township for 24 years, said opponents of the project have resorted to "bullying people and trying to scare people."
"People who have come out supporting it are unwilling . . . to come to the public meeting because they are concerned they're going to be harassed," Dambly said.
One Middletown resident said she received a menacing letter after she voiced her support for the plan.
"It's getting insane. People are getting nasty. I think it's terrible. People are losing their civility," said the resident, who asked that her name not be published because she fears retaliation. "We live in a crazy world, as everyone knows. If these people look me up or find me on the Internet, I don't want kooks coming here. It's bad enough that they're mailing."
