For nearly 80 years, the Iron Horse Gun & Archery has been a quiet fixture in Gloucester Township. It has served local sportsmen without issue since 1947. But a new lawsuit threatens to shut down the 79-year-old institution for good. Due to the legal pressure, the facility is already temporarily closed to the general public, and the details behind this dispute should have every resident paying attention.
The man leading the charge is Pennsylvania real estate developer and attorney Harvey Sternberg. If that name sounds familiar to Gloucester Township Observer readers, it is because we have covered his extensive history of financing local political campaigns.
Now, Sternberg wants to build roughly 750 townhomes right next door to the gun range. The tactics being used to clear the way raise serious questions about pay-to-play politics and whether our local government is doing the heavy lifting for a favored developer.
The “Untested” Lawsuit Next to the Old Golf Course
If you haven’t been following the Freeway Golf Course battle over the years, you should know that now hundreds of units are being proposed for that property as well.
Back in March 2026, Sternberg formed a New Jersey company called Bryn Mawr Garwood LLC. Shortly after, the company signed a contract to buy the “Waddell Property.” This land is located right next to the gun range and borders the permanently closed Freeway Golf Course Click to open side panel for more information property.
Sternberg’s company quickly filed a civil suit in Camden County Superior Court. They demanded an immediate halt to the range’s operations. The lawsuit accuses the club of being an environmental hazard due to improper solid waste disposal and soil stockpiling.
There is just one glaring problem. The developer has absolutely no proof.
The legal complaint repeats the phrase “potentially contaminated” seven times when describing the soil, yet it openly admits that the material has never been tested. Mark Karpo, the attorney representing the range, confirmed that the developer has completely ignored discovery requests for expert environmental reports or actual soil tests.
Karpo recently called the lawsuit exactly what it looks like. He described it as a classic land grab by a developer who wants to force a range to close just so he can build condos.
The Political Connection: Over $44,000 to Team Mayer
Sternberg is definitely not a stranger to Gloucester Township politics. According to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, he has poured tens of thousands of dollars into PACs and committees closely aligned with the current administration.
Since 2021, Sternberg has contributed over $44,000 to local political causes. That includes $8,000 to the Gloucester Township Citizens for Government Reform PAC, $12,000 to the GT Chairman’s Club, and $9,000 to Mayor David R. Mayer and affiliated candidates in 2025 alone. He also threw in $6,000 to the Gloucester Township Democrat Committee.
We have previously highlighted Sternberg as a prime example of the pay-to-play culture here in GT. This latest move just adds fuel to the fire.
Is the Township Doing the Developer’s Bidding?
What turns this private real estate dispute into a massive public issue is the township’s apparent involvement.
According to the developer’s own lawsuit, Gloucester Township officials have already visited the site. They deployed drones to take aerial photographs and issued directives instructing the club to remove equipment and vehicles.
This incredibly swift administrative action against a long-standing local club happens to coincide perfectly with a mega-donor’s real estate acquisition. It naturally leads to a big question. Is the township objectively enforcing local codes, or are they acting as an enforcement arm for a developer who dropped $44,000 into their political coffers?
The Impact on GT’s Infrastructure
Even if you do not care about the gun range, Sternberg’s proposed 750-unit townhome development should ring alarm bells.
Adding that kind of high-density housing will put a severe strain on our already burdened infrastructure. Karpo warned that a project this size could push Gloucester Township over the edge when it comes to local schools, sewage systems, trash collection, and hospitals. This is all happening while a debate is happening about hundreds of high density housing is already being proposed for the old Freeway Golf course property.
Meanwhile, the ongoing legal battle is taking a toll. They are now only allowing members to shoot when a certified Range Safety Officer is on duty to supervise.
What’s Next?
The future of this property will set a huge precedent for how Gloucester Township treats its legacy community institutions compared to out-of-state developers.
A public hearing is on the calendar for September 4, 2026, in the Chancery Division of the Camden County Superior Court. Supporters and concerned citizens are encouraged to show up and be heard.