New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

Christie Administration Announces 2017 Governor’s Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Award Winners

For Immediate Release:
October 6, 2017
Contact:
Lisa Ryan
,
Tammori Petty
(609) 292-6055

Four Projects Recognized at the 2017 Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development

TRENTON – Four innovative real estate development projects were honored with Governor’s Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards at the 2017 Annual Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development.

“Development of housing for individuals with special needs has been a priority for the Administration,” said Charles A. Richman, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).  “There are many sites across the state that offer creative developers a blank canvas to address this issue.” DCA is one of the hosts of the Governor's Conference.

Two projects received the Housing Revitalization Award.  These projects demonstrated the revitalization or redevelopment of distressed or blighted neighborhoods while including an affordable or workforce housing component.

The RIVERFRONT VILLAGE AT PENNSAUKEN (rental development), involves the transformation of a vacant former supermarket, abandoned for nearly 25 years, into an affordable family housing development. The project includes 75 affordable family units in eight buildings, with five set aside for homeless veterans. Riverfront Village is immediately adjacent to a stop on the light rail River Line linking Camden to Trenton, as well as a bus station with connections to other transit links, giving working residents easy access to regional employment centers. The development is part of Pennsauken’s Waterfront Master Plan, which outlines the municipality’s vision for the area’s redevelopment. The project partners are Conifer Realty, LLC, Kitchen & Associates, Pennsauken Township, Camden County Improvement Authority and Camden County Housing Association.

ROSE HOMES (homeownership development), located in Roselle, is helping the borough reduce its decades-old inventory of vacant lots.  The thirteen Rose Homes properties are helping to revitalize neighborhoods throughout the municipality while providing affordable homes for working families. The success of the project has led to a second phase. The project partners are Rose Urban Renewal, LLC, Borough of Roselle Mayor and Council, New Jersey Community Capital, and Jersey Mortgage Company.

The Supportive Housing Development Award recognizes a housing project that serves individuals and families with special needs such as the homeless; victims of domestic violence; persons with mental, physical, or developmental disabilities; persons with HIV/AIDS; and youth aging out of foster care. This award went to OCEAN GREEN SENIOR APARTMENTS, a five-story building constructed on a vacant lot in Jersey City. The project was designed to provide 44 affordable senior units and 11 units for special needs residents. The project partners are Cara Development, C-Line Community Outreach Services, the City of Jersey City, Jersey City Medical Center - RWJ Barnabas Health, Inglese Architecture + Engineering, and Del-Sano Contracting Corporation.

The Leading Economic Development Award recognizes an alliance between a New Jersey-based business that has teamed up with the state, a community, or local economic development organization to advance the redevelopment of downtowns, and enhance the quality of life for residents. The partnership should advance the state’s overall vision for building tomorrow’s living and working communities. This award was given to 220 ROWAN BOULEVARD, located in Glassboro. This project is a key component in the borough’s downtown redevelopment and features 28,000 square feet of medical space, 20,000 square feet of retail space, and student and market-rate apartments. The new six-story building occupies formerly dilapidated downtown real estate, and is part of a $425 million project linking the Rowan University campus with Glassboro’s retail district, creating a traditional college town and walkable community, and promoting smart growth. The project partners are Nexus Properties, the Borough of Glassboro, Rowan University, Blackney Hayes Architects and M & T Bank.

“These awards celebrate some of the best examples of quality affordable housing, supportive housing and public-private partnerships that have been placed in service throughout New Jersey over the last two and a half years,” said New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Executive Director Anthony L. Marchetta. “These projects embody the respective missions of our agencies to provide quality affordable housing opportunities, create and retain jobs, and improve the quality of life for all New Jerseyans.”
 
These projects exemplify the best efforts and collaborations of many dedicated stakeholders,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen. “Quality housing is a critical component in our efforts to continue to build economic development strategies including job creation and investment.”

The annual conference is hosted by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. This year’s theme was “Building Foundations to Shape Communities.” The Governor’s Conference brought together the state’s most distinguished housing, economic development, business professionals, government officials, lenders, developers, nonprofits, and consultants. This year’s conference presented insights and engaged participants in initiatives and new perspectives on property management, economic and community development, special needs populations, and effective approaches for community building.

For more information on the Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards and the 2017 Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, visit
www.njhousingconference.com.