A rare development in the Garden State that will consist of 100% affordable housing is officially underway as a new senior housing community has started construction in West Orange.
Ceremonial shovels recently hit the dirt at the West Orange Senior Housing Community at 46 Mount Pleasant Avenue. Local political dignitaries and other stakeholders joined full-service real estate company The Alpert Group for the groundbreaking of the project, which will consist of 65 age-restricted apartments including five permanent units for homeless residents.
Officials in West Orange have high hopes for the development, hoping that it will serve as a model for the type of affordable housing that senior residents need to age in place.
“We’ve been looking forward to this groundbreaking, as it’s critically important for West Orange’s seniors who have a strong need for local, affordable housing,” said West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney. “This new building is the result of significant collaboration between many local and state organizations that are improving the lives of seniors.”
The development, slated to open late next year, is situated in West Orange’s Central Business District adjacent to the Town Hall, police facility, and Renna House senior apartments. The five-story building will include one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, on-site parking, modern amenities, and age-friendly features.
The five units of age-restricted, permanent supportive housing units for homeless persons will provide those residents with services including case management, linkages to healthcare and treatment programs, educational and vocational training programs, employment and job readiness programs, financial empowerment programs, life skills training, transportation, and wellness resources.
“The West Orange Senior Housing Community building is addressing a dire need in New Jersey for affordable senior housing, and we are proud to partner with financing entities that believe in this mission,” said The Alpert Group president Joseph Alpert. “This is the sort of development that uplifts everyone in the community.”
The income-restricted community is helping to satisfy West Orange’s affordable housing obligation and is partially funded by the NJHMFA Affordable Housing Production Fund, an appropriation from the N.J. Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Other financial partners include the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, Enterprise Community Partners, TD Bank, Essex County, and the Township of West Orange.
