A place where Newarkers used to live could become a place where movies are filmed.
The agency responsible for public housing in New Jersey’s largest city is apparently looking to get involved in the film industry and is focusing on part of the 14-acre site of the former Seth Boyden Terrace Homes in the South Ward.
At a time when more than 12,000 people are listed as being on its public housing waiting list, the Newark Housing Authority (NHA) has issued a request for qualifications seeking a development partner for the Seth Boyden Terrace premises.
“NHA intends to develop 3.7 acres on the Dayton side of the property for a combination of Mixed-Use, Affordable, & Market Rate-Rental or Home Ownership Housing, Retail, Commercial, and Light Industrial,” the request says. “The NHA is seeking to develop movie studios on the remaining acreage.”
Jersey Digs reported in August that the NHA is planning to have what remains of the Seth Boyden Terrace Homes demolished by Thanksgiving. Located off Frelinghuysen Avenue near the Weequahic Golf Course, the 12-building former public housing project once was home to thousands of residents but has sat abandoned for nearly a decade.
The authority issued this development partner request on September 9.
“Developers should have broad experience in developing affordable housing, mixed-finance development, market rate rental and homeownership development, mixed-use, retail, commercial, and/or light industrial,” the document states. “Developers shall have previous experience developing alongside a commercial development and previous experience or capacity to develop a movie studio complex is a plus.”
Specific details of the current plans for the 80-year-old Seth Boyden Terrace site have not yet been announced, but the request indicates that the NHA wants an unspecified amount of “affordable,” “market rate rental,” and “homeownership” units as part of the residential portion of the redevelopment effort.
“The Authority is requiring that the Selected Respondent pay or reimburse the Authority for all costs and expenses incurred by the Authority in connection with its development and planning activities for the Seth Boyden Site,” the document adds, noting that the NHA’s costs are already around $150,000.
Submissions are due to the NHA by Friday, October 1.
