DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE ADAPTIVE RE-USE STRATEGIES TO REVITALIZE NEWARK NEIGHBORHOODS

Receives 2012 Smart Growth Award from New Jersey Future


TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Acting Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III announced today that New Jersey Future has named DCA as the recipient of a New Jersey Future 2012 Smart Growth Award for its work in bringing new and affordable housing options to Newark’s neighborhoods.

“I am very pleased to accept this award,” said Acting Commissioner Constable. “It represents DCA’s mission to support timely and critically-needed options for new housing that will aid individuals and families immediately needing permanent and affordable housing in disadvantaged areas.”

DCA joins the City of Newark and RPM Development Group for its award-winning partnership called “Infill Strategies for Adaptive Re-Use” in the Smart Growth Award Category. The challenge was to create working solutions for small-scale infill redevelopment projects stalled by economic stagnation. The DCA provided over $6.6 million through its Balanced Housing Program and $2 million through its Downtown Living Initiative Program for these projects which contributed to the rebuilding of the community and the revitalization of this neighborhood.

Three Newark neighborhoods have been rejuvenated and in-need residents and families aided by DCA’s work:

  • Roseville Commons is a newly constructed project designed to serve low to very low income families and homeless veterans. The project provides fifty (50) units and 5,000 square feet of commercial space, twenty units are reserved for veterans, two of which are set aside for blind or visually-impaired tenants.
  • Studebaker Lofts restored a neighborhood building into a mixed income project of 34 market-rate and 34 affordable units, providing greater income diversity and affordable housing to an area supporting museums, the performing arts, mass transportation, and natural parks.
  • Richardson Lofts is a redeveloped industrial building which is close to regional transportation, City Hall and neighborhood restaurants and retail merchants. This “green” project offers 67 residential units, of which 45 percent are set aside as affordable properties.

For more information on this award, please log on to http://www.njfuture.org/



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