Murphy Administration Announces 2022 Governor’s Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Award Winners

• Posted on: 10/4/2022

Housing Development, Supportive Housing, Neighborhood Revitalization, and Economic Development Recognized at 2022 Conference

ATLANTIC CITY – Five projects that address the needs of unhoused individuals due to domestic violence, provide housing and supportive services for homeless veterans, offer services to the community through an innovation hub, and offer luxury multi-family housing with commercial and retail space received 2022 Governor’s Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards today during the annual Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development.

"Governor Murphy and I applaud this year’s award winners for their commitment to supporting the state’s economy and improving people’s lives,” said Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). “These projects demonstrate that we are making unprecedented investments in our communities and small businesses and building affordable housing with a focus on special needs housing for veterans, minorities, and survivors of domestic violence. These projects are a testament to how we’re continuing to make New Jersey a stronger and more affordable state where opportunity can thrive.”

The annual conference, now in its 25th year, is hosted by DCA, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA). This year’s conference featured two keynote addresses from City of Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Region II Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel.

The Leading Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Award recognizes achievement in the development of a neighborhood revitalization project that not only transforms an individual site but also has a catalyzing impact on the surrounding community. Projects demonstrate the revitalization or redevelopment of distressed or underutilized property or properties within a neighborhood and incorporate a comprehensive approach to redevelopment.

This year, two organizations were presented with the Leading Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Award. Rising Tide Capital in Jersey City, Hudson County was recognized for 311 Martin Luther King Drive (MLK), acquired by Rising Tide Capital as the new home for its permanent national headquarters. Located within the same community where Rising Tide Capital has resided for the past 15 years, MLK will not only serve as an innovation hub for best practices in inclusive entrepreneurship but also as an investment in the community. The headquarters offers 10 units of affordable housing in the Greenville community providing a sustainable strategy for local economic empowerment, classroom, office, and event space for stakeholders, and indoor and outdoor spaces for employees, residents, partners, and entrepreneurs where they can connect with each other and co-build in on-premise creator labs, co-working space, commercial kitchen, and a cafe that serves as a retail incubator. 

Financing partners on this project include the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Valley National Bank, and TD Bank.

The award-winning development team includes Alliance Construction Group, LLC and Accurate Construction.

In Atlantic City, 600 NoBe at North Beach is the city’s first high-end rental property in 40 years offering an exciting new apartment community featuring three four-story newly constructed buildings with 250 rental units with 200 market rate and 50 affordable units. The project offers modern, spacious designer residences of one-, two- and three bedrooms as well as an exterior deck, pool, lounge area, and garden space. Just steps from the ocean, boardwalk, and dozens of world-class restaurants, bars, and casinos, 600 NoBe is redefining what North Beach living is all about.

Financing partners for the project include the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. Boraie Development, LLC is the project developer.

The Leading Innovative Economic Development Award recognizes a transformative redevelopment project that promotes economic growth and job creation in the innovation economy. This project leverages community partnerships, such as a partnership with an institution of higher learning, another anchor institution, or other community stakeholders. This project supports the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow, helping to cultivate ingenuity and intellectual capital for New Jersey’s economic future.

The Leading Innovative Economic Development Award was presented to the Retail Diversity Business Incubator in Camden at 1327 Haddon Avenue, Camden County. The project includes the renovation and restoration of a building located at 1327 Haddon Avenue in the Parkside section of Camden, NJ. The building was at one time a dry cleaner and then a children’s clothing store, but it has sat vacant for more than 20 years. Situated at the heart of the corridor, the building was acquired and land banked by Parkside Business and Community In Partnership (PBCIP) to create opportunities for a viable business tenant or business collective eager to plant roots in the community. For decades, Haddon Avenue has struggled to attract mid-size retail tenants to its corridor. As this location is typically busy with traffic from consumers who frequent flagship businesses like James Beard Award-winning Corinne's and Donkey's Place, 1327 Haddon Avenue has the potential to capture regional market and retail surplus that is not currently being met. Redevelopment of 1327 Haddon Avenue aligns with concerted efforts to enhance physical conditions of Parkside's commercial corridor and will serve as the catalyst for business growth and quality of life in Camden. Not only did this project provide employment for the retail operations housed in the incubator will provide countless more jobs. PBCIP and the community understand that small businesses are the heart of Parkside.

This project received funding from DCA’s Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program and technical assistance funding from the Neighborhood Preservation Program. Partners in the project include the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Mario Construction II, Donovan Architects, Parkside Business and Community In Partnership, and the Latin American Economic Development Association.

Parkside Business and Community In Partnership is the award-winning developer for this project.

The Leading Housing Development Award recognizes achievement in housing, including but not limited to development that includes preserving or developing affordable, workforce, or mixed-income housing that leverages community assets. The development is either in emerging markets with increasing rents with growing affordable housing needs; areas with demonstrably high-quality education, employment, and/or transportation options; or a distressed area as a component of a broader community revitalization or redevelopment plan. The project may include a mix of uses and may include units to assist individuals with special needs.

Two awards in this category were presented to LUA Homes at 3rd Avenue in Newark, Essex County and Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village, in Tinton Falls, Monmouth County.

LUA Homes at 3^rd Avenue, developed by LUA Homes, consists of two low-income housing units for unhoused survivors of domestic violence DCA’s National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) helped to fund the acquisition of the property and for the new construction of the two-family building. The residences serve families who earn less than 30 percent of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) average median income. DCA also contributed Project-Based Section-8 Vouchers to NHTF units to provide rental assistance to extremely low-income families that will occupy the apartments. The new homes consist of two, three-bedroom apartments with nine-foot ceilings, an open floor plan, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood floors throughout. The first-floor apartment has 2.5 ceramic-tiled bathrooms, and the second-floor apartment has two ceramic-tiled bathrooms. Both apartments are fully furnished with essential furniture and linens. Permanent Supportive Housing is a long-term, service-rich housing model for supporting individuals with complex needs, including victims of domestic violence. It provides for affordability, safety, and comfort, flexible and accessible support services, empowerment, and independence. Such housing models, like that of LUA Homes at 3^rd Avenue, can have transformational impacts on survivors of domestic violence and their children. Providing safe, affordable, quality housing for these families has immediate and multi-generational impacts on their families.

Partners for this project include the City of Newark, New Jersey Community Capital, RWJ Behavioral Health – Safe House, and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village is a national model for providing homeownership to veterans. The complex is a permanent supportive housing complex, which provides homes for low-income military veterans who are homeless and at risk of homelessness. The facility partnered with Soldier On, a non-profit organization serving homeless veterans since 1994, to provide residents at The Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village with comprehensive services, including case management and wellness support, workforce assistance, benefits assessment and application assistance, legal services, transportation, telehealth, daily meals, and many ancillary support programs. The Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community concept represents a critical step in the fight to end veteran homelessness. The complex features a four-story building with 70 one-bedroom apartments available at a range of income levels, some of which are set aside for homeless veterans. 18 units are designated for homeless veterans, 24 units for low-income individuals earning 50% AMI, 10 units for moderate-income individuals earning 60% AMI, and 18 market-rate units for individuals at 80% AMI. The site includes a community room, offices, mail area, common laundry, and an exterior courtyard with benches and grills.

Financing partners include NJHMFA and Monmouth County HOME Funds.

The development team that received the award included includes Soldier On, Inc., PS&S Architecture & Engineering, and P.C., V.J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc. The managing agent is Winn Companies.

“Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village in Tinton Falls is a transformative, state-of-the-art development that serves those who served our country, providing veterans a safe, stable, affordable place to live,” said NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie R. Walter.“ At this year’s Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, NJHMFA is proud to honor WinnDevelopment and Soldier On for their hard work and dedication to providing permanent supportive housing to help our nation’s veterans build their post-service lives in a vibrant, welcoming community. Thank you to each and every partner that contributed to the development of this important project.”

“This year’s award recipients showcase amazing development across the state of New Jersey. They demonstrate the importance of the work we do as state agencies to fulfill the Governor’s charge of a stronger and fairer New Jersey,” said NJRA President and CEO Leslie A. Anderson. “The NJRA is glad to have partnered with the Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Award Winner Rising Tide Capital. Rising Tide was able to transform 311 Martin Luther King Drive into not only its new headquarters, but they were able to provide tangible space to support the people that they serve not only through their 10 units of affordable housing but also through their event, classroom, and office spaces.”

“The NJEDA is committed to working with our partners in the public and private sectors to strengthen investment in New Jersey communities, and offer resources to fuel our economic growth,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The impactful projects being honored today are representative of the equitable and inclusive economic development taking place statewide as we continue to build the stronger, fairer New Jersey economy that Governor Murphy champions.”

For more information on the Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards and the 2022 Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, visit www.njhousingconference.com.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: