Wednesday, April 24, 2013
City will allow payment in lieu of taxes for project
The construction of the Long Branch Housing Authority's (LBHA) rennovated Woodrow Wilson apartments in progressing, and the group now has its eyes set on the next phase of the project. During Tuesday night's meeting, the Long Branch Council passed a resolution that will allow the LBHA to make payments in lieu of taxes for the third phase of the project, because of the fact that the project project qualifies for a tax abatement under the Long Term Tax Exemption Law. The council's approval of the resolution is a necessary step for the authority's application with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The LBHA will also apply fax credit financing through the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA); the same process it is went …
Monday, March 25, 2013
Homes are located in Garfield Court
The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) has finished the construction of eight homeownership units in Garfiled Court and has announced they are now on the market. The Homes at Hope Lane are the first homeownership units units produced by the LBHA, and their completion marks the end of the authority's Hope VI initiative. The revitalization of the LBHA's housing complexes is part of a national initiative known as HOPE VI that pumped $6.7 billion in federal funding into America’s cities within the past 18 years. It’s been an effort to replace distressed housing projects with townhouses and other low-rise developments designed to provide tenants with a cleaner and safer way of life. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Homes at Hope Lane …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Long Branch Housing Authority officials say both projects must be completed by December, 2013
Now that the Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) is finishing its Hope VI projects, it has turned its focus to the rehabilitation of the Woodrow Wilson apartments and the transformation of the Gregory School into senior affordable housing. "We are in the demolition phase on both projects," LBHA Chief of Staff Daniel Gibson said. He said the first phase of both projects will be completed by the fourth quarter of next year. Phase one of the projects must be completed by December, 2013. The first phase of the Woodrow Wilson project, includes the demolition and renovation of 65 units near the complex's High Street entrance. The second phase will include the demolition of the remaining original apartments and construction of 85 new units, for …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Authority putting finishing touches on remaining 8 units at Garfield Court
The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) is nearing the end of it's largest project to date with the Hope VI initiative. The revitalization of the LBHA's housing complexes is part of a national initiative known as HOPE VI that pumped $6.7 billion in federal funding into America’s cities within the past 18 years. It’s been an effort to replace distressed housing projects with townhouses and other low-rise developments designed to provide tenants with a cleaner and safer way of life. The final eight units that are currently being built at Garfield Court will signify the completion of the LBHA's Hope VI program. Under Long Branch’s $20 million HOPE VI grant, housing complexes that had provided 290 units of public housing were improved and …
Friday, June 8, 2012
All event proceeds will go to the Adam "Bucky" James Community Center
The Long Branch Housing Authority, in conjunction with its subsidiary, Maestro Community Development Corporation, will hold its second annual “Gala” Fundraiser, on the Great Lawn of the Adam "Bucky" James Community Center on Saturday, June 9 at 6 p.m, The night will begin with a social hour, followed by dinner and dancing. There will be a DJ, as well as a silent auction sponsored by the local community retailers. Several awards will be presented to those who have gone above and beyond in their support of the Adam “Bucky” James Center and the community it serves. Honorees will include Pennrose Properties LLC, Ronald Mantley, Dr. Eddie Santiago, Investor’s Bank, St. Michaels Church, and Shantika Prather. The Gala will be a semi-formal …
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Allocation is smaller than in previous years
The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) recently received its allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The LBHA received $944,661 from HUD, a decrease from the $1,036,000 it received in 2009, according to LBHA accountant Tom Sahlin. "It's been trending downward the last few years, but we still have to maintain," Sahlin said. "We are watching our expenditures very carefully." Sahlin said the money goes into building maintenance for the LBHA's housing units. The LBHA owns four major housing units: Woodrow Wilson, Chester Arthur, Kennedy Towers and Hobart Manor. Sahlin said he believes the money will be enough to keep all the sites in good working order, but added that repairs are expensive. He said steam…
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Homes will be reviewed during Jan. 10 workshop
The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) will be constructing eight new affordable homes in Garfield Court and is giving residents a chance to claim them. Garfield Court is one of the LBHA's affordable housing units and is located at Hope Lane and University Drive in Long Branch. The group is holding a workshop on Jan. 10 to present information about the homes and answer questions. The workshop will be held in the community room of the LBHA Administration Building at 2 Hope Lane at 6 p.m. "We expect the demand and competition for these homes to be high so if you are interested, now is the time to act," a release from the LBHA states. LBHA Program Coordinator Bob Edwards said the homes should be built by Oct. 2012, and that the authority is…
Monday, November 28, 2011
Housing Authority receives tax credit for Woodrow Wilson and Gregory School projects
The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) recently received some great news from the state. LBHA Director Tyrone Garrett said the state Housing Mortgage and Financing Agency (HMFA) has granted the group tax credits to renovate the old Gregory School, at the corner of Seventh and Joline Avenues, turning it into a senior citizens apartment complex, and to demolish and reconstruct the Woodrow Wilson apartments, at Wardell Place. Garrett announced the news at a press conference on Monday morning at the authority headquarters at 2 Hope Lane, along with officials from Penrose Development, which will be handling Woodrow Wilson, and Conifer and Metro, which be handling the Gregory School construction. The LBHA received nearly $16 million for the …
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Long Branch Council would allow payment in lieu of taxes for project if ordinance is passed at next meeting.
The Long Branch Housing Authority is taking the steps required to secure funding for the demolition and reconstruction of the Woodrow Wilson apartments. The apartments, located at Wardell Place in Long Branch, are owned by the LBHA and are in need of rehabilitation. The authority knows this and is currently has an application pending with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to demolish and rebuild and the apartments. "We have preliminary approval for demolition," LBHA Executive Director Tyrone Garrett said during Tuesday night's meeting. "We are just waiting for final approval." During Tuesday night's meeting, the Long Branch Council introduced an ordinance that would allow the LBHA to make payments in lieu …
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Authority applying for funding to help finance cost of project
The Long Branch Housing Authority is looking to change something old into something new in the city. The LBHA is planning to convert the old Gregory School building at the corner of Seventh and Joline Avenues to senior affordable housing. The Gregory School has been vacant for years and a new one was constructed on Monmouth Avenue in 2007. The proposes project qualifies for a tax abatement under the Long Term Tax Exemption Law. The authority will make payments in lieu of taxes status for the project after the Long Branch Council approved an ordinance allowing this to occur last week. "It offsets the tax and would be to pay for the parcel of land and what you put on it," LBHA Executive Director Tyrone Garrett said this week. The authority's…
Juli Berg
6:46 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013
I am curious to know when the total number of units for the Woodrow Wilson housing project went from the original number of 150 units to the current 174 units. This is already a highly congested area, and now they will be squeezing in an additional 38 units from where there were 136 before demolition. Typical... more ›