From left are George Serio, director of the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development; Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.; and Craig Lombardi, the project manager with Essex County HCD who worked on the redevelopment application for the old Newark Post Office on Broad Street.
NEWARK, NJ — The National Association of County Community and Economic Development recently presented Essex County with its Award of Excellence in the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The recognition was for the redevelopment of the old Newark Post Office at 999 Broad St. into a housing complex with affordable units and units for people with HIV/AIDS. This is the third national award Essex County recently has received through its Division of Housing and Community Development.
“This project is an example of how a blighted site can be redeveloped so that it stabilizes the neighborhood, helps continue the revitalization of Newark’s Downtown, provides modern accommodations and an affordable place for people to reside, and restore pride in the community,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said in a press release. “I am very proud of our Division of Housing and Community Development for earning these awards. They recognize our creativity to develop housing for our residents and show what can be accomplished through partnerships with other governments and private developers.”
The division received the Award of Excellence for the creation of an 87-unit complex that includes 47 affordable rental units and 40 market rate units. Five of the affordable units are earmarked for low-income residents with HIV/AIDs. The construction meets LEED Platinum Certification, which has resulted in lower energy costs for the residents. Amenities in the complex include a fitness center, a community room and an outdoor community space. The first floor of the building is occupied by a child care center operated by The Leaguers, which serves approximately 100 children. To make way for the new construction, the old Newark Post Office was razed.
Essex County provided a HOME loan of $1.3 million to support the project. Other funding came from a HOME loan from the city of Newark, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, TD Bank and tax credit financing.
“It is great to know that the projects we are supporting have such a profound impact on the community and the residents who live there. We are helping to transform neighborhoods, provide people with a nice place to live and improve their quality of life,” George Serio, director of the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development, said.
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