Township Council Moves Affordable Housing Proposal Forward

A proposal to transform the municipal parking lot next to the Bloomfield Post Office into an affordable housing complex took another step forward Monday night.
At the workshop meeting, the township council approved a resolution to create a pilot program for Heritage Village at Bloomfield Urban Renewal LLC., a project that could create 80 apartments for people 55 years of age and older and people with disabilities.
Township officials also approved a tax exemption and bulk variance application for the Heritage Village project and amended the township's redevelopment plan to allow projects outside the downtown development zone to utilize redevelopment funds to encourage other proposals.
The resolutions were approved with six votes; Councilwoman Janice Litterio was not present.
The Heritage Village project would be built by Community Investment Strategies Inc. of Lawrenceville, a company that already manages about 3,000 affordable housing units throughout the state.
Earlier this month, the company's president, Christiana Foglio told township officials she hopes to fund the $15 million project by applying to the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency for the federal government’s 9 percent affordable housing tax credit program.
Glenn Domenick, director of the township’s Department of Community Development and Inspections, said the resolutions were necessary in order to meet the Sept. 2 tax credit deadline for the project. The project still needs approval from the township planning board.
"In a perfect world, we get approval and move forward in the spring," Domenick said about possible construction date. He added if the project does not get approval for the tax credit program, the proposal would be "null and void" until next year.
Two township residents spoke out in favor and against the housing project, respectively.
Lydia McDade, a retired semiconductor saleswoman, asked if the proposal was "the right project, right time and in the right place?" She questioned if the tax abatement would be good for the township in the long run and if there would be enough parking for the overall community.

Pat Farrell, a retired children's advocate, said she thought an affordable housing development would have a positive effect in the township and would encourage more business in the township. "Let's look at it as the glass half-full, not empty," she said.