Jersey City Housing Authority Announces New Public Housing Plan

On Mar 3, 2023

Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) to announce the revitalization of the Holland Gardens public housing complex with 50% affordable housing to be built on-site in the flourishing downtown area of Jersey City.

The announcement follows last night’s unanimous vote by the JCHA Board of Commissioners to select WinnDevelopment to carry out Jersey City’s ambitious plan for the redevelopment of the 80-year-old public housing complex, using input from Holland Gardens residents throughout the entire process.

The winning proposal expands the already ambitious plans to redevelop Holland Gardens into a model mixed-income, mixed-finance, and mixed-use community that not only preserves all 192 existing public housing units with a right of return for current residents, but also expands affordability by adding 74 new affordable units for seniors, 309 market-rate units, and 56 two-bedroom condos – half of which will be affordable for families earning between 60% and 120% AMI.  In addition to the added on-site resident services, a brand new public library will be built to serve the entire surrounding community.

“As housing affordability and public housing shortages reach crisis levels across the nation, in Jersey City, we are punching above our weight once again to increase affordability and provide pivotal, life-changing opportunities to help our residents achieve financial stability and self-sufficiency,” said Mayor Fulop.  “Nearly half of the new units will be affordable housing with the addition of on-site services that are designed to fit the needs of our underserved residents who traditionally have limited accessibility.  This redevelopment project is all-encompassing, and it serves as the standard bearer for what innovative public housing initiatives can accomplish.”

The revitalization project will add a 14,000-square-foot community building with a brand new Jersey City Free Public Library branch inside.  It will also house offices for the JCHA’s Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement (RECE) Department, which partners with dozens of community organizations to connect residents with resources and programming, including afterschool programs, workforce development, senior services, and a digital inclusion program that has garnered national recognition.

In addition, the redevelopment project will create approximately 1,000 jobs, with prioritization for local hiring and minority- and women-owned businesses.

Every unit will be built equally in terms of the design and finishes to ensure residents of all income levels can equally experience high quality, equitable living with amenities such as in-unit dishwashers, and washer and dryer units.

The plan, which includes green energy and sustainable building practices, will also transform the surrounding neighborhood by reconnecting 15th street, creating a vibrant pedestrian plaza to foster community by adding amenities for all residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

“The JCHA’s mission encompasses serving not just our current residents, but low- and extremely-low income residents throughout Jersey City.  This groundbreaking project not only provides 1:1 replacement of all public housing at the site, but also significantly expands affordability, opportunity, and resource accessibility for residents citywide,” commended State Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, who has served as Chairman of the Jersey City Housing Authority for 15 years.

The four buildings approved under the updated Holland Gardens Revitalization Plan include the following:

• Senior Building
  • 74 affordable units set aside for seniors on fixed incomes
• For Sale Condominium Building
  • 56 homeownership units, half of which will be affordable
• Retail and Community Building
  • 14,000 square foot community space
  • 12,000 square foot public library branch, including media center
  • 2,000 square foot office for JCHA’s Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement Department
• North Residential Tower
  • 192 public housing units and 309 market-rate units

The $500 million project will provide approximately $28 million in ground lease payments to the JCHA over the next 30 years.  Resident services payments to the JCHA totaling $10 million will support the work of its RECE Department.  PILOT payments totaling $61 million over the next 30 years, including $20M in Redevelopment Area Bond (RAB) repayment and $10M in RAB interest, will circulate back into the community to strengthen and expand Jersey City’s affordable housing stock and critical services to help residents in need.

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