Firm outlines Jackson affordable housing plan
Solar Avenue project calls for 112 rental units in Jackson
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer
Plans are in the works to construct a 100 percent non-agerestricted affordable housing rental development in Jackson.

At a recent meeting, members of the Planning Board heard an informal presentation for the 112- unit Windsor Crescent Solar Avenue affordable housing development. The board did not take any vote on the project.

Attorney John Russo, who represents Jackson on affordable housing issues, said the Solar Avenue project will be developed by Community Investment Strategies (CIS) of Bordentown.

Russo said even though there will be 112 units constructed at the site, Jackson will receive 222 credits toward its state-mandated second round affordable housing obligation to provide 1,323 units of affordable housing.

Extra credits are given for rental units according to regulations established by the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).

Affordable housing is defined as housing that is sold or rented at below market rates to people who have an income that meets regional guidelines established by COAH.

Information presented at the meeting indicated that rents for the Solar Avenue units will be established by state guidelines. CIS will provide maintenance, snow removal, grounds keeping and lighting.

Russo said representatives of CIS will return later this year or early in 2008 to make their formal presentation to the board.

Attorney Stephen R. Leone, representing CIS, said the organization entered into an agreement with Jackson in August to develop the affordable housing project. He said the development site fronts on Sally Street and Solar Avenue, which is off Christopher Columbus Boulevard and West County Line Road.

CIS President Christiana Foglio said her firm specializes in affordable housing and has built more than 2,000 units in New Jersey.

She said half of those units are owned and managed by CIS. Foglio said her firm recently completed a Heritage Village community in Freehold Township and is building another Heritage Village in Manalapan.

Using a video presentation, Foglio presented a virtual tour of some of the units previously constructed in New Jersey. She said each unit has its own front door and its own address.

"We've found that giving access control to their own unit, a front porch, a stoop, actually defines [the residents'] own space," said Foglio. "A lot of times there are breezeways or common corridors where people congregate, and some people may not be responsible [and that may cause a conflict]. So by breaking down the common spaces and letting them have their own front door," residents are empowered to care for their space.

She said CIS wants people to be committed to their neighborhood.

Foglio listed some of the incentives that her firm's communities develop.

"There are after-school programs for children," she said. "There's a community center, a live-in superintendent and a fulltime community manager."

Project engineer Sean Savage said the 112 units will be in 14 buildings. He said portions of the site will be preserved as forests or wooded areas. A clubhouse, a tot lot and a recreation area will be included within the development, he said.

The development is expected to include 78 two-bedroom units, twostory townhouses to flat configurations, which range from 962 square feet to 1,164 square feet; and 34 three-bedroom townhouses ranging in size from 1,214 square feet to 1,310 square feet.