The Alpert Group and joined public officials on Dec. 1 for a groundbreaking ceremony for the West Orange Senior Housing Community at 46 Mount Pleasant Ave. in West Orange. — Courtesy: The Alpert Group
By Joshua Burd
Construction is underway on a new 65-unit age- and income-restricted housing property in West Orange’s central business district.
Its developer, The Alpert Group LLC, welcomed public officials recently to break ground at the site at 46 Mount Pleasant Ave. With completion slated for the third quarter of 2024, the new West Orange Senior Housing Community will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom homes, on-site parking, modern amenities and age-friendly features, with five permanent units for homeless residents.
“We’ve been looking forward to this groundbreaking, as it’s critically important for West Orange’s seniors who have a strong need for local, affordable housing,” West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney said. “We’ll also be providing a helping hand to homeless seniors through dedicated permanent housing and access to essential social services. This new building is the result of significant collaboration between many local and state organizations that are improving the lives of seniors.”
Alpert added that the five-story building is helping to satisfy West Orange’s affordable housing obligation, with partial funding coming from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s Affordable Housing Production Fund, an appropriation from the New Jersey Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Other financial partners include Enterprise Community Partners, TD Bank, Essex County and the township of West Orange.
“The West Orange Senior Housing Community building is addressing a dire need in New Jersey for affordable senior housing, and we are proud to partner with financing entities that believe in this mission,” said Joseph Alpert, president of The Alpert Group. “When it opens in late summer 2024, the project will likely be transformative for many people in West Orange. This is the sort of development that uplifts everyone in the community.”
The five units of age-restricted, permanent supportive housing units for homeless persons will allow those residents to access social services focused on helping them live independently in a safe and secure environment, according to a news release. Those offerings will include service coordination and case management, linkages to health care and treatment programs, educational and vocational training programs, employment and job readiness programs, financial empowerment programs, life skills training, transportation and wellness resources.
“I am pleased that Essex County is able to partner with the Township of West Orange and The Alpert Group to support this mixed-use development that will bring space for the community and affordable rental units to the township’s Main Street corridor,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. said. “This unique combination of uses enhances ratables for West Orange while providing first-class public space.”
Terry Tucker, HMFA’s chief of staff added: “This beautiful project is one of many NJHMFA has made possible through our landmark Affordable Housing Production Fund, a program which was championed by my dear friend, the late Lt. Governor, Sheila Y. Oliver.”
