A rendering of Jacob’s Landing, a planned affordable housing community whose first phase includes 84 units — Courtesy: Woodbridge Township
By Joshua Burd
Construction is underway at what will be a new low- and moderate-income residential community in Woodbridge, replacing a former 1950s-era public housing complex.
Public officials and executives with the developers, Ingerman and BCM Affordable Housing, met Thursday to formally break ground on the $24 million project known as Jacob’s Landing. The first phase of the plan will deliver 84 modern units, ranging from one to four bedrooms, with amenities and services across seven three-story buildings on Bunns Lane.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents yet another milestone toward achieving our goal of ensuring that Woodbridge Township residents have access to quality residential options that allow them to affordably continue to live in the Woodbridge community,” Mayor John E. McCormac said. “Jacob’s Landing Phase 1 construction will transform the 64 year-old Woodbridge Garden Apartments on Bunns Lane into a vibrant new community of 84 units of affordable residential housing.”
He noted that no taxpayer funds will be used to construct Jacob’s Landing, which will help Woodbridge fulfill its state-mandated affordable housing obligations. The first phase is funded through private investment, housing development programs and federal and state grants.
Those public sources include a combination of equity from the syndication of the Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, transferred reserves from the Woodbridge Housing Authority, a contribution from the Woodbridge Affordable Housing Corporation and a permanent mortgage from the NJHMFA.
Jacob’s Landing will feature social service offerings such as mental health counseling, substance abuse programs and a host of medical and legal advocacy services, according to a news release. The community will include both fully accessible and adaptable units and fully furnished supportive housing units, with modern interiors and kitchens in each unit.
Bruce Morgan, president of BCM Affordable Housing, recalled that redeveloping the Bunns Lane public housing complex was McCormac’s No. 1 priority when the two met about 15 years ago. At the time, McCormac was the town’s business administrator.
“Well, it has taken longer than I would have preferred to get to this day, but no one can say that we gave up on our goal,” Morgan said. “Today is the start of great things to come for the residents of Jacobs Landing and I could not be happier to finally see this project come to fruition.”
McCormac and Morgan were joined at the ceremony by Brad Ingerman, CEO and president of Ingerman; Anthony Marchetta, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency; Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Caroline Ehrlich; Woodbridge Housing Authority Executive Director Donna Brightman; Woodbridge Department of Planning & Development Director Marta Lefsky and members of the Woodbridge Affordable Housing Corp., Woodbridge Housing Authority and municipal council.
