Pennrose recently welcomed public officials to debut Village at Harmony Garden, 64-unit affordable housing development in Glassboro for seniors and individuals with disabilities, at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Higgins Drive. — Courtesy: Pennrose
By Joshua Burd
Pennrose has unveiled 64 new apartments in Glassboro for seniors and individuals with disabilities, following its $20 million redevelopment of a former public housing complex.
The Philadelphia-based recently welcomed public officials to debut the cluster of one-story, cottage-style buildings, Village at Harmony Garden, at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Higgins Drive. It noted that the one- and two-bedroom apartments are all affordable, with all units available at or below 50 percent of Gloucester County’s area median income of $39,100 for a single-person household, adding that 14 are accessible to residents with physical disabilities and eight units are accessible to residents with hearing and vision disabilities.
Additionally, 13 homes were set aside for non-age-restricted individuals with developmental disabilities, while four will be reserved for residents over 55 with developmental disabilities.
“The Housing Authority and Borough of Glassboro have worked tirelessly to redevelop the former Ellis Manor public housing complex and transform an integral, yet blighted, section of the community into high-quality, affordable housing,” said Jacob Fisher, regional vice president at Pennrose. “Village at Harmony Garden will serve as a catalyst for continued revitalization, while also providing seniors and individuals with disabilities with housing and tailored supportive services to live in place comfortably and successfully.”
The project, which redeveloped a 10-acre site, comes with one resident superintendent unit. Features include dishwashers and electric ranges, in-unit washers and dryers and individually controlled heating and cooling, while residents have access to a 2,908-square-foot amenity building with a community room, a fitness room and a supportive services center.
Outside of the community building is a garden for residents to grow their own vegetables, as well as a gazebo and on-site parking.
“The entire project underscores the potential that exists with under-utilized properties and how they can be repurposed to benefit residents in our communities,” Glassboro Mayor John E. Wallace III. “Housing is a human right and we will continue supporting transformative projects like The Village at Harmony Garden to tackle the housing crisis and make Glassboro a more affordable place for all.”
Apartments at Village at Harmony Garden will have rent supported by GHA project-based vouchers, according to a news release. Pennrose also partnered with PennReach to provide robust on-site supportive services for individuals with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Financing partners include the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, Bank of America, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, County of Gloucester, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Borough of Glassboro.
