Dalina Manor in Woodbridge — Courtesy: Township of Woodbridge
By Joshua Burd
Developers have completed a nearly $12 million affordable housing project in Woodbridge, delivering 57 units that will be reserved for seniors and homeless residents.
The project, developed by Ingerman and BCM Affordable Housing, has opened on James Street in the township’s Hopelawn section, thanks in part to a series of local, state and federal financing tools. The community is known as Dalina Manor and includes a new home for a VFW post that occupied the site previously.
The development team recently marked the opening of the project alongside local leaders and officials with the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.
“We are very proud to have been part of this new community, which is of great help to seniors living on fixed incomes by allowing them to maintain their independence,” said Anthony L. Marchetta, the HMFA’s executive director. “In addition to homes for our senior residents, Dalina Manor also provides needed supportive housing for homeless individuals and families to help get them back on their feet.”
In a news release, the agency said the $11.7 million project was financed in part with $2.7 million from its Multifamily Conduit Bond Program and equity from 9 percent federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Rents for one-bedroom apartments range from $329 to $999, while two-bedroom units range from $1,070 to $1,199.
Other financing sources included a construction loan from Citibank and Middlesex County HOME funds.
“Today’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting represents another milestone toward achieving our goal of ensuring that all of our senior residents have access to quality, affordable residential options,” Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac said. “As we celebrate the opening of Dalina Manor, we are pleased to announce that no taxpayer or municipal dollars were invested, as the entire project was funded through government grants, programs and private investment between the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, BCM Affordable Housing, Ingerman, the Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency and the Woodbridge Affordable Housing Corporation.”
Dalina Manor is named for Stephen J. “Pete” Dalina, a former Middlesex County freeholder and Woodbridge council member who died in 2013. Along with being close to local amenities, public transit and highways, apartments at the complex are tailored for seniors with features such as grab bars and on-site support services.
“Through the mayor’s vision, we seized the opportunity to take the aging Hopelawn VFW building and transform it into a beautiful, active, vibrant community for the senior residents of Hopelawn,” Bruce Morgan, president of BCM Affordable Housing, said in a prepared statement. “We are proud to have created a high-quality residential development that will not only meet the demand for affordable senior housing, but will also contribute to the township’s exceptional quality of life.”
