City officials have revealed their plans to turn the 80-year old Holland Gardens public housing complex into a mixed income high-rise with 50% affordable housing.
The city has selected WinnDevelopment to redevelop the public housing complex, which is situated just outside the Holland Tunnel. The plan calls for a mixed-use community that not only preserves all 192 existing public housing units with a right of return for current residents, but also expands affordability by adding 74 new affordable units for seniors, 309 market-rate units, and 56 two-bedroom condos — half of which will be affordable for families earning between 60% and 120% AMI. The city also plans to create a brand new public library that will serve the surrounding community.
“Nearly half of the new units will be affordable housing with the addition of on-site services that are designed to fit the needs of our underserved residents who traditionally have limited accessibility,” said Mayor Steven Fulop. “This redevelopment project is all-encompassing, and it serves as the standard bearer for what innovative public housing initiatives can accomplish.”
The revitalization project will add a 14,000-square-foot community building with a brand new Jersey City Free Public Library branch inside. It will also house offices for the Jersey City Housing Authority’s (JCHA) Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement (RECE) Department, which partners with dozens of community organizations to connect residents with resources and programming.
Every unit will be built equally in terms of design and finishes with amenities such as in-unit dishwashers and washer/dryer units. The plan will also transform the surrounding neighborhood by reconnecting 15th street and creating a pedestrian plaza to foster community.
The four buildings approved under the Holland Gardens Revitalization Plan include:
- Senior building with 74 affordable units set aside for seniors on fixed incomes
- For sale condominium building with 56 homeownership units, half of which will be affordable
- Retail and community building with 14,000 square foot community space, 12,000 square foot public library branch (including media center), 2,000 square foot office for JCHA’s Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement Department
- North Residential Tower with 192 public housing units and 309 market-rate units
All five existing low-rise Holland Gardens buildings will be demolished and redeveloped. Current residents will be provided with relocation services during construction, with a right to return once the new buildings are habitable.
