Mayor W. Reed Gusciora was joined by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, and other dignitaries last week to announce Jennings Village, a development that will bring safe, high-quality and affordable housing to the residents of the City of Trenton.
The development, located at 461-471 Brunswick Avenue in Trenton, will turn a vacant, underutilized lot into a mixed-use, affordable development. Residents will benefit from the close proximity of neighborhood services, restaurants, employment opportunities, and public transit.
“This building is 100% affordable for families,” said Mayor Gusciora. “Together, we set aside a dedicated section for the unsheltered among us. In Edith Savage-Jennings honor, we stand for the people who need housing the most. I’m proud to honor her legacy, and proud to have played our part in bringing this safe and affordable housing on line. This development is a resounding victory for the City, and for the residents who will call it home.”
In the spirit of Mrs. Savage-Jennings, Jennings Village will also serve as a transformational resource for the North Ward by bringing new, quality and safe housing options for its residents. Jennings Village is offering 71 affordable units to residents with household incomes at 60% of the area median income or less. The building has a mix of eleven (11) one-bedroom units, forty-two (42) two-bedroom units, and nineteen (19) three-bedroom units and is conveniently located near several bus stops, parks, schools, and restaurants.
The City of Trenton provided $800,000 of HOME Investment Partnership Program Funds for eleven (11) units in the project. Five (5) 1-bedroom units will be made available to households with less than 20% of Median Family Income (MFI). Three (3) 1-or-2 bedroom units will be affordable to families earning 30% of the MFI ($22,250). Three (3) 1-or-2 bedroom units will be affordable to families with income of 50% of less of the MFI. The building is 100% low income (affordable) for families or individuals earning less than 50% of the median income.
The spacious residential units feature ENERGY STAR appliances and high-efficiency lighting and heating and cooling systems. A central courtyard is accessible by all residents as a place to relax and gather. Parking is located at the basement level and every residential unit is assigned one space. The property also features a large community room and gym for the tenants. A small retail space is located on the Brunswick Avenue and Race Street corner of the building.
RPM Development played a crucial role in creating these housing units for the City of Trenton and its residents. RPM Development is one of the leading developers of affordable housing in New Jersey. RPM has developed residential communities that are home to thousands of New Jerseyans and represent hundreds of millions of dollars in community investment across the state. Their work has included new construction on underutilized land, the adaptive reuse of industrial properties, the restoration of historic buildings, and multi-phase initiatives to increase affordable housing options in urban and suburban communities.
