This Affordable Housing Complex In Essex County Will Have Its Own Hydroponic Farm

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — At first glance, the living situation at Springfield Gateway in Irvington reads like a luxury listing. When construction is finished, the housing complex will include a community center, apartments with modern appliances and high-speed internet, and an on-site hydroponic farm that will grow fresh veggies for residents.

The kicker? It will also be entirely composed of affordable housing.

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Earlier this week, local officials and developers gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony at 413-421 Twenty First Street, the future site of Springfield Gateway – a $22.7 million, five-story development project that will bring 48 affordable homes to an area where 10 vacant lots once stood.

The complex will be open to households earning between 20 and 60 percent of the area median income. Five apartments will be reserved for households experiencing homelessness, and three will be designated as Medicaid units.

Construction is expected to take about 18 months, with completion anticipated in spring 2028.

According to developers, some highlights of the complex will include:

• Building Amenities – "Apartments will include central heating and air conditioning, energy-efficient appliances, dishwashers, in-unit washers and dryers, high-speed internet, and secured entry. The five-story elevator building will also offer 47 parking spaces, an on-site management and leasing office, and a community center."
• Location – "Located along Springfield Avenue, the development is approximately half a mile from the Irvington Regional Bus Terminal and less than three miles from Newark Penn Station."
• Garden – "The development will feature a hydroponic garden with nine vertical growing towers supported by Green Food Solutions, expected to produce approximately 20 pounds of leafy greens monthly to help residents access fresh, nutritious food."

Financing for the housing project was a group effort, developers said.

Springfield Gateway received a 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit reservation in August 2025 and final board approval from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) in September 2026. Meanwhile, Irvington Township committed $1 million in federal HOME Investment Partnership funds, and the project also secured $3.19 million in NJHMFA loan financing and additional support through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs "Healthy Homes Initiative."

On Tuesday, stakeholders and public officials gathered for a groundbreaking event to usher in Irvington's newest affordable housing project.

"Springfield Gateway represents a significant investment in a historically under-resourced neighborhood, turning vacant properties into homes and creating new opportunities for our residents," Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss said.

"More than a housing development, it represents a promise to families who have struggled to find a safe, affordable place to call home," Vauss said. "This is an investment in the dignity and stability of our residents and in the belief that every family deserves the opportunity to build a better future."

Other attendees at Tuesday's groundbreaking included Adenah Bayoh, president and CEO of Foya Development Group, and Bryan Scotland of Lionheart Development, along with financial partner Gage Daye.

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