Federal Funds Help Build ‘All-Affordable’ Housing Complex In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — An affordable housing complex known as “The Lantana” has bloomed in Newark.

The Lantana – whose name stems from a flower native to Latin America – opened last week at 109-119 Broad Street. It marked a big transformation for two vacant buildings that had fallen into disrepair.

According to a statement from city officials, The Lantana is a “scattered-site, affordable rental development” that includes 72 apartments at two locations in the city’s Central Ward. It was built with the assistance of $568,000 in federal Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds that Newark committed to the project.

All units are affordable to low-and moderate-income households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). There are five supportive housing units for people formerly experiencing homelessness, or people living with HIV/AIDS or related diseases.

The complex has two parts, city officials said:

• “The first site is a 60-unit new construction building at 109-119 Broad Street. It replaces a vacant townhome project that had fallen first into financial distress and then into physical disrepair in 2011, prior to RPM taking over.”
• “The second site is located at 130 North 11th Street. The building is an adaptive re-use and conversion of a long-vacant industrial building into 12 loft-style apartments.”

Each apartment features sustainable building materials and Energy Star appliances. Amenities include LEED certification and five electric vehicle charging stations.

The project, spearheaded by RPM Development, received a municipal tax abatement.

Mayor Ras Baraka said the opening of The Lantana marks yet another victory in the city’s goal to create or preserve more than 6,000 affordable homes within five years. Read More: Newark Will Create 6,600 Affordable Homes In 5 Years, Mayor Says

“We are proud to have worked successfully with RPM Development on this project, and look forward to continuing to replicate it throughout Newark,” Baraka said.

Central Ward Council Member LaMonica McIver and North Ward Council Member Anibal Ramos Jr., in addition to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel, were also present at last week’s ribbon cutting event.

“After 10 years and many iterations of the project, the grand opening of The Lantana is a testament to the steadfast commitment of community stakeholders in bringing high-quality affordable housing to the people of Newark,” RPM vice president of operations Richard Martoglio said.

“RPM is pleased to be a part of the continued revitalization of the Central Ward and to help advance Mayor Baraka’s housing goals with this 100 percent affordable development,” Martoglio said.

• See related article: $5.2M Will Create Affordable Housing In Newark (Here's Where)
• See related article: 'Affordable' Isn't Affordable: Newark's Plan To Create More Housing
• See related article: Who Owns Newark? City Fights Back Against Corporate Buying Spree

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