Newark's Fairmount Heights to Get Makeover

Newark's Fairmount Heights is in the midst of a facelift with the redevelopment of 52 city-owned properties, the rehabilitation of 40 privately abandoned structures and the creation of two new parks — all thanks to the efforts of the city's Greater Housing Partnership. 

John Abramo, the organization's executive director, said the plan is to develop 90 residential sites within a 15 block radius of Newark's West Ward between Central and South Orange avenues at South 9th and South 12th streets. 

"This is a part of the city that has a high foreclosure rate, vacant land, blighted structures and drug and gang activity," said Abramo. "The goal is to create homeownership and increase the homeownership in the neighborhood."

The Greater Newark Housing Partnership and the George group LLC will work together with a number of faith-based groups in the city in order to create a neighborhood that centers around affordable housing and mortgage payment for workforce income families. 

Abramo said the rehabilitation of the enclosed structures will be "virtually new," where they will gut out 30 percent to 40 percent of the structure to be replaced.  

The first of the Fairmount Heights single-family homes are located between Central and South Orange avenues and wil be sold through a lottery system with pricing starting at $99,000.

So far, Abramo said, the initiative has made significant progress, with much of the construction done.

"We have six housing units completed. Five of them are one family homes and one is a two family home," said Abramo. "We also have six more ready at various stages of construction. Some of them are as much as 50 (percent) to 80 percent completed, some as few as 20 percent completed."

Marcus Toney-El, who is a first-time home buyer and the first to purchase one of the home units in the Fairmount Heights section, said he wanted to "establish" himself even more after receiving the position of associate head coach for the Fairleigh Dickinson basketball team.

"It hasn't even settled in that I closed the deal," he said. "It feels good. But, I haven't gotten to sit down and enjoy the whole thing yet. I'm sure once I get off the road, I'll be sure to enjoy myself."

Toney-El, who is single, purchased a two-family home in a section he described as "quiet" and "laid back" with not too many youths around.

"I believe the city of Newark is on the rise and I want to be a part of that," he said. "I think it's a great opportunity and I think Newark is doing the right thing."

Single-family homes will have three bedrooms and one bath, while two- to three-family homes will range from three to four bedrooms, depending on their size. Each one also includes a combination of hardwood, tile and carpet, new kitchen appliances, central air and a hot water heater, Abramo said. He said the homes also are Energy Star compliant.

Although the new initiative is predominantly directed towards Newark residents, the rules of who can buy the homes are not limited by anything other than income, according to Abramo.

Abramo said the city has helped fund and move the initiative forward, while an outpouring of support has come from local businesses and community organizations, such as the Newark Conservancy. He said 90 percent of the on-site labor force are Newark residents.

"For the first three phases of our development, the city has awarded or helped us secure over $3 million of subsidy financing," said Abramo. "That money comes in during the construction process to help keep the cost of construction down. Then it stays in the home after the home is built so it subsidizes the price down for the homebuyer, which makes the homes affordable."

Although Abramo says the exact number as to how many housing units are supposed to be built within the next several months, he expects the project to yield between 150 and 200 units.

For more information about the affordable homes, call 973-710-4300 or visit the organization's website at:http://www.FairmountHomes@gnhp.org/

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