More about the Senior Housing Renovation

I got this email from the township's Office of Communications, after today's press conference.  

I like the idea of this project, because I like anything that helps people get back to work around here.  Plus, the senior housing needs to be upgraded periodically, just like any other building, right? Keep it fixed up or it's going to fall apart! 

They made the announcement from Iselin, because that's where they are starting; and the first renovated apartments should be ready in December. 

Woodbridge Township Mayor John E. McCormac outlines the public/private partnership to renovate and upgrade Senior Housing Authority units at Cooper Towers in Iselin . The long-term $2.25 million reconstruction project provides new, up-dated and modern housing to Woodbridge senior residents.  Joining Mayor McCormac for the announcement: Jean Asouline, President, Cooper Towers Tenant Association, the Woodbridge Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency and representatives of local trade unions.

Woodbridge Township and Construction-Trade Unions Announce $2.25 Million Public/Private Partnership Program to Renovate Senior Housing Apartment Buildings

 

Long-Term Project Utilizes In-Place Funding… Offers Cost Savings for Construction and Renovation of Housing and Apartments… Provides Quality Jobs for Township Trades Workers… Provides Modern Housing for Woodbridge Senior Residents 

Woodbridge, NJ - Mayor John E. McCormac, representatives of Woodbridge-area construction and trade unions, the Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency, and the Woodbridge Housing Authority , today announced a joint public/private partnership to renovate and upgrade Senior Housing Authority units at Cooper Towers in Iselin . 

 

The long-term reconstruction and renovation project, designed to upgrade 415 senior housing units maintained by the Woodbridge Housing Authority at Stern, Olsen, Finn, Adams and Greiner Tower complexes, decreases administrative costs (thus allowing more dollars to be invested in actual construction), offers employment opportunities to professional tradespersons from Woodbridge-area construction and trade organizations, and provides new, up-dated and modern housing for Woodbridge senior residents.  The $2.25 million project utilizes monies currently on-deposit with the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

 

Joining Mayor McCormac to announce the project were members of the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (U.B.J.C.A.), the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #9 (Trades Union), Caroline Ehrlich, Executive Director of the Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency (RDA), Donna Brightman , Executive Director, Woodbridge Housing Authority , Dennis Henry, Director, Woodbridge Township Department of Public Works, and senior residents from Cooper Towers.

 

“This unique public/private partnership represents good government by utilizing available Affordable Housing monies received from developers - not taxpayer dollars – to renovate and update 415 senior housing apartments and provides employment in a down economy to Woodbridge-area craftsmen, plumbers, electricians, masons, and tradesmen,” said Mayor McCormac.  “While these are challenging times for many local municipalities, Woodbridge continues to work out-of-the-box to implement creative projects that achieve our mandate of maximizing taxpayer resources, assuring the availability of modern housing to senior residents, and providing employment opportunities to Township workers.”

 

The Woodbridge Township Redevelopment Agency will serve as the project general contractor, directing the work, coordinating labor, purchasing materials, and insuring the permitting, inspection and quality of the project.  The Woodbridge Housing Authority will make vacant units available – five units at a time – for rehabilitation and renovation.  The Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (U.B.J.C.A.) and the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #9 (Trades Union) will provide the necessary labor to staff the project, providing laborers where possible who are Township residents.  The renovation of each apartment will include new kitchen (flooring, cabinets, appliances), bathroom (flooring, fixtures, cabinets), and the renovation of the living and bedroom areas (flooring, windows, doors, painting).