Archive
GSECDC's blog is bringing you our latest information and updates on community and housing development, affordable first time home buyer opportunities, social services and supportive housing. Find out how we are Building Strong Communities.
Garden State Episcopal CDC has completed another project in Greenville. GSECDC acquired a formerly foreclosed property, completed moderate rehabilitation and turned it into 4 units of housing. We think it is an improvement but we will let you be the judge.
Just five days after the Certificates of Occupancy were issued by Jersey City, We are proud to announce that all four of the homes at 291-297 Halladay Street are under contract.
We are still accepting applications for other upcoming properties created through the NRP program.
...is Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation’s first home ownership project in the Morris Canal Section of Jersey City. It involved the new construction of 4 two family homes for moderate income buyers and renters. This project is made possible through the investment of the Jersey City Division of Community Development with a grant from the HOME Investment Partnership Program in the amount of $1,089,000 and through the acquisition of the vacant lots at nominal cost from the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. Construction financing is being provided by TD Bank. Each of the homes includes a 3BR/2.5BTH duplex unit for the home owner with a bonus family room and a 3 BR rental. Each of the homes will be sold for $250,000 to first time home buyers. To date, GSECDC has built 240 units of affordable housing by redeveloping 93 scattered sites throughout Jersey City.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on at 297 Halladay on Monday March 10, 2014. In attendance was Ward F Councilwoman Diane Coleman, Senator Sandra Cunningham, Executive Director of Morris Canal CDC June Jones, Assistant Executive Director of Jersey City Redevelopment Authority Chris Fiore, Jersey City Mayor's Aide Doug Carlucci, and TD Bank representatives including Pat DiSanto.
Currently, three of the four homes are under contract with a the fourth soon to be under contract this week. All buyers are from Ward F and two are from the Morris Canal neighborhood.
This site is dedicated to:
Benjamin (April 14th 1916- 1983) & Queen Esther Thomas (October 5th 1917- March 10th 2007)
Queen Esther Hogan was married to Benjamin Thomas and together they opened a restaurant on 572/574 Grand Avenue called “Queen & Ben’s” in the 1950’s. It was very rare to see an African American owned business. In addition they were owners of the neighborhood store located on the corner of 125 Maple Street and Halladay Street. Raising 4 sons Benjamin, Bernard, Ballard (deceased) and Bryan Thomas. Three served the United States of America as decorated Air Force officers in Vietnam. The Thomas family regularly fed the hungry and provided assistance when residents required legal information teaching them how to establish credit. In the 1950’s social services weren’t available and the Thomas family offered assistance utilizing 125 Maple Street on the weekends to provide dental care for neighborhood children free of charge. Queen Esther Thomas became politically active in 1954 and was the district committee person. In 1955 she ran in a very close race for a seat in the state assembly becoming the first African American woman to run for this office. Millionaire mogul Malcolm Forbes creator and founder of Forbes Magazine was compelled to send Queen Esther a personal telegram congratulating her on a well fought race.
Queen Esther Thomas was an active member and usherette at Monumental Baptist Church for many years. The marriage union between this loving couple lasted 46 years before Benjamin passed away in 1983. Queen Esther departed Jersey City to spent her golden years in North Carolina and then eventually being laid to rest in Arizona with each one of her surviving sons by her side. Always community first, without fanfare, Benjamin and Queen Esther Thomas are being recognized for the unselfish commitment to the community and the people they sincerely loved in the Lafayette-Greenville community.
GSECDC Executive Director,
Carol Mori
GSECDC Board Member,
Father Tom Murphy
GSECDC Director of Housing & Community Development,
John Restrepo
Ward F Councilwoman,
Diane Coleman
Assistant Executive Director
of Jersey City Redevelopment Agency,
Chris Fiore
Regional Vice President of TD Bank,
Charlie Ponti
Below is a list of projects still under development or about to start. GSECDC's Division of Housing and Community Development is hard at work making these projects a reality. With a pipeline of $13,068,000, GSECDC will create 64 units on 31 sites serving 210 people. All of these projects are expected to be complete by the end of 2015. Garden State Episcopal CDC is building strong communities.
| Project | Description | Completion Date | Unit Count | Development Cost | Number of Sites | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood Recovery Program Phase 2 | Home ownership, acquisition, rehab and resale of foreclosed two family homes | Jun. 2015 | 10 | $1,355,000.00 | 5 | 35 |
| Bergen Hill Scatttered Site Strategy | Home ownership, acquisition, rehab of single and vacant two family homes | Jun. 2015 | 4 | $1,081,000.00 | 4 | 18 |
| Weber Friar Homes | Home ownership, new construction on vacant lots | Dec. 2015 | 18 | $3,575,000.00 | 9 | 63 |
| Neighborhood Recovery Program Phase 3 | Home ownership, acquisition, rehab and resale of foreclosed two family homes | Sep. 2015 | 10 | $1,765,000.00 | 7 | 35 |
| Hobart Project | Special Needs rentals, new construction | May. 2015 | 11 | $3,032,000.00 | 1 | 20 |
| Ocean Avenue | Low and Moderate income rentals, new cosntruction | Dec. 2015 | 5 | $1,305,000.00 | 2 | 18 |
| NRP Rental | Rental, acquisition, rehab of foreclosed two family homes | Dec. 2015 | 6 | $955,000.00 | 3 | 21 |
| Subtotal Predevelopment | 64 | $13,068,000.00 | 31 | 210 |
To date, GSCDC has completed the development of over 240 residential units, turning over 90 abandoned properties into quality housing for over 630 people through a $40-million investment in emerging markets.
GSCDC is a premier, affordable housing non-profit developer in Jersey City with over two decades of experience in building quality housing. The Division of Housing and Community Development is responsible for carrying out GSCDC's mission providing quality affordable housing opportunities to families that cannot comfortably afford to rent or buy in the private market.
| Project | Description | Completion Date | Unit Count | Development Cost | Number of Sites | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resurrection House | LIHTC rental units-rehab of abandoned school | 1993 | 28 | $4,200,000 | 1 | 70 |
| Mid City 1 and 2 (44 Scattered Sites) | LIHTC rental units- scattered site infill, 44 vacant lots | 1995-1997 | 88 | $13,200,000 | 44 | 264 |
| Bentley House | Supportive Housing - acquisition of single family | 1998 | 5 | $200,000 | 1 | 5 |
| Britton House | Supportive Housing - acquisition of single family | 1998 | 5 | $200,000 | 1 | 5 |
| Beacon House | Supportive Housing - rehab of vacant 3 story building | 2000 | 6 | $750,000 | 1 | 15 |
| Eugenia Suthern Homes | Home ownership, 2 family homes new construction on 2 vacant lots | 2005 | 4 | $400,000 | 2 | 12 |
| Grant/Myrtle homes | Home ownership, 2 family homes new construction on 4 vacant lots | 2007 | 8 | $1,250,000 | 4 | 24 |
| Greenville Homes | Home ownership, 2 family homes new construction on 4 vacant lots | 2008 | 8 | $1,500,000 | 4 | 24 |
| All Saints | Supportive Housing - rental new construction on 2 vacant lots | 2009 | 8 | $2,000,000 | 2 | 8 |
| Columbia Park Place | Supportive Housing - rental new construction on 1 vacant lot | 2009 | 6 | $1,400,000 | 1 | 15 |
| Houses of Hope | Supportive Housing - rental acquisition of single family home | 2009 | 6 | $717,000 | 1 | 6 |
| The Monticello | Mixed use- Home ownership, condominiums and 2,000 sf of commercial, new construction on 2 vacant lots | Nov. 2010 | 8 | $2,100,000 | 2 | 20 |
| Neighborhood Stabilization Program | Home ownership, acquisition, rehab and resale of foreclosed two family homes | Dec. 2011 | 18 | $3,100,000 | 9 | 54 |
| The Van Brunt Homes | Home ownership, 2 family homes new construction on 7 vacant lots | Nov. 2011 | 10 | $2,230,000 | 7 | 30 |
| Neighborhood Recovery Program Phase 1 | Home ownership, acquisition, rehab and resale of foreclosed two family homes | May. 2013 | 8 | $1,294,000 | 4 | 28 |
| Bergen Court Apartments | Low income rentals (4 special needs), gut rehab of abandoned structure | Jul. 2013 | 12 | $2,522,000 | 1 | 24 |
| Halladay Homes | Home ownership, new construction on vacant lots | Nov. 2013 | 8 | $2,089,889 | 7 | 28 |
| Liberty View West | Supportive Housing rentals, gut rehabilitation of abandoned foreclosed structure | Dec. 2013 | 4 | $811,000 | 1 | 4 |
| Total Completed | 240 | $39,963,889 | 93 | 636 |
Construction Progress at 291-297 Halladay Street. Exterior facade and vapor barrier is going up. Check out the nice brick work. Next up, walk through of the interior. We are accepting applications for presales. To apply click here.
Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation (GSECDC) is proud to have held a ribbon cutting event for the Bergen Court Apartments. After the building sat vacant for 10 years, GSECDC successfully partnered with HMFA, Jersey City, Hudson County and New Jersey Community Capital to substantially rehabilitate this facility. The project located at 242 Bergen Ave, Jersey City includes 12 affordable housing units, eight two-bedroom units with rents below 60% of the area median income and four one-bedroom units that are set aside for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities.
Read more about the project on the Together North Jersey website.
Construction Progress at 291-297 Halladay Street. Framing up and some of the windows are in place. Next up, interior and facades. We are accepting applications for presales. To apply click here. Check out the pictures and video.
New construction, 4 two-family homes with 6bd/3ba are near completion. Why rent when you can own in Jersey City. Let Garden State Episcopal CDC help you purchase your brand new home. Call 201-687-9807 or email mward@gsecdc.org to see if you qualify. - created at http://animoto.com
Households must be income eligible.
HOUSEHOLD SIZE MAXIMUM INCOME
1 person $43,200
2 person $49,400
3 person $55,550
4 person $61,700
Construction Progress at 291-297 Halladay Street. Plumbing being completed so that we can pour concrete for foundations. We are accepting applications for presales. To apply click here.
Garden State Episcopal CDC (formerly Jersey City Episcopal CDC) has been serving New Jersey communities since 1986. We are proven leader in community and housing development, social services and supportive housing. Our focus is Building Strong Communities.
Garden State Episcopal CDC | 514 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
