Affordable Housing Community to be First New Construction of Apartments in Ewing Township in 40 Years

By Keith Loria, Contributing Writer

Ewing Township, N.J.—The Gardens at Birmingham, a planned 48-unit affordable housing community in Ewing Township, N.J., was awarded Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits by the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency.

The project will be developed as a joint venture between Community Investment Strategies, Inc., of Lawrenceville, N.J., and W. Barry Rank, an attorney/developer from Pennington, N.J.

“The property is in a redevelopment zone in an area that has been underutilized since the closing of the General Motors plant across the street and the closing of the Naval Air Warfare Center,” Barbara Schoor, vice president, CIS, tells MHN. “Originally, it was zoned for commercial use, but there’s not a demand here for that at this time and residential seemed to be the preferred option for redevelopment.”

The Gardens at Birmingham sits on a portion of the former Naval Air Warfare Center on Parkway Avenue and is comprised of three land parcels totaling 145 acres. It is the first project being done in the redevelopment zone.

“This will be newly constructed with an energy-efficient design and the quality of the construction and amenities being provided to residents are consistent with what you would see in new, rental, market-rate housing,” Schoor says. “Certainly, the architecture is being designed specifically for the site working in conjunction with the township’s vision for the aesthetics of the redevelopment zone.”

Each of the one-, two- and three-bedroom units at the Gardens at Birmingham will feature energy-efficient appliances, washers and dryers, and dishwashers, and many will include pantries and linen closets. There are also a number of handicapped accessible units available.

“We are constructing a community building, which will house a community meeting space, as well as the management offices,” Schoor says. “We will be hosting a variety of programs to address residents’ needs and interests. There will also be an exercise program for kids after school, plus nutrition and financial programs done in conjunction with local agencies.”

Residents will also benefit from 24-hour emergency maintenance services and on-site property management, provided by CIS’ affiliate, CIS Management, Inc.

The Gardens at Birmingham is located adjacent to a shopping center, which includes a grocery store, childcare center and restaurants. NJ Transit bus service is also available.

The Gardens at Birmingham will break ground in the final quarter of this year. Completion and occupancy are slated for late summer 2013.