Lafayette Gardens Introduction

The Jersey City Housing Authority has received a $34,140,000 HOPE VI grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The intent of the HOPE VI Program (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere) is to replace severely distressed public housing with attractive, mixed-income (not poverty concentrated) communities. HOPE VI redevelopment must positively contribute to broader neighborhood stability and growth and revitalization sustainability.

Introduction and Program Objectives

The Jersey City Housing Authority HOPE VI Revitalization Plan for the Lafayette Gardens and Morris Canal/Lafayette Park neighborhood shall:

	End the isolation of the low income families and senior citizens living in Lafayette Gardens - a too dense, too dangerous, poverty concentrated, physically obsolete public housing "project".
	Offer Lafayette Gardens residents new and greatly improved housing choices, especially in more livable, newly built, mixed income HOPE VI redevelopment areas within the surrounding Morris Canal/Lafayette Park neighborhood - 1/2 mile from the spectacular Jersey City Hudson River waterfront.
	Ensure that the residents of Lafayette Gardens have affirmative opportunities to participate in the extraordinary economic growth of Jersey City's waterfront revitalization. Ensure that not so well off public housing and neighborhood residents are not left behind.
	Capitalize on waterfront redevelopment expansion into nearby neighborhoods. With the City and private sector development partners, and with consistent input from Lafayette Gardens and neighborhood residents, revitalize and redevelop three distinct areas within the surrounding neighborhood. In full accord with the already adopted Morris Canal/Lafayette Park Redevelopment Plan and HUD's Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area Plan, build 500 new high quality homes - 40 for homeownership, both affordable and market rate, and 520 mixed income rental units, including 122 for senior citizens with assisted living services.

Include:

Public Housing Revitalization of the current Lafayette Gardens through the complete demolition of the existing 492 dwelling unit public housing project; and comprehensive on-site redevelopment of a new mixed-income community, to be renamed "Downtown Gateway" -- 292 new town homes (264 rental and 28 homeownership) and a new 82-unit senior citizen living center with assisted living services.

Neighborhood Redevelopment of a former underutilized industrial property within the Morris Canal/Lafayette Park neighborhood. The redevelopment the light rail and anchor neighborhood-wide revitalization. Specifically, build 72 new residential units - mixed-income rental units, both affordable and market rate.

	Ensure that all new, HOPE VI developments offer a great mix of incomes and housing types creating both affordable and sustainable neighborhoods. Ensure that all HOPE VI new homes reflect the best of Jersey City's diverse and historic architecture, seamlessly blended into stable neighborhood settings.
	Ensure that dramatic physical transformation is fully complemented by equivalent social and economic transformation. Include: a) early childhood education and after school programs; b) extensive direction toward and support of resident economic self-sufficiency initiatives; c) senior citizen independent living and "aging in place" facilities and assisted living services, and d) significant and diverse first time homeownership opportunities.
	Leverage $147.5 million of other public and private sector investments to maximize the impact of the $34,140,000 HOPE VI grant.
	Create a national model of dramatic, dynamic and sustainable neighborhood revitalization.

Educational and Recreational Opportunities for Children

Programs and Opportunities for Adults and Families

Programs and Opportunities for Seniors at the New Senior Living Center at Lafayette

Homeownership Objectives and Elements