NORTH BRUNSWICK – Just a few short years ago, residents of Oakleaf Village in North Brunswick were living amongst drug dealers, doing their laundry in six-inch deep standing water in the basement of their buildings, and residing in completely deplorable conditions.
As of about a year ago, occupants of 183 apartments in 16 buildings of the renovated Crescent Apartments – formerly Oakleaf – are living a new life, which was celebrated on June 18 with a ribbon cutting for the complex off How Lane near Route 27.
“In the city, in the fabric of a community, there are things that happen … and there’s no more important opening event than this recognition and acknowledgement of homes, decent new homes for people to live,” Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack said. “Our families should not have to leave Middlesex County because they can’t afford to stay. Having affordable options, such as North Brunswick Crescent, allows for families to stay close to loved ones, and the ability to enjoy the great schools and wonderful community of North Brunswick.”
Oakleaf Village was a 184-unit, garden-style apartment neighborhood constructed in 1968. It was located on a 16.1-acre site at 1435 Oak Tree Drive, on North Brunswick’s northern border near New Brunswick. The apartments were contained within 16 two-story brick buildings, consisting of 154 one-bedroom units and 30 two-bedroom units, according to information previously reported in the Sentinel.
The planning firm of Clarke, Caton, Hintz, which prepared the plan dated Jan. 24, 2013, said at the time that the building and site conditions had grown increasingly dilapidated over time, and it had become a well-known haven for criminal activity. The North Brunswick Planning Board had officially approved the redevelopment plan in February 2013.
Middlesex County Freeholder Shanti Narra, who grew up in North Brunswick and was a township councilwoman when the project began, said she “vividly remembers” the day of the press conference announcing the project “and how horrified we felt.”
She called the interiors “appalling,” the fire escapes were shoddy and it “was not a healthy or safe place for people to live or raise a child.”
Now, “this complex is completely renewed for comfort and safety,” according to Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios, including exterior renovations, new roofs, new windows and doors, upgraded electrical and plumbing, central heating and air conditioning, individual hot water heaters, restored hardwood floors, large closets, and in-room washers and dryers to “make the units more livable,” according to Christiana Foglio, president of Community Investment Strategies (CIS), the company responsible for revitalizing the area.
During the process, residents were temporarily moved to other buildings as renovations took place “and we were able to take care of residents so they were able to move into their homes and watch the progress,” Narra said.
The first tenants moved back in about a year ago.
CIS has been building and renovating housing for 25 years, Foglio said, including 3,000 units in New Jersey that serve the affordable housing marketplace.
The $31.5 million project was supported by $5 million from the township, plus an additional $250,000 for a brand new clubhouse and playground built on site, according to North Brunswick Director of Community Development Michael Hritz, in addition to state funding and tax credits, Foglio said.
“This is truly a testament to the township,” Foglio said.
Over the past eight years, the Crescent Apartments turned into a “wonderful location with a good school system, close to a supermarket,” she said.
“Usually, low- to moderate-income families don’t get to live where they have everything they need,” she said. “I feel this is a great place to live with their families.”
To continue its quality service, CIS will offer summer reading programs to children. Through a grant with an affiliated non-profit, children will receive three books from the North Brunswick School District’s summer reading list, and upon completion of reading, will receive a new Kindle Fire with 100 books preloaded; parents will then receive a $100 gift card for back to school clothing, Foglio said.
This will take place in the clubhouse inside the leasing office, which already includes computers, a TV, internet access and the kitchen.
Of the 183 plus one superintendent’s apartment, six are rented at 30% of median income level, 60 are at 50% of the median level and 117 are at 60% of the median level. Five percent are fully handicapped accessible and another 2% are designed for the hearing and visually impaired.
In addition, during the lease up, preference was given to veterans and homeless applicants.
The one-bed one-bath apartments range from 725-801 square feet, with rent ranging from $574-$1,241 per month. The two-bedroom one-bath apartments range from 907-1,035 square feet, with rent ranging from $686-$1,485 per month.
Maximum annual income for one person is $49,740; two people is $56,820; three people is $63,900; and four people is $70,980.
North Brunswick Crescent is funded through the LIHTC, administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. As part of the redevelopment, the township entered into an agreement with CIS and approved a tax abatement via a Payment in Lieu of Taxes. This complex was a significant element of the township satisfying its third-round affordable housing obligations with the state.
The leasing office is located at 1000 Crescent Court. Office hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
For more information, visit www.northbrunswickcrescentapts.com or call 732-993-1900.
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@newspapermediagroup.com.
