SOMERS POINT — City Council’s talks have advanced with the owner of Somers Point Village Apartments, which has agreed to make safety and quality-of-life improvements at the aging complex.
A 20-year-old Egg Harbor Township man who has been charged with murder in connection with a shooting Feb. 10 at the complex remains a fugitive from justice. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office alleges Tyreek Crawford shot and killed Joshua Hannah.
“We have quite a few calls for service there,” Somers Point Police Chief Robert Somers said Friday. “Plenty of domestics, disorderly conduct, quality-of-life calls, indictable offenses — of course we had the homicide — juvenile complaints. It runs the whole gamut.”
Somers said any physical improvements could go a long way toward reducing the crime rate at the complex.
City Council adopted a resolution July 21 approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Somers Point Urban Renewal Preservation for redevelopment/rehabilitation of the complex off Somers Point-Mays Landing Road.
According to the resolution, the organization has presented a proposal to rehab each of the 225 affordable housing rental units — 117 in Somers Point Village I and 108 in Somers Point Village II — including construction of a community center and state-of-the-art security system, with a projected budget of $18 million.
The Memorandum of Understanding allows the city to discuss a financial agreement, including a long-term PILOT.
A representative of Somers Point Urban Renewal Preservation parent company Related Companies responded to a request for details by promising a statement that was never provided.
City Council President Janice Johnston said the owner — which is identified in documents as Related Companies — has been very responsive to the city’s requests.
“Our objective is to get the property cleaned up and safe for the residents,” she said.
Johnston said the improvements would not be just physical, although she is pleased the rental units would be upgraded. She said the management company would offer resident services and have personnel on site to enforce rules.
“After we started talking, they were amenable to doing a lot more,” Johnston said.
Johnston said in March that city officials had met with representatives of Related Companies to discuss their concerns.
City Administrator Jason Frost and Chief Somers were among the group, as was Mayor Jack Glasser, who heads the Public Safety Committee.
Since the property has a Project-Based Section 8 contract with the federal Housing and Urban Development program, some or all of the rents are based on income. Tenants leasing units typically contribute less than 30 percent of their adjusted income toward rental costs.
Related Companies operates more than 55,000 affordable residences in cities across the country.
“We strive to propel cities forward. Our developments are inclusive, tech-forward and sustainable, and serve as economic and creative engines for their communities,” its web site states.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
