SOMERS POINT – Somers Point City Council President Janice Johnston and Councilman Howard Dill recently visited the Somers Point Village Apartments complex, where they met with representatives for an update on the improvements.
City Council began talks last year with the owner of the affordable-housing complex off Somers Point-Mays Landing Road following years of crimes, fires and other incidents.
The owner, Related Companies, agreed to make safety and quality-of-life improvements at the aging complex where Tyreek Crawford of Egg Harbor Township allegedly shot and killed Joshua Hannah on Feb. 10, 2022.
City Council adopted a resolution July 21 approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Somers Point Urban Renewal Preservation for redevelopment/rehabilitation of the complex.
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.
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.
“They’ve done quite of bit of improvements,” Johnston said at the April 13 council meeting, noting residents are being relocated for two weeks while the work is undertaken.
“We toured one of the brand new units and it’s absolutely beautiful,” she said, noting it had vinyl floors that look like wood, all new appliances, cabinets and quartz countertops. “They’re doing a really nice job.”
She said 13 of the units will be ADA-compliant. The apartments have been traditionally two stories but some will be reconfigured to offer single-floor living for those with mobility issues. Five units will be equipped for the hearing- and sight-impaired.
“I thought the things that they are going to do there are pretty unique,” she said, adding that the security team will be meeting again with the police department regarding location and operation of surveillance cameras.
“They appear to be very proactive. They want to meet the requirements the city imposed, both the city and the police department,” Dill said. “I’m not easily impressed but I was impressed with their operation and their schedule.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
