HUD Awards $18.4 Million Grant to Revitalize Paterson Housing Authority

Dignitaries behind the check, (from left to right) Ms. Irma Gorham, Executive Director, Patterson Housing Authority; U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg; Congressman Bill Pascrell; and, Deputy Secretary Ron Sims

Federal, State and local officials came together to celebrate an $18.4 million grant to help the Paterson Housing Authority revitalize a distressed development project. The Alexander Hamilton Houses will be replaced with 201 townhouse rental and for-sale units as well as 70 off-site rental units for seniors. Deputy Secretary Ron Sims made the announcement at the Paterson Housing Authority site and was joined by Senator Frank Lautenberg, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Paterson Mayor Jeffrey Jones, and Paterson Housing Authority Executive Director Irma Gorham.

The grant funding was part of $153 million awarded to eight public housing agencies across the country through HUD's HOPE VI Revitalization Program to transform severely distressed public housing developments into mixed-income communities.

"No one can dispute the exceptional track record of HOPE VI to improve housing conditions for hundreds of communities and most importantly, thousands of families," said Sims. "As we move toward the next generation of neighborhood revitalization-one that links housing, education, transportation, healthcare, and other support services-we will always remember it all began with HOPE VI."

The Alexander Hamilton revitalization project is comprised of 271 units of new construction that will be carried out in four phases. The first two phases will total 169 rental units on-site. Of these, fifty-four units will be public housing and 115 units will be tax credit units with income limitations. The third phase will consist of 70 units of rental housing for seniors, 21 of which will be public housing and 49 tax credit units with income limitations. The fourth phase is on-site and offers 32 homeownership units, of which 22 will be priced for families earning 80% or less Area Median Income (AMI) and the remainder will be market rate. Community and Supportive Services (CSS) will also be provided to all impacted families.

Content Archived: December 3, 2013