Residents Form Asbury Park Affordable Housing Coalition
Group puts forth proposed ordinance that incorporates affordable housing across the city
A group of city residents advocating for housing equity have formed the Asbury Park Affordable Housing Coalition.
Comprised of Tracy Rogers, Derek Minno-Bloom, Felicia Simmons, Pam Lamberton, Kris Hlatky, Jennifer Lewinski, and Doug McQueen, the group is asking: What if our low- and middle-income community members – including teachers, firemen, restaurant workers and artists – are not priced out or displaced from Asbury Park. [Lamberton and Rogers are shown in featured photo].
“The Asbury Park Affordable Housing Coalition, in conjunction with Fair Share Housing New Jersey, has written an Affordable Housing Ordinance for consideration by the City Council of Asbury Park and any social justice oriented developers,” the group announced Monday in a written statement.
Since 2015, when the Council On Affordable Housing [COAH] authority was transferred to the Superior Court, municipality must show the courts they are meeting affordable housing obligations through a housing plan.
City officials have said they are working to introduce an affordable housing ordinance and that a subcommittee has been formed. That subcommittee consists of Planning Consultant Elizabeth McManus of Clarke Caton Hintz, City Manager Michael Capabianco, Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton, Planning and Redevelopment Director Michele Alonso and Community Development Director Cassandra Dickerson.
“I reviewed it [and] gave it to the consultant to review,” Capabianco said of the Affordable Housing Coalition’s proposed ordinance. “We are undertaking a true planning process and will consider everything that will be said or submitted.”
The Coalition’s proposed ordinance requires that all new buildings with over 10 residential units include at least 20 percent affordable housing, according to the written statement.
“For purposes of this press release and the proposed Ordinance, Affordable Housing means housing for those with very low incomes [30% or less than median], those with low incomes [50% or less than median] and those with moderate incomes [80% or less than median],” the statement reads. “This affordable inclusion would apply to all sectors of the City and would require all affordable units on site and allow no off site affordable housing units.”
Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said any ordinance put forth by the governing body will be thoroughly vetted by their professionals.
“Our new construction numbers in the Third Round is zero, but having said that we are extremely interested in increasing our numbers of affordable housing across the city,” Quinn said. “What has not been determined by the courts is our rehabilitation obligation; one report says around 400 units, another says 280.”
A rehabilitation obligation refers to the structurally deficient units and those occupied by low- and moderate-income households, according to McManus. Municipalities can participate in a County program, which Asbury Park has opted to do moving forward, that rehabilitates for sale and for rent housing occupied by low- and moderate-income households. The program is often funded by municipal funds or through the federal Community Development Block Grant [CDBG].
The Coalition said, while they support the principles outlined in the City’s Master Plan that affordable housing should be provided throughout the city, “we can’t wait any longer and want to pass this ordinance before more and more buildings go up without affordable housing units.
“We want to live in a city that is both ethnically and economically diverse, the statement reads. “We want to live in a City that is on the forefront of housing justice issues. We want to be part of a city that not only understands and honors the affordable housing it is required to have, but rises above and creates more affordable housing than the minimum required. As Rev. Gil Caldwell has said, “Let’s not wait to do this. We want to show other cities what justice and housing looks like.”
Quinn said at least two public input meetings will be held prior to any affordable housing ordinance introduction.
For more on the Asbury Park Affordable Housing Coalition, visit their Facebook page.
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