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Republican state Senator Jennifer Beck was joined by Asbury Park Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton in announcing this week’s funding of two pinnacle redevelopment projects in Asbury Park.

Having failed to receive an award during the first two rounds of the state’s Superstorm Sandy related Fund for Restoration of Multifamily Housing, city officials had said a proposed affordable home project [shown in feature photo], seen as a vital to the Springwood Avenue Redevelopment, would die.

On Thursday, city officials learned that not only had the Renaissance Village project received $7.87 million in funding from the Community Development Block Grant, but the long stalled Boston Way Village good advance through a $12,348,745 appropriation.

“Without these funds, needed projects like this one would not be able to move forward,” Beck said in written news statement. “I worked closely with the Administration, DCA and the Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton to make sure a portion of these federal dollars came to Monmouth County as we continue to rebuild post-Sandy. I believe this project will spark further redevelopment in the greater Springwood Avenue area by providing housing and mixed-use space that does not currently exist along the Springwood Avenue corridor.”

Having received its Planning Board and city approvals, the Renaissance Village is ‘shovel ready,’ Mayor John Moor said Thursday.

The 64 residential units will be developed in phases on the vacant lots between Memorial Drive and Atkins Avenue. The project consists of constructing 32 townhomes and a four-story, 32-unit multi-family building with retail space and a multipurpose community and computer room, management offices and a health suite.

The Asbury Park Housing Authority Boston Way Project is headed by Jersey City-based Metro Company and Fort Lee-based Alpert Group . Vacated in 2014, the four acre land will be redesigned into a four building, mixed use, affordable home site that will include mixed income-based, public housing, and Section 8 homes, according to Asbury Park Housing Executive Director Tyrone Garrett.

Written statements from the governing body:

“As a Councilwoman in Asbury Park, I have been advocating vocally for this project to receive funding so it can to move forward,” Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton said. “The southwest area of the city has long needed new investment and these projects will provide that. I thank Senator Beck for working with me to secure these funds and I look forward to the groundbreaking.”

“It is wonderful to announce something this important to the City in my first few months on the job as a governing body member,” Councilwoman Eileen Chapman said.

“Projects like these are just what the Springwood Avenue corridor needs, to give people a place to live and to raise their families, visit the new Springwood Avenue Park, and be part of the community,” Councilman Jesse Kendle said.

“If we all continue to work together, great things will keep happening in the City,” Deputy Mayor Quinn said.

“When demolition is complete we’ll be able to take out the old-style public housing units and put up these beautiful and modern homes,” Mayor John Moor said of the Boston Way project.

Coupled with the completion of Springwood Avenue Park, the recent $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from HUD for the neighboring Lincoln Village, and the recent approvals for the Interfaith Neighbors owner occupied rental income property project known as the Turf Club, the west side redevelopment area is on its way to revitalization, Clayton said.

“This is game changing,” she said Thursday. “This means investment in the west side, which has never been the same since the civil unrest 40 years ago.”

Once a thriving area of commerce and nightlife, the Springwood Avenue Redevelopment area was destroyed during the October 1970 riots.

“These projects are important for many reasons,” Moor said. “It starts revitalization of the zone.”

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