The proposed location may have changed over the last several months, but the vision remains the same.
I am proud to announce Robbinsville Township will donate approximately 10 acres of the northeast corner in Town Center South along Route 33 to Project Freedom, a non-profit which develops and operates barrier-free housing throughout New Jersey to enable individuals with disabilities to live independently. Township Council passed Resolution 2018-1 C on January 11 approving the developer’s agreement with Project Freedom.
Robbinsville is home to the very first Project Freedom on Hutchinson Road, and we could not be more pleased to continue supporting services such as recreation, training and the advocacy Project Freedom provides. The Hutchinson Road location is within walking distance of Town Center and consists of 35 units designed specifically for people with disabilities and/or mobile impairments. The parcel of land, also known as Block 1, Lots 32 and 65, is zoned as “an approved use.”
The Town Center South location will be located across Route 33 and to the left of North Commerce Square. It will consist of 72 units, 18 percent of which will be restricted to supportive housing for the developmentally disabled. The Project Freedom application is expected to go before the planning board in the spring. All 72 units are considered “affordable” and will enable Robbinsville Township to reach the 638 credits needed to satisfy its affordable housing obligations with both the New Jersey Superior Court and the Fair Share Housing Center through 2025.
Honored to receive the Julia “June” Ronan Angel Award from Project Freedom in November for the township’s “Pay it Forward initiative,” I was pleased to share the stage with Freedom Bell Award winner and former West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh, who has been instrumental in the latest Freedom Village build approved in February 2017. The West Windsor complex also is 72 units on a 10-acre parcel along the Amtrak mainline.
We are very appreciative of the Fair Share Housing Center for working so closely with us to reach a fair and comprehensive affordable housing settlement agreement to bring to Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson. The Project Freedom development, which will minimally impact traffic along Route 33, allows us to meet our lawful affordable housing requirements now and well into the future. Both FSHC and the court have recognized our efforts as one of the leaders in affordable housing in New Jersey, and we are extremely proud of that distinction.
Speaking of affordable housing, congratulations to Robbinsville Township’s AH liaison Gail Pfister, who has been named the recipient of the Elizabeth M. Boggs Award for Advocacy from Advancing Opportunities Inc. Great work, Gail!
Dave Fried is the Mayor of Robbinsville.
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