Construction Begins on Final Phase of Camden Affordable Senior Project

CAMDEN, NJ—Construction has officially begun on the fourth and final phase of The Branches at Centerville affordable housing development here.

Officials with the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and developer The Michaels Organization broke ground on Wednesday on the project that will add 58 affordable senior apartments to the development.

Phase four of The Branches at Centerville will complete the comprehensive revitalization of the site of the former Clement T. Branch Village. The former Branch Village was built in 1941 and named for Dr. Clement T. Branch, who was a prominent doctor and the first African American to serve on the Camden school board.

The development featured blocks of brick apartment buildings which eventually became severely dilapidated and obsolete public housing. The new development will include one-bedroom apartments in a three-story building for residents age 55+ earning up to 60%of the area median income (AMI). Five apartments will be set aside for homeless individuals.

Clement T. Branch Village is the last public housing community to be redeveloped in the neighborhood’s Mt. Ephraim Avenue corridor, a main thoroughfare to the east of the development. Eight two-story brick buildings were demolished, and three new public roads will be introduced to better integrate the community with the rest of the residential neighborhood.

“The completion of this redevelopment and its replacement of obsolete public housing will be a major milestone for the residents and community, and will provide safe, modern, affordable homes for all the residents,” said NJHMFA executive director Charles A. Richman. “NJHMFA is proud to join this redevelopment through the award of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, which are an invaluable tool in creating affordable housing in New Jersey.”

NJHMFA awarded the $15.9 million development very competitive 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which are expected to generate $12.9 million in private equity.

The development partners are The Michaels Organization and the Housing Authority of the City of Camden. HACC worked to relocate all of the residents who can opt to return to the new apartments once completed.

Michaels has spearheaded the Branch Village redevelopment with financing or tax credit awards from NJHMFA. The first phase of the redevelopment opened in December 2017 with 50 affordable one- to two-bedroom rental apartments in a mid-rise building. The second phase provided 72 affordable townhomes for families with incomes up to 60%AMI and includes five apartments for homeless individuals. In October 2019, Michaels held a groundbreaking for the third phase—75 additional townhomes for families—with an expected completion date of October 2020.

Rents for the senior apartments will be approximately $825 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Better Tomorrows, a New Jersey nonprofit 501(c) organization, will coordinate supportive services for the residents of the five set-aside apartments.

Camden-based The Michaels Organization has completed or plans to complete six developments financed in part by NJHMFA, which have provided or will provide nearly 600 affordable housing opportunities. Most recently, NJHMFA joined Michaels in October for the grand opening of Cooper Plaza Townhomes, a major renovation of 64 townhomes in Camden.