As if a five-story, 56-unit midrise building in Irvington offering a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residential units with parking for residents earning at or below 60% of the area median income isn’t enough, developer Adenah Bayoh went one step further.
Five of the units at 722 Chancellor Ave. are reserved for residents with special needs — residents who receive supportive services from the YMCA of Greater Newark.
Bayoh, Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss, NRP Group’s senior vice president for development, Jonathan Gertman, and a host of other officials and dignitaries were on hand last week for the ribbon-cutting.
Each delivered the same message: This building is about meeting the needs of the residents of Irvington.
“When we look at these projects from start to finish, we can only imagine all the residents who are going to enjoy the benefits of living in a brand new, affordable community,” Vauss said.
Gertman agreed.
“This project is truly rooted in the Irvington community, and it is a privilege for the NRP Group to be a part of it,” he said. “By working alongside a local developer like Adenah Bayoh, who is committed to reinvigorating the city’s neighborhoods with affordable places for its residents to call home, we were able to tailor this apartment community to the needs of local families, regardless of income.
“Developments like 722 Chancellor in cities like Irvington are worth investing in to ensure a prosperous economic future for neighborhoods that have been historically underserved.”
The building is located on two major Irvington roadways, Chancellor and Union avenues. A New Jersey Transit bus stop is located directly outside the community; access to the Garden State Parkway is only minutes away, providing a gateway to New York City and other neighboring metros. The building is in a designated Redevelopment Area, Urban Enterprise Zone and Smart Growth Area.
Residents of 722 Chancellor will enjoy Energy Star-certified, modernly designed units equipped with a wide array of amenities, including central heating and air conditioning, luxury vinyl flooring, energy-efficient refrigerators, stovetops, ovens and dishwashers, as well as high-speed internet access and intercoms.
The community center, named in honor of Irvington Councilmember Sandra Jones, will feature an Irvington-themed mural to capture the spirit of the city and offer space for programmed community activities. The community also includes a fitness center, a children’s playroom, a computer room, laundry facilities and an on-site management/leasing office.
Bayoh, founder of Adenah Bayoh & Cos., said the building has everything she would have wanted in her younger days.
“Growing up in affordable housing in this community myself, I was able to identify the specific needs that residents would require from an apartment home like this,” she said. “By partnering with the NRP Group, I knew that 722 Chancellor would provide high-quality housing that is not readily available to Irvington residents of all income levels.”
Financing partners include the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Hudson Housing, the township of Irvington and Greater Newark LISC. In addition, the Irvington Housing Authority is providing five project-based vouchers.
Vauss said the impact of the building is huge.
“This project has done wonders for the community,” he said. “This is just another testament to the great work Adenah and the team have done for Irvington.”
