Newark officials are moving forward on a new proposal for a 24-unit supportive housing complex and community center along North Munn Avenue in Vailsburg. In a recent meeting of the city’s planning board, officials presented a proposal to redevelop four vacant lots into six residential buildings and three additional buildings.
A community pantry, kitchen, meeting room, laundry facilities, security, and a support clinic will occupy the additional buildings, which are expected to be completed by next summer.
Officials presented their plans for courtesy review of the four vacant lots, located between 112 and 124 North Munn Avenue, at the city’s last Central Planning Board meeting held in May. Documents made public by the board list Larchmont-based L+M Development as the primary developer and note that the residential buildings will serve to provide housing for community members who were previously homeless.
“Each of the six residential buildings will provide housing to 4 previously homeless community members, for a total of 24 residents,” the project narrative stated.
The project, named Resilient Hope, builds on the work of the city’s Office of Homeless Services at Hope Village, located at 79 Newark Street. That project first opened in March 2021 and used converted shipping containers to shelter residents at risk of experiencing homelessness or without an address. The project is located immediately adjacent to the Bradley Court public housing complex and two blocks from the neighborhood’s commercial corridor on Orange Avenue.
Members of the Newark City Council voted unanimously to approve an appropriation for $4.5 million to fund the construction of the project on May 21.
