Mayor Emily B. Jabbour and the City of Hoboken joined local, County, State, and Federal officials to break ground on The Willow, a six-story, 100 percent affordable housing development for seniors, officially kickstarting the first project of its kind to be built in the city in more than three decades.
Located at 1033 Willow Ave., The Willow, a Heritage Village Community, will include 36 deed-restricted affordable units for seniors, consisting of three studio, 28 one-bedroom, and five two-bedroom apartments, along with a ground-floor community activity room, and fifth floor library. The development is designed to help older residents find affordable homes in Hoboken amid rising regional housing costs and limited affordable housing options. Construction, made possible through a partnership with Community Investment Strategies, the designated developer, is expected to be completed in Fall 2027.
“Making sure our seniors can continue to live in Hoboken has been a priority, and The Willow shows what is possible when people come together around that goal,” said Mayor Jabbour. “This has been years in the making and has been driven by partners and community members who care deeply about this city. Because of that work, more of our seniors will be able to stay here close to the neighbors, friends, and places that make Hoboken home. I am grateful to our partners at every level, along with our City Council and Community Development team, for their dedication to making this happen.”
The building will serve households aged 55 and earning 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) or less, with at least half of the units reserved for households earning 50 percent of AMI or less, and approximately 13 percent reserved for households earning 30 percent of AMI.
The site at 11th Street and Willow Avenue was once home to a tenement building destroyed by a fire in 1973 that claimed the lives of 11 residents. The property later became City-owned parking lot, and over the past six years, the City’s Department of Community Development has worked to transform the site into permanent affordable housing for seniors.
Hoboken 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, who represents the neighborhood where this 100 percent affordable senior housing project will be built expressed appreciation for the sustained effort that made the groundbreaking possible.
“Today’s groundbreaking reflects our City’s sustained commitment to use Hoboken’s public lands to serve our community,” said Councilman Cohen. “Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of a tragic fire on this site, this fully affordable senior housing complex will rise up, sustain and nourish our seniors who live on fixed incomes. This will become a beautiful housing development in a great neighborhood, with easy access to public transportation, perfect for our seniors, who want to stay in the city they love, but are concerned about the cost of living. I’ve focused on this project for six years, both as a member and chair of the Council’s Community Development subcommittee. I can’t wait for the ribbon-cutting ceremony when we fully realize our vision for this essential project.”
Former Hoboken mayor and current Assemblyman Ravi S. Bhalla, stated the project was one of his affordable housing priorities during his tenure in office.
“The project is Hoboken’s first 100% affordable senior housing development in more than three decades, a truly historic milestone for our city,” said Assemblyman Bhalla. “It began taking shape in the early years of my administration, and for eight years we worked tirelessly to secure the support and approvals needed to bring it to life. I couldn’t be prouder to see this vision become a reality today. I want to especially thank the many partners who helped carry this project across the finish line, including Director Chris Brown and Vanessa Falco from the Division of Housing, who brought this idea to me in the early days of my administration.”
“We are pleased to join with Hoboken Mayor Emily B. Jabbour and members of City Council as we break ground on a new, age-restricted apartment community that when complete, will enhance the fabric of the neighborhood,” said Christiana Foglio, Founder & CEO Community Investment Strategies, Inc. “Thank you to the City of Hoboken for their continued support and commitment to make this possible.”
“County government works best when we partner with our municipalities to deliver for our residents, and this development is a result of that partnership,” said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. “Working with Mayor Jabbour and our Board of County Commissioners, we were able to secure $2 million for this senior affordable housing project. I will continue working with our municipalities to increase affordability for our residents and deliver results throughout Hudson County.”
"Developments like 1033 Willow Avenue help ensure that longtime members of our community can age in place with dignity and affordability, without being displaced by the rising costs we're seeing across New Jersey," said Assemblywoman Katie Brennan.
“At a time when affordability is top of mind for so many, this project helps bridge New Jersey’s dual cost-of-living and housing crises: challenges that have hit our urban communities especially hard,” said Senator Raj Mukherji. “The Willow will deliver 36 essential housing units that will allow people who have built their lives in Hoboken to remain in their community without being priced out, while maintaining easy access to vital public transit and other services our seniors rely on.”
“It’s an honor to join Mayor Jabbour and County Executive Guy to break ground on this new affordable housing project for our seniors in Hoboken,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “Every senior deserves to spend their golden years in the communities they have lived in and have contributed so much to. With this project – made possible in part through federal funding – more of our seniors will now be able to do exactly that.”
The project is partially funded by $500,000 from the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and includes financing from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA), which is providing construction and permanent financing, as well as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity through Enterprise Community Partners. Additional funding sources include Citizens Bank, and the Hudson County HOME Investment Partnership Program.
The development team includes RAMAS Contractors, LLC, KNTM Architects, Matrix New World Engineering, Dilworth Paxson LLP, MaGrann Associates, Kenny Environmental Services, and others.
The Willow will incorporate high-efficiency and sustainable design features, including ENERGY STAR® certified apartments and Zero Energy Ready Home design standards, along with central heating and air conditioning, modern appliances, and on-site laundry. The elevator building will also provide convenient access to local transit and include 24-hour emergency maintenance services.
