Morris Avenue
Summit
Summit Interfaith & Community Build
People from across the Summit area are coming together to address one of the city’s most challenging problems-the lack of affordable housing, particularly for first-time home buyers. This affordable housing project is a collaborative effort between the City of Summit, the Summit Affordable Housing Corporation and Morris Habitat for Humanity to construct a two-story six-plex of for-sale condominiums on Morris Avenue near Orchard Street and the historic Wallace Chapel AME Zion Church. The building will be perpendicular to Morris Avenue, with the street view having the appearance of a single-family home. A large area in the back will be used for green space or a playground. Each unit will consist of a single-level townhouse with two or three bedrooms, living room, dining room and two bathrooms. The first-floor condos will be handicap accessible. The units will be sold in the range of $81,591-134,952 for the four two-bedroom units and $115,683-$177,345 for the two three-bedroom units. Thirty-year deed restrictions allow modest equity upon resale, but mandate that the units only be sold to qualifying low and moderate-income families in accordance with state COAH guidelines.
The total cost of the project is $1,395,400. The city will contribute $530,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for property acquisition. The remaining $865,400 will be raised through the collaborative efforts of the Summit Affordable Housing Corporation, Morris Habitat and faith-based congregations from in and around the Summit area through grants, donations of materials and services, and various fund-raising events. Area congregations and the community are already participating in this exciting collaborative effort (the first in Summit in 25 years), as approximately $300,000 of the $865,400 needed has been raised in pledges, donations, a Community Development HOME grant, and in-kind contributions.
Fund-raising sponsors include Raise the Roof Kickoff Event Sponsor “Friends of Summit,” Gold Sponsors TheAlternativePress.com, Celgene and Investors Savings Bank, and Partner Sponsors Hilltop Community Bank, Point View Financial Services, Somerset Hills Bank and Summit Build & Design, LLC. New York Life Investment Management LLC is a quarter house sponsor.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Organization and planning for Morris Habitat’s second Interfaith Build is the responsibility of the Interfaith Build Steering Committee, co-chaired by Dave Reiley and Blair Schleicher Bravo, executive director of Morris Habitat for Humanity. As of September 2011, participating congregations include:
|
Calvary Episcopal Church |
Pilgrim Baptist Church |
Project Director Louis A. Riccio, executive director of the Summit Housing Authority, will work in cooperation with Richard Poole, chair of the Summit Affordable Housing Corp., and Rev. Denison D. Harrield, Jr., pastor of Wallace Chapel and chair of the Summit Ecumenical Council. Project team members who are donating professional services include Sean Monaghan, Esq., of Drinker, Biddle & Reath; environmental consultant Maser Consulting; Fred Stewart, P.E., P.L.S., of Stewart Surveying & Engineering; Seth Leeb, A.I.A., of Seth A. Leeb Architects; Richard Smith, P.L.S., of Richard Smith Surveying; Jan-Marie Traynor, CLA, of County College of Morris; and professional planner Bruce Katona, AICP/PP.
The successful homeowner applicants have incomes less than 80% of the area’s median income and will put 300 hours of sweat equity labor into the project. Irena Bairova is a mother of two boys, ages 11 and 9. She works for a municipality. Maria Stodolak, a nurse, will be moving in with her mother. Sheline Tate has two sons, ages 16 and 19, and one daughter, age 7. She is a human resources coordinator. Erlande Victor has two sons, ages 10 and 15, and works at a nursing home. The last two families will be selected in March 2012.
After existing structures were removed, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2010. Setting footings and laying foundations kept volunteers busy through the first winter. Framing began in March 2011. By early August, roofing was complete and siding had begun. A dedication ceremony was held in January 2012, and families will be moving in over the next few months.
View the tri-fold FAQ brochure (Nov. 2009) for answers to your questions.
- Get directions to the work site.
- View the Raise the Roof Kickoff photo album in a new window.
- View the construction photo album in a new window.