Project Address: 26-32 Bennett Avenue, Randolph
Build plan: buildings 1 & 2 to be completed in 2023; buildings 3 & 4 in 2024 – Women Build – Veterans Build
Type:
- 25 units in 4 buildings
- New construction
- 3 bedrooms in 7 homes; 2 bedrooms in 14 homes; 1 bedroom in 4 homes
Home sale prices:
Low-income families will pay $90,000 for a 1-bedroom unit or $110,000 for a 2-bedroom unit. Moderate-income families will pay $130,000 for a 1-bedroom unit, $170,000 for a 2-bedroom unit or $190,000 for a 3-bedroom unit.
Families for Phase 1 selected November 2021:
Alex is a U.S. Army veteran. He served as a corporal in the 1980s and then worked in the engineering field until his retirement. His wife Adeline is a bakery employee. They have 1 son and 1 daughter.
Edwin is a Department of Public Works employee and Jean is a homemaker.
Marbeth works in quality control for an electronics company. She has 2 daughters.
Melissa is a paralegal with 1 daughter and 2 sons.
Norbey works in building maintenance and Sandra is a cashier. They have 1 son and 1 daughter.
Raysa works in the healthcare field. She has 3 daughters.
Rita and Mario work in healthcare. They have 1 child.
Amrou is a baker and Ilham is a homemaker. They have 2 sons and 2 daughters.
Alexandra is employed by a social service agency and her mother Maria works in food service. Alexandra has 1 son.
Idhannys works in a medical office. She has 1 son.
Susan works in shipping and receiving for a food services company. She has 1 son.
Families for Phase 2 selected November 2022:
Kemar is a group leader and forklift operator with 1 daughter.
Frankie and Suvasia work in retail and grocery stores.
Cynthia is a paralegal with 1 son.
Jenifer and David work in sales and delivery for a furniture retailer. They have 2 sons.
Argenis works in assisted living housekeeping and has 1 child.
Olga works in healthcare and has 1 son.
Amanda works in hotel housekeeping and has 2 daughters.
Jessica works for a school district and has 1 daughter.
Leslie works in crisis intervention and her mother Jacqueline works in a medical office. Leslie has 1 daughter.
Maritza works in finance in the healthcare field. She has 1 daughter.
Melanie is an eCommerce associate.
Janelle is a legislative director and an adjunct professor at a community college. She has 1 son.
The homes will be sold to eligible low- and moderate-income applicants. Preference will be given to veteran applicants, but all are encouraged to apply. Affordable 30-year mortgages will be provided by Morris Habitat. The homes will have a 30-year deed restriction that allows modest equity upon resale, but mandates that they be sold at an affordable price to other income-eligible families. Prospective homeowners will contribute a minimum of 300 hours of sweat equity.
Twenty-five new condos and a community room will be built on the former E.A. Porter industrial site on Bennett Avenue in Randolph. Residents will enjoy a picnic area, a play area, and a bike path to stores and restaurants on South Salem Street. The 2.5-acre property was acquired by Randolph Township in 2008 through tax foreclosure and will be donated to Morris Habitat. The township was responsible for environmental remediation, demolition of existing structures, site design, approvals and permitting.
First floor condominiums will be ADA accessible. The buildings will be ENERGY STAR certified for energy efficiency, EPA WaterSense certified for water efficiency and EPA Indoor AirPLUS certified for health protections.
This largest project in our thirty-five-year history is supported by home sponsors Bayer and GAF. Other sponsors include New Jersey Natural Gas. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill secured a $3,000,000 federal grant to be used to help complete The Crossings at Bennett Avenue. This funding was one of ten Community Projects she submitted in the House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2022 bill.
At their Senior Service Day in June 2021, the Mountain Lakes High School Class of 2021 raised over $10,000 toward building one home. For every $125 raised, a brick will be engraved with the class name. In 2022, the Randolph High School Brick-by-Brick Campaign raised $7500. These bricks will create pathways through the complex. You can contribute to the Buy a Brick fundraising campaign by purchasing your own personalized brick. Open brick order form >>
Professional team:
Pro bono and reduced-fee professional services have been contributed by architect Seth Leeb Architect, AIA; professional planner Bruce Katona; landscape architect Carolle Huber; real estate appraiser Dave Bossart; engineer and surveyor Fred Stewart, Jr., of Stewart Surveying & Engineering, LLC; attorney James P. Mullen, Esq.; attorney Sean Monaghan, Esq., of Schenck, Price, Smith, & King, LLP; attorneys at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP; and environmental consultant Eikon Planning and Design, LLC.
Construction is sponsored by Dow, Morris Brick & Stone, Simpson Strong-Tie, Schneider Electric, United Site Services, Valspar, Whirlpool and Yale.
The old warehouse was demolished in 2016. Site preparation was completed by summer 2021. The foundation for Building 1 was in place when the groundbreaking ceremony was held in October. Women volunteered on the site during Women Build Month in May 2022 and Women Build Week in May 2023 . Many individuals and corporate teams gave their help during Veterans Build week in November 2022.
The first of the four residential buildings is expected to be completed in spring 2023.
Come Build with Us!
Sign up ahead of time on the online Volunteer Calendar. Any weather-related closures will be posted by 7:00 a.m.