Veterans get first priority at new senior housing project
LOS ANGELES: A 60-unit affordable housing community for seniors — with a preference for veterans — broke ground Friday.
The development will be called Petersen Commons in honor of Avenel resident Carl Petersen, a World War I veteran who served in the Navy. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, according to a New York Times obituary from 1971.
The project is a public-private partnership between developer Pennrose and Woodbridge Township.
The groundbreaking drew state, county and local officials including Governor Mikie Sherrill. The event comes as New Jersey works to meet the goals of its Bringing Veterans Home initiative, launched last March, to end veteran homelessness by July 1, 2026.
When the program launched, officials said there were 764 veterans who were sleeping on the street or in emergency shelters statewide.
“Today’s groundbreaking at Petersen Commons represents our commitment to ensuring every New Jerseyan — especially those who have served our country — can age with dignity in a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill. “By delivering this housing, we are one step closer to effectively ending veteran homelessness this year.”
The three-story building on Rahway Avenue will have one- and two-bedroom units that will be offered at 30% to 60% of the area median income.
Three units will be accessible for people with physical disabilities and two will be modified for people with hearing and visual impairments.
Petersen Commons will have a community room for gatherings and on-site supportive services, common laundry facilities, resident parking and on-site management and maintenance space.
Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2027. Those who are interested in leasing an apartment can fill out an application on the Petersen Commons website.
This is the second project to be built by Pennrose and Woodbridge Township.
“This development reflects our core beliefs at Pennrose – the power of strong public-private partnerships, the importance of serving those who have given so much to our country, and the difference that high-quality, affordable housing can make in people’s lives,” said Timothy I. Henkel, CEO of Pennrose.
Pennrose and Woodbridge Township previously partnered on the Greens at Avenel, a fully accessible residential community designed for developmentally disabled residents.
“Today’s groundbreaking of Petersen Commons at Avenel represents yet another milestone toward achieving our goal of ensuring that Woodbridge Township Veterans and Senior residents have access to quality residential options that allow them to affordably continue to live in the Woodbridge community,” said John E. McCormac, Mayor of Woodbridge Township.
The development is being financed through 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Affordable Housing Production Funds from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and ASPIRE credits from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
“Housing insecurity is a battle far too many veterans are still fighting,” said Melanie Walter, Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. “That’s why the Agency is so proud to have supported this development with $18.4 million in [subsidies] from LIHTC and the Affordable Housing Production Fund, as well as $16.2 million in construction and permanent loans.”