Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. and Mayor Dwayne D. Warren Join Orange Housing Development Corporation at Oakwood Avenue Groundbreaking Ceremony

    ORANGE, NJ, May 17, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On May 15, 2014, Congressman Donald Payne delivered notable dialogue on the revitalization of Orange at the Orange Housing Development Corporation's (OHDC) Oakwood Avenue Development Groundbreaking Ceremony at 203 Oakwood Avenue, Orange, New Jersey.

"To see the revitalization of this community is just heart-warming and we have to continue to do more of that. We need Orange, as great as it is, to take its rightful place in the county as a beacon and a star in this county as it was years ago," said the congressman.

Along with Congressman Payne, Jr., the OHDC was pleased to have in attendance: the Honorable Mayor Dwayne D. Warren of the City of Orange Township, Ana Montero, Assistant Commissioner of NJ Department of Community Affairs, Cephus Ward of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, George Serio, Director of the Division of Housing & Community Development at Essex County Executive Office and Marty Mayes, Director of the City of Orange Planning & Economic Development. The ceremony speakers spoke in regards to the continued investment and redevelopment in Orange and its positive impact on residents.

"This project is a clear example of the kind of development that creates better neighborhoods for our communities," noted Mayor Warren. "The Orange market is also ripe for traditional residential projects and will only flourish in the wake of these recovery funds that helped replace much needed affordable housing units. People are just rediscovering what we never forgot. Orange is an urban gem on an upward rise."

Ana Montero stated, "We are pleased to be able to use Super Storm Sandy Recovery Funds to support a very worthwhile housing project here...that will help replenish the supply of affordable housing units that were destroyed or damage by Super Storm Sandy." The DCA awarded the OHDC $1.35 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery funds through its Neighborhood Enhancement Program.

Executive Director, Dr. Walter McNeil stated, "This project will better position the OHDC to serve the growing needs of our residents. We are excited to share this blissful occasion with you and I thank all of those who put in work and effort to make this become a reality."

A devastating fire burned through seven (7) attached row houses permanently displacing 38 residents. The groundbreaking ceremony celebrates construction for a brand new development which is expected to be completed early 2015. The new seven (7) unit development will create a sense of community in Orange and will affect positive change throughout the neighborhood.

Other funding sources for the Oakwood Avenue Development include $560,000 from the Essex County Neighborhood Stabilization Program and equity from the Orange Housing Development Corporation.

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