Orange housing officials participate in institute on abandoned and problem properties

On July 27th and July 28th, Orange officials joined leaders from eleven other New Jersey cities at a two day seminar in Trenton.  The Summer Institute for Community Leadership brought municipal officials together with community development organizations and state representatives to explore best practices for tackling vacant property challenges and restoring neighborhoods.

Attending were Valerie Jackson, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Christopher Mobley, Deputy Director: and Wendy Brown, Housing Coordinator.

The Summer Institute for Community Leadership is part of an engagement between Orange, the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ, NJ Community Capital, the NJ Urban Mayors Association, local community development corporations (CDCs), and the national Center for Community Progress.  The two day seminar looked at new tools for keeping private properties up to code, taking control of derelict properties, and planning reuse strategies, as well as exploring needed changes in local and state laws that impede community control of problem properties.   

Over past few years, Orange received $6.6 million in federal neighborhood stabilization (NSP) funds to acquire and rehabilitate abandoned and foreclosed residential properties in the Central Orange Redevelopment Area and Central Valley Redevelopment Area.

The City hopes that city employees and local apartment renters will be among those who will qualify for and purchase the homes, as well as people from outside the City. The funding is expected to rehabilitate and/or construct approximately 55 units of housing.

Statement by Valerie Jackson
“It is important to us to have safe, healthy neighborhoods for our residents and our workforce, and we have been taking steps to address the problem of vacant and abandoned properties.  This leadership Institute was very valuable in exchanging ideas, best practices and workable solutions with our peers in other cities."

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
“Increasingly, homes are falling under the ownership of banks, which are poorly equipped to maintain, restore or find purchasers for them.  The problem puts families in jeopardy and threatens the City’s tax base, property values and quality of life.  The Leadership Institute and NSP grant are part of our strategy to stabilize our neighborhoods and help residents stay in their homes. Our goal is to provide assistance tailored to the needs of specific homeowners, reduce the number of foreclosures, and reduce the number of vacant and abandoned properties.”