More Affordable Housing May be Coming to Westfield Between Ferraro’s South & Car Wash

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield may get three new affordable housing units on a bustling section of South Avenue after the town council formally approved an application by Passaic Housing to fund the three units partly via funds from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund Program .

Sandwiched between the back of Ferraro’s South, an office building and Towne Car Wash, the proposed development will go in on what appears to currently be an open lot with a picnic table on it.

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“This project was originally approved with one affordable housing unit, but if they get this grant they will be able to change that to three, which actually helps the town better meet its obligations under the current affordable housing settlement,” said Councilman David Contract at last Tuesday’s town council meeting.

MORE: Westfield Planning Board Approves Construction of Multi-Family Home on South Ave

This step for the Westfield Village development, which was already approved by the planning board with three units, does not require any additional action for the application for the funds to be considered, according to Contract.

“The council just passed a resolution supporting the application of Passaic Affordable Housing Coalition to the NJDCA to solicit funds to support the conversion of two of these units from market rate to affordable,” Contract said.

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Westfield, like all New Jersey towns, must meet affordable housing requirements as a result of the Mount Laurel Doctrine that arose from a lawsuit brought against that township.

MORE: Westfield Officials Give Affordable Housing Update

If approved, the development would better help Westfield meet its obligations against that requirement.

“It actually puts us in a better position when we have to re-negotiate this again next year,” Contract said.

More information from the town on its approach to the fair housing requirement can be found here .

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