Westfield planner outlines nonprofit-focused affordable housing progress and new supports
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Summary
Town planner Don Grama reported on Westfield’s nonprofit affordable-housing program, saying the town has encumbered funding for 30 units (8 special‑needs bedrooms and 22 veterans’ units), described funding sources and new preapproval supports, and answered council questions about online application resources.
Town planner Don Grama delivered the annual affordable-housing report required under Westfield’s settlement with the Fair Share Housing Center, outlining steps the town has taken to work with nonprofit housing providers and to implement the fourth‑round housing plan.
Grama said the settlement requires the town to partner with nonprofit affordable‑housing agencies to produce additional homes. “To date we have provided funding assistance for the creation of a total of 8, affordable units,” he told the council, adding that those are counted as eight bedrooms for special‑needs individuals. He also said the town has dedicated funding toward creation of 22 housing units for homeless veterans at the American Legion site on North Avenue, “so that totals up a total of 30” units for which funds have been encumbered but which have not yet been constructed or occupied.
Grama described how the town’s nonprofit program operates: trust‑fund dollars come from affordable‑housing development fees rather than a special tax or general taxpayer funds. He said the council has increased per‑unit subsidies available to nonprofits and is implementing a preapproval option so nonprofit bidders can demonstrate dedicated local funding when competing for properties. “When they find a property on the market and they’re going to bid on it, it would be much easier for them if they had the funding that is already dedicated for us,” Grama said.
He noted land cost remains the biggest barrier to constructing affordable housing. Grama also described ancillary supports: an emergency‑generator program is available for 100% affordable projects, and recent law changes require every affordable unit in the state to be advertised on the New Jersey Housing Resource Center, a change he said the town will link from its website.
A councilmember asked whether the two websites Grama cited are linked on the town site; Grama said AffordableHomesNewJersey is presently linked and that the Housing Resource Center link will be added with required upcoming changes.
During public comment, Jennifer Jaruzelski of the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission thanked the council for the redevelopment ordinance designed to minimize disruption to the historic Mills Ferris Pearsall House and asked that the commission’s preservation consultant, Barton Ross, be given the opportunity to review the protection plan to ensure safe relocation services.
Grama closed by saying the nonprofit program has proven useful in attracting interest and that the town will continue to provide subsidy and administrative support as it implements the fourth‑round plan.
