Council adopts financial agreement to support 100% affordable housing project on Hiler Street

The Hackensack City Council on June 30 adopted ordinance 11‑2026 (resolution 184‑26), authorizing a financial agreement between the city and Kgroup Hackensack Venture Urban Renewal LLC for properties at 15, 17 and 21 Hiler Street.

Michael Mesta, the city’s professional planner, told the council the ordinance is part of the developer’s application process for 9% low‑income housing tax credits and that the project is proposed as 100% affordable housing. "This is an ordinance to adopt a pilot for a 100% affordable housing project," Mesta said, adding that the city will receive affordable‑housing credit for every unit because there are no market‑rate units in the proposal.

Wendy Rubenstein Kuroga, who identified herself as the city’s affordable housing counsel with the Skarinsky law firm, said the financial agreement operates under the Fair Housing Act and is a different statutory mechanism than the market‑rate developer PILOTs that residents criticized at the meeting. "This is operating under a completely different statute... it really truly only happens to subsidize affordable housing," she told the council.

The council opened and closed the public hearing with no members of the public speaking specifically against the ordinance and then moved to adopt. Deputy Mayor Tumi, Councilwoman Clark Collins, Councilman Carol, Councilman Diaz and Mayor Gaines all voted "yes" on a roll call; the ordinance passed second and final reading and was adopted.

Council members also introduced ordinance 12‑2026, a capital appropriation of $400,000 (resolution 185‑26), which passed on first reading and was scheduled for final consideration on July 14. The meeting’s consent agenda — covering routine items such as grant acceptances, equipment purchases, liquor license renewals and settlement approvals — was adopted unanimously.