PATERS0N CELEBRATES THE GRAND OPENING OF HINCHLIFFE RESIDENCES: A KEY COMPONENT OF THE HINCHLIFFE STADIUM NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION PROJECT

Paterson, NJ – On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Mayor Andre Sayegh and the Paterson City Council proudly joined hands with esteemed partners, including the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, BAW Development, RPM Development, and Paterson Department of Economic Development, to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the Residences at Hinchliffe Stadium.

The event marks a significant milestone in the Hinchliffe Stadium Neighborhood Restoration Project (HSNRP), a nearly $100 million comprehensive community redevelopment initiative centered on preserving and rehabilitating the historic Hinchliffe Stadium, a national landmark located within the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. Mayor Andre Sayegh expressed his pride and enthusiasm, stating, “The Hinchliffe Residences stand as a testament to our dedication to provide affordable housing options for our community members. It exemplifies what can be achieved when we work together to revitalize communities.”

“Hinchliffe Residences will allow our senior residents to live independently, age in place, and remain close to transportation, parking, and amenities right next to Hinchliffe Stadium and Paterson’s Great Falls National Historical Park,” said Alicka Ampry-Samuel, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “The City of Paterson used HUD-awarded HOME funding for this project. $1.1 million of HUD’s Home Investment Partnership Program funding to Paterson went into this remarkable development, adding to the revitalization of the entire Great Falls area.”

The Residences at Hinchliffe Stadium, the housing component of the HSNRP, comprises a six-story mixed-use building on the vacant lot adjacent to Hinchliffe Stadium. This inviting development offers sixty-five (65) one-bedroom apartments and ten (10) two-bedroom apartments, all dedicated to affordable households earning 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less. The apartments are exclusively available to households aged 55 and older, providing a comfortable and secure living environment for senior citizens.

“One of the comprehensive goals of the HSNRP is for it to be a multi-purpose, mixed-use, intergenerational community, that comprises sports, education, child care and affordable housing,” said BAW Development Founder, Baye Adofo Wilson. “The Residences of Hinchliffe Stadium serves the purpose of providing affordable housing for seniors in Paterson, which is sorely needed, while also contributing to making the HSNRP accessible and welcoming to all age demographics.  It is exciting to see the Residents of Hinchliffe Stadium enjoying the local community, and their new homes.”

The Residences offer a plethora of amenities, such as stainless steel ENERGY STAR appliances, high-efficiency individual heating and cooling systems, contemporary open floor plans, and healthy, low- or no-VOC finishes. The ground floor amenity space opens onto a landscaped courtyard, fostering a sense of community between Hinchliffe Stadium and the building. Residents enjoy access to garage parking on the ground floor and the free-standing parking garage connected to the building, providing ease of transportation to neighborhood goods, services, and recreation, notably the Great Falls National Historical Park.

Edward Martoglio from RPM Development expressed the organization’s commitment to vibrant communities, stating, “As a leader in the creation of affordable housing throughout NJ for 36 years, RPM was privileged to help craft this comprehensive neighborhood revitalization. Centered around the preservation of the historic Hinchliffe Stadium, these affordable and sustainable residences offer a range of amenities and amazing access to the Stadium, museum and Great Falls. We look forward to seeing this important community asset thrive for many generations to come.”

This exceptional mixed-use affordable housing building stands out as a standalone project benefitting from a 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and tax-exempt construction to permanent bonds issued by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. Moreover, the project received financial backing from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority through Mixed-Use Parking Economic Redevelopment Growth (ERG) credits, while the City of Paterson played a vital role by contributing donated land and HOME funds. This collaborative effort has transformed the vision of affordable housing into a reality, making a positive impact on the community and showcasing the potential of collective partnerships in addressing housing challenges.

“The Residences at Hinchliffe Stadium is an inclusive, affordable community that offers Paterson’s senior residents direct access to unique amenities including Great Falls National Park and the historic Hinchliffe Stadium,  which now once again plays host to sports and community events,” said NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie R. Walter. “This new mixed-use senior affordable housing is an excellent example of community transformation that has been accomplished through public-private partnerships and the targeted investment of state affordable housing resources.”

Michael Powell, Director of the Department of Economic Development, praised the Residences stating, “I’m particularly pleased with the housing component of the Hinchliffe project. The units are an absolute model for what creative affordable housing can be in the most densely populated part of the state. Linking this type of housing with intergenerational connections is what makes this work fun and rewarding.”