METRO’S ROLE:

Metro led the development team and co-developed this 92 unit affordable senior housing project. 

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The partnership between the Bethany Baptist Church’s non-profit subsidiary, Generation’s Inc., and The Metro Company, LLC, succeeded because of the shared common vision of both organizations to provide high quality affordable senior housing, while offering an enhanced level of services for both the frail elderly and independent seniors.

A unique and innovative aspect of the project is the mix of incomes and populations that Harvest House serves. Twenty five percent of the units are dedicated to serving frail, elderly residents that require assistance with two or more daily living activities. In addition, ten percent of the units are affordable to very low-income residents and the balance of the units are affordable to low-income residents.

Property amenities include a community room, sun and craft room, indoor and outdoor patio areas on all floors, social service office, medical office suite, large landscaped outdoor social sitting area and a laundry room on each floor.

There are a mix of seventy-four one bedroom and eighteen two bedroom apartments with unit sizes larger than most comparable market-rate apartments, and certainly much larger than affordable senior and special needs housing of its type in the marketplace. The one bedroom units range in size from 662 SF to 725 SF, and all of the two-bedroom units are 1,100 SF. 

Metro secured all of the financing for this $12.7 million project which included NJHMFA taxable bond and low income housing tax credits; NJDCA Balanced Housing Funds; Camden County HOME funds; Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program Funds from New York and Pittsburgh; and construction and equity financing from Red Capital.

THE RESULTS:

The culmination of this for-profit/non-profit partnership is Harvest House -- a 92 unit affordable senior housing development built on a secluded and wooded site with easy access to the adjacent Bethany Baptist church campus.

Harvest House offers critical and much needed services to its frail elderly residents as well as its healthy and vibrant senior population. Nowhere else in the community is such a comprehensive and holistic level of services and amenities provided to seniors at no additional cost.

Rendering by Kramer + Marks Architects