Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour, alongside federal, state, county, and local officials, recently gathered to break ground on The Willow—a six-story, 100 percent affordable senior housing development at 1033 Willow Avenue. The project marks a historic milestone as the city’s first entirely affordable residential building to begin construction in more than three decades.
The Willow, a Heritage Village Community, will feature 36 deed-restricted units tailored for older residents facing rising regional housing costs. The building will include three studios, 28 one-bedroom, and five two-bedroom apartments, complemented by a ground-floor community activity room and a fifth-floor library. Construction is being led by designated developer Community Investment Strategies and is slated for completion in Fall 2027.
The site, located at 11th Street and Willow Avenue, carries deep historical significance. In 1973, a tragic fire destroyed a tenement building on the property, claiming the lives of 11 residents. The land later became a city-owned parking lot. Over the last six years, the Hoboken Department of Community Development has worked to repurpose the public land into permanent housing for seniors.
“Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of a tragic fire on this site, this fully affordable senior housing complex will rise up, sustain, and nourish our seniors who live on fixed incomes,” 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen said. “This will become a beautiful housing development in a great neighborhood, with easy access to public transportation.”
The project began taking shape during the administration of former mayor and current Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla, who noted that his team worked tirelessly for eight years to secure the necessary approvals for this affordable housing priority.
The Willow will serve households aged 55 and older earning 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). To ensure maximum impact for vulnerable residents, at least half of the units are reserved for those earning 50 percent or less of the AMI, with roughly 13 percent set aside for households earning 30 percent or less.
The project relies on a diverse network of public and private funding sources, including:
- $500,000 from Hoboken’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
- $2,000,000 secured through Hudson County and the HOME Investment Partnership Program.
- Construction and permanent financing from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA).
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity through Enterprise Community Partners, alongside funding from Citizens Bank.
Designed by KNTM Architects and built by RAMAS Contractors, LLC, the elevator-equipped building will prioritize environmental sustainability and modern comfort. The Willow will feature ENERGY STAR® certified apartments and meet Zero Energy Ready Home design standards. Units will include central heating and air conditioning, modern appliances, on-site laundry facilities, and 24-hour emergency maintenance services.
“At a time when affordability is top of mind for so many, this project helps bridge New Jersey’s dual cost-of-living and housing crises,” Senator Raj Mukherji said. “The Willow will deliver 36 essential housing units that will allow people who have built their lives in Hoboken to remain in their community without being priced out.”
Congressman Rob Menendez also praised the project, emphasizing that federal and local partnerships ensure that “more of our seniors will now be able to spend their golden years in the communities they have lived in and have contributed so much to.”
