Launch for 40 affordable apartments

Thursday, May 10, 2007
By RAMON LUNA
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The groundbreaking ceremony held yesterday afternoon at Oak Street and Martin Luther King Drive celebrated the partnership of Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin and the Genesis Companies in building the new Webb Apartments building.

"This project is an exciting public-private partnership," said Levin. "It brings together private investment, the city, the county and the state to provide affordable homes for 40 families."

The Webb Apartments will have 40 rental apartments that are 100 percent affordable housing to offer residents that earn up to 50 percent of the area median income.

The Webb Apartments will be the first 100 percent affordable housing in New Jersey to achieve a Silver LEED-Homes rating from the U.S. Green Building Council and will also be an Energy Star Building, helping conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gases.

The building is projected to be completed in October 2008.

The Webb Apartments is named after Lavern Webb, a lifelong resident of Jersey City and an active community member. She worked in the Mayor's Office in 2004 and for the Jersey City Board of Education from 1983 to 1995.