The first in a series of new townhomes in the Jackson Hill neighborhood of Jersey City was lowered onto its foundation today as part of a ceremony celebrating the new affordable housing.

The ceremony, which brought in community and corporate leaders, public officials and citizens, celebrated the arrival of new affordable homes on Rose Avenue between Kearney and Orient avenues, dubbed Jackson Green.

The 22 homes that were lowered onto their foundation via crane, are slated for completion in late spring or early summer, with some for as little as $950 a month.
All of the units will boast three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, but the prices vary based on the different amenities in each unit.

"I don't think (Jersey City residents) can find a better bargain," said Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy, adding that the new units were "top shelf" townhomes and have the added amenity of shopping nearby.

The $7 million project was the product of a partnership between the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, non-profit community developer TRF Development Partners and local citizens? group Interfaith Community Organization.

The journey in placing an the affordable housing complex to the once-chromium contaminated land on Rose Avenue was a long one, said Ellen Wright, a leader of ICO, which led the long-term effort to get chromium sites throughout Jersey City remediated.

While the Jackson Green land didn't contain as many contaminants as others in the area, it was still expensive to, Joe Morris of the ICO said.








"(This is) just the beginning of rebuilding," said Wright.

Healy echoed their sentiment during a short speech before the homes were lowered onto their foundation.

"We are making our city better," he said.

Nichele Brown, the first person to buy one of the new townhomes, was excited about finally moving into a home that she owns.

Brown, who was born and raised in Jersey City, said she had been searching to buy a home for five years and was about to leave her hometown to live in Trenton until she was given information on Jackson Green. She was sold.

"Don't give up," she advised other potential homeowners. "Follow (your) dreams."