Washington Township planners final review done for senior citizen apartments

Joseph P. Smith, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·2 min read

WASHINGTON TWP. — Township officials have given final approval for an affordable housing apartment project for senior citizens but securing sufficient government financial support remains a tall hurdle for the developer to clear before work can start.

“Birchwood at Washington Township” would consist of a three-story apartment building on vacant land off the east side of Route 42 near Leddon Lane. Sixty-four units would be available from as low as $500 to $1,260 per month, depending on the number of bedrooms and the renter’s income.

Ingerman Development Company LLC brought the project here two years ago. The company had hoped to secure tax credits from the New Jersey Home Mortgage Financing Agency prior to asking for final design review and approval this week, but its application was rejected.

BACKGROUND: Washington OKs 'affordable,' dedicated senior apartment project off Route 42

Still, the Planning Board took only about 20 minutes Tuesday night to unanimously approve the project. The design had been under refinement with township input since its preliminary approval in August 2021. There will be 58 one-bedroom-units and six two-bedroom units.

Some points raised at the July 18 board review were that Ingerman continues to pursue financing and that the project would help the township meet its legal obligations to provide affordable housing.

The Washington Township Planning Board on Tuesday night unanimously voted final approval for an all-senior citizen, affordable housing apartment project off Route 42. The board in August 2021 had given preliminary approval to Ingerman Development Company LLC. Here, project engineer Alex Tweedie (podium) talks about the site plan. PHOTO: July 18, 2023.

Company representative Geoffrey Long said on Wednesday that the goal is to start construction this year, if financing can be secured “in a timely fashion.”

Ingerman is looking, in part, to the federally funded Affordable Housing Production Fund. New Jersey set up the fund to support projects consisting of: Entirely affordable housing units; located in suburban areas; and that had been unable to get tax credits elsewhere.

“Birchwood at Washington Township is exactly that type of development,” Long said.

Long said the company also is seeking tax exempt bonds as well as 4 percent interest tax credits from the state’s Aspire program.

“Unfortunately, as a result of the escalation of construction costs combined with spiking interest rates, we need to find a bevy of different financing sources to put together an otherwise straightforward 100 percent affordable senior transaction,” Long said.

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Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Washington Township review done on senior affordable housing proposal