2011 Hightstown, NJ South Academy Street Reviatalization plan presented by the Millstone Basin Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity

1. Habitat for Humanity
South Academy Street Revitalization Plan
2011-2014

2. Millstone Basin Area Habitat for Humanity
Our Mission
To end poverty housing in our
six-town catchment area in
Mercer and Middlesex Counties.
Cranbury Plainsboro
East Windsor Robbinsville
Hightstown West Windsor
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3. How Does Habitat Work?
• Through volunteer labor and donations of money and
materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent
houses with partner families.
• Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to paying
their mortgage, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of
their own labor (sweat equity) into building their house and
the houses of others.
• Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and
financed with affordable loans.
• The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to
build still more Habitat houses.
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4. Selecting Partner Families
• Families in need of decent shelter apply to the
Habitat affiliate.
• The affiliate’s family selection committee chooses
homeowners based on:
– their level of need
– their willingness to partner
– their ability to repay the no-interest loan
– N.J. residency status
• Affiliate follows a nondiscriminatory policy and
neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing
partner families.
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5. Holistic Community Revitalization
 Provide more diverse housing options and provide
an upward step for those families ready to move
out of Hightstown’s HUD housing
The cornerstone of  Help Hightstown reach its affordable housing goal
the mission: build a
 Act as a crime deterrent, pushing out criminal
neighborhood, not a
activity
house.
 Build relationships across existing organizations and
Our sights are set on help residents influence decisions that affect their
improving the neighborhood
general quality of life  Help stem gentrification, which often results in the
for those in the informal economic eviction of the lower-income
revitalization area. residents because of increased rents, house prices,
and property taxes
 Create a de facto neighborhood support system for
Habitat partner families
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6. South Academy Street
Why Hightstown?
• Identified by the municipal
government as a target of
redevelopment to:
– Create new opportunities for
homeownership in the Borough
– Eliminate blighted and vacant units
to stabilize the neighborhood
– Increase the number of affordable
housing units
1. Ordinance 2006-19: An Ordinance amending the Borough’s Redevelopment Plan, as Adopted by Ordinance No. 2004-20 on
September 7, 2004. Sub-Area II includes western side of South Academy Street from Rogers Avenue to Railroad Avenue.
2. Borough of Hightstown Master Plan Housing Element and Fair Share Plan Amendment, 2008.
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7. Revitalize South Academy Street
• Land acquisition Neighborhood
• Construction of 8 new homes Revitalization
Proven Effective:
• Possible rehabilitation of other homes
Millstone Basin
• Weatherization program for existing built 7 homes on
homeowners Evan Avenue, East
Windsor. As a
• “A Brush with Kindness” exterior result, the
neighborhood has
improvements program for existing experienced a
homeowners renaissance.
• Other community projects
1. A Brush with Kindness program, <www.habitat.org/abwk.html>
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8. Redevelopment Target Zone
Weatherization &
External Revitalization
Programs
Hightstown
Housing Authority
apartments
N
HFH Office
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9. State of Building Zone, February 2011
N
Hightstown Housing
Authority
apartments
Completed HFH House
Targeted for new HFH house
Existing house
Potential rehab
Land acquired by HFH
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10. Community Partnerships
Community
Groups
Government Local
Business
Corporations Faith
Community
Youth Individuals
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11. Community Involvement
• Advisory Panel: community experts who will assist with
review of plan materials and provide feedback on an as-
needed basis.
• Design Charrette: a collaborative session with the
community providing input into the design of the homes’
exteriors and other community issues.
• Open sessions for dialogue with the community.
• Meetings with government officials, faith community, local
Housing Authority and Downtown Hightstown business
group.
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12. Timeline
2011 2012 2013 2014
Planning
Community Outreach
Fund Development
Land Acquisition
Family Selection Family Selection Family Selection
Design & Construction
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13. Human Resource Needs
• Volunteers – existing and expansion positions
– Building Supervisors
– Volunteer Coordinator
– Family Selection Committee
– Family Services Coordinator
– Marketing Coordinator
– Faith Relations Coordinator
– Youth Coordinator
• Staff – expansion positions
– Building Crew Leaders
– Office Manager
– AmeriCorps VISTA member
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14. Revenue Goal Breakdown
ITEM COST
House construction $900,000
Land acquisition $650,000
Hiring staff $340,000
Weatherization and “A Brush with Kindness” $100,000
Marketing and miscellaneous $10,000
TOTAL (CASH AND IN-KIND) $2 million
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15. Funding Sources
• Government grants
– Hightstown COAH funds
– NJDCA grants
• Foundation grants
• Corporate underwriting
• Houses of worship
• Individual donors
• Small number of high-profile events
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16. Corporate Challenge Program
Corporate Corporate Corporate
Corporate teams invited to Team Supporter Sponsor
help build and contribute Financial Support to HFH none Employees solicit Corporate
sponsors. Target underwriting
financial support. of $50 per person
Employee Work Crew Dates one per year, if one priority date one or more
openings are placement per priority dates per
available house house
Three levels of participation Invitation for employees to
HFH volunteer picnic and   
•Corporate Team house dedication ceremony
Employees invited to sign
  
•Corporate Supporter 2x4s used in construction
Acknowledgement on local
  
•Corporate Sponsor HFH Web site
Recognition Gift for the
 
Company
Volunteer Thank You Gifts  
Supervised by HFH Listing in local HFH
 
Marketing and PR
construction leaders. Opportunity for
participation during house 
Half-day or full day options. dedication ceremony
Breakfast & Lunch provided
10 to 20 people. for work crews

Logo on Work Site Sign 
Invitations to other local

HFH events
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17. Build on Faith Program
• Partnering with at least 12 houses of worship
from the local area to construct a “Faith Built”
house
• Faith communities bring to the partnership:
funding, volunteers, spiritual presence
• Windsor Hightstown Area Ministerium (WHAM)
and its member churches and synagogues
• Tapping into 30+ houses of worship in our
catchment area
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18. Thank You
Millstone Basin Area Habitat for Humanity
Location Mailing Address
120 Main Street P.O. Box 178
Hightstown, NJ 08520 Cranbury, NJ 08512
General Inquiries Contacts
Ph: (609) 443-8744 Anthony Infosino, Board President
E-mail: info@habitatmba.org anthony.infosino@erols.com
Website Tara Roche, Revitalization Committee Chair
www.habitatmba.org tara.anne.roche@gmail.com
Glenn Fannick, Revitalization Committee
glennfan@gmail.com
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19. References
1. Habitat for Humanity International Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, 2010. Retrieved from
<http://habitat.org/env/NRI_default.aspx>.
2. Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity works with AmeriCorps VISTA. 2011. Retrieved from
<http://habitat.org/americorps/americorps_vista.aspx>.
3. Habitat for Humanity. A Brush with Kindness program. 2011. Retrieved from
<www.habitat.org/abwk.html>.
4. Hightstown Borough. Ordinance 2006-19 to amend Borough’s Redevelopment Plan, as Adopted by
Ordinance No. 2004-20 on September 7, 2004.
5. Borough of Hightstown Master Plan Housing Element and Fair Share Plan Amendment, 2008. New Jersey
Department of Community Affairs, Report and Quick Facts. Retrieved from
<http://www.state.nj.us/dca/affiliates/coah/reports/>.
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