Construction On Chatham's Affordable Housing Development To Begin In 2024

CHATHAM, NJ — According to the timeline presented by Chatham Borough Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz at last week's council meeting, construction at Post Office Plaza will begin in January 2024 and be completed by the end of the same year.

The borough's plan is to build 15 affordable housing units on the borough's portion of the property behind the post office building off Bowers Lane.

At the regular meeting of the Borough of Chatham Council, Kobylarz reported on Post Office Plaza and provided a detailed timeline for the planning, design, public input and steps toward construction that will be handled by developer Bergen County United Way.

"We will of course keep all of you posted in the weeks and months ahead on the project's progress and also on any additional details as they arise," Kobylarz said.

The council also approved a $6 million bond ordinance to guarantee the financing of the all-affordable units by BCUW, which will seek grant money from the state trust fund to reduce the cost to borough taxpayers.

According to Mayor Kobylarz, the borough fully expects to obtain funding from a number of sources to cover the cost of the project and should only anticipate a net cost of $1,319,074. The $6 million will be used only if "said funds to be received by the Borough and/or BCUW/Madeline Housing Partners, LLC, are insufficient to pay the costs associated with satisfying the Borough's affordable housing obligation."

In a public comment, Bob Weber, a borough council candidate, asked again about the project's cost, questioning why the mayor gave an estimate of $1.3 million but a figure between $2 million and $3 million was given at a planning board meeting.

According to Kendra Lelie, the Chatham Borough planner, the net amount Chatham could potentially pay is still in flux because the application process for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is still being reviewed.

"It's still really unknown. It's a first come, first served basis. The criteria is not completely clear, the application process is not completely clear. It's clearer than it was when BCUW gave the original pro forma. But to give an estimate as to the probability of receiving money from the state right now is really best guess," Lelie said.