Affordable Housing Complex Moves Forward For Glenlora Site In Chester

CHESTER, NJ — After much anticipation, a concrete plan for redeveloping the Glenlora site on Route 24 is finally in place.

In a recent announcement, Rose House, a nonprofit in Morris Plains, revealed it has received approval from Chester Township to develop a 12-unit affordable housing project for adults with developmental disabilities.

The proposed complex will be built on the 14.7-acre property at 345 State Route 24, the former site of the Glenlora Nursing Home.

The township purchased the former Glenlora nursing home site in 2005 as a suitable location for affordable housing, which is mandated by the State of New Jersey.

In a newsletter back in 2018, then-Mayor Marcia Asdal explained that Chester Township concluded litigation with Fair Share Housing in 2018, which “brought the discussion about what to do with the Glenlora site out from closed sessions to the public arena where it belongs,” she said.

Asdal noted that while neighboring towns settled in court over constitutional mandates for affordable housing, Chester Township not only reduced its legal costs but also allowed local residents to engage in the project planning process.

Now, more than five years after resolving its affordable housing dispute, Chester Township released the RFP, shifting decision-making from the courts, where negotiations were private, to the town council, where the public was able to offer input.

Last year, the township issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Glenlora site, seeking qualifications from affordable housing developers. The RFP highlighted the township's preference for housing units that would serve identified special needs adult populations in the state, officials said.

After a second RFP was released in April, responses were received from three organizations—ArcMorris, Bluestone Development, and Rose House—which were presented to the town during a joint meeting last month.

Following the presentations, where the mayor and council, the planning board, and the public had the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns, the final project was awarded to Rose House.

“Chester Township is excited for the development’s completion as it will prove to be a win-win situation,” Mayor Tim Drag said. “It will fulfill a need for both our town and Rose House by creating affordable housing units and providing crucial residential placement for adults with special needs.”

For the past 25 years, Rose House has been providing adults with special needs homes where they can live independently, with care, and enjoy a "sense of inclusiveness within their community," the nonprofit said.

In preparation for the apartment complex’s construction, Rose House has already raised $300,000 through donations to its "Forever Home Project" capital campaign.

“With more than 10,000 adults with developmental disabilities on a waiting list for housing in New Jersey alone, this housing complex will offer families much-needed hope for their loved ones,” said Rose House CEO Tom Mitchell. “On behalf of our organization, Board of Trustees, and residents, we greatly appreciate Chester Township's compassion toward these families.”

Currently, Rose House operates six residential programs and eight independent living apartments, offering customized, self-directed programs to meet each individual's needs.

“The development is significant for Morris County’s citizens with special needs, as the Chester property will become Rose House’s seventh overall,” Senator Anthony M. Bucco said. “In addition to providing housing, the organization’s growing presence in the county promotes inclusivity and awareness.”

For more information about Rose House and to contribute to the Forever Home Project, visit www.therosehouse.org.