$123M Overhaul Begins At East Orange Senior Apartment Complex

EAST ORANGE, NJ — A national affordable housing developer has launched its first rehab project in New Jersey – and it’s taking place in East Orange.

On Friday, Community Preservation Partners (CPP) announced that work has begun on a $123 million overhaul of the Norman Towers senior apartments in East Orange.

The 406-unit affordable housing community was built in 1980 and hasn’t seen any major renovations since its original construction. But that’s about to change, according to CPP, which is teaming up with L+M Development Partners on the project.

Together, the two companies purchased the property for $94 million and plan to invest more than $29 million in improvements.

Affordable housing mandates for the community were set to expire in 10 years but will now be extended for 30 years as part of the purchase agreement, CPP spokespeople said.

Upgrades planned for individual apartment homes will include energy-efficient appliances and functional upgrades such as new cabinets and countertops, to make the units new again. The plans also include enhancements to the common areas, an expansion of the community room and the remodeling of additional spaces, a new computer room and fitness center, and new landscaping, lighting, built-in BBQs and outdoor dining areas.

Construction is expected to be completed in two years, developers said.

Mayor Ted Green said Norman Towers has been a staple residential community in the city for generations and a beacon along the Garden State Parkway for 40 years.

“This significant investment by Community Preservation Partners and L+M Development Partners is a game changer for the revitalization of residential properties in the city," Green said.

“This pandemic has reinforced the real value of living in a ‘home’ that nurtures the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of those who live in it,” Green said. “These planned renovations will set the standard for affordable and contemporary senior living in the City of East Orange.”

Fifth Ward Councilmembers Alicia Holman and Mustafa Brent said the renovations will be a big boost for the neighborhood.

“I’m very excited about this project,” Holman said. “Norman Towers was very well-maintained under the former owners and I am in full support of this project, not only for the residents who live there, but for the Norman Towers complex remaining open and accessible as a venue for community-wide meetings.”

The complex’s new owners have been listening to and incorporating resident feedback into the construction plans, Holman said.

Brent agreed with his peer on the council.

“Providing the highest quality of service and living conditions are cornerstones of any successful community, and East Orange is working to become a leader in this regard,” Brent said.

“Much of our work in Northern New Jersey is focused not just on revitalizing properties but also ensuring that those living in them can remain in their homes,” said Jeffrey Moelis, managing director of preservation at L+M.

“We are proud to work with CPP as well as our government and financial partners, including the City of East Orange, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, Freddie Mac, HUD, and Wells Fargo,” Moelis said.

L+M also is undertaking two preservation projects in the nearby city of Newark.

In 2019, the company closed on financing to preserve and modernize 268 units of Section 8 housing at Zion Towers in the South Ward of the city, allowing for immediate repairs on the severely neglected building and guaranteeing affordability for the next 30 years.

L+M also recently finished work on more than $30 million of capital improvements at Georgia King Village, a Section 8 complex in the West Ward, including façade improvements, boiler plant replacement, extensive apartment renovations, enhanced security, the addition of a children’s library, revamped open space, and the installation of a free wi-fi network for residents.

• See related article: Hundreds Of Section 8 Apartments Preserved In Newark's South Ward

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