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Press Release
For more information, contact:
Barbara Pancari
Millville Housing Authority
856-825-8860, Ext. 1001
bpancari@millvillehousing.org
Millville, New Jersey, June 20, 2008 - On Friday, June 20, 2008, the Millville Housing Authority (MHA), along with other members of the Holly City Senior Housing Partnership, LP, welcomed city, county and state officials, plus guests and residents to the grand opening of the Glasstown Residence at River Park. Located at 224 South Second St. and set along the Maurice River, the senior mid-rise apartment building has been recognized as New Jersey’s first affordable "green" senior housing building, earning top accolades for its environmental friendliness.
MHA Board of Commissioners Chair Pamela Kipers, who welcomed guests, said in a separate statement: "The Millville Housing Authority and its affiliates and Bitonti Development Company have gone the extra mile to ensure the Glasstown Residence at River Park was constructed with eco-friendly materials to make it a true "green" building. While only some of these features will be readily apparent to tenants, all have been tracked and assessed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)."
By achieving USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the Glasstown Residence at River Park incorporates environmentally friendly practices running the gamut from community connectivity to site construction material and energy usage.
MHA Executive Director Paul F. Dice stated: "Being the State’s first to build a "green" affordable senior housing building is quite an accomplishment made possible by a great team. We are proud to have taken the lead in such a wonderful example of what will someday be commonplace in building construction."
The building features:
- Extra insulation to minimize unwanted air leakage
- Energy-efficient lighting installed in every room
- A conduit to the roof to allow for future photovoltaic solar panels
- Strategically placed windows that let in natural light and wintertime heat, providing thermal comfort and reduced energy consumption.
- Interior paints, carpeting and sealants formulated to forestall occupant discomfort and illness due to poor indoor air quality
In addition to the above, most of the raw material used in construction and many of the manufactured materials come from within a 500-mile radius of Millville. A conserved, open-space buffer consists of native and adapted vegetation for landscaping which does not require permanent irrigation, thereby drastically reducing potable water demand. Moreover, inside the building innovative plumbing fixtures should allow occupants to realize more than 20 percent in water savings in comparison to a typical apartment building of the same size.
According to Building Manager Jane Whilden, seventy-three one-bedroom apartments are renting to residents aged 55 and over, with rents from $420 to $530 monthly. "Our new residents are very excited about the building," Whilden said. "They are enjoying the many amenities and have expressed their enthusiasm to family, friends and neighbors in the community. Our fine residents are our best ambassadors."
The Millville Housing Authority owns and operates other developments in Millville, including Cedarview Court, Ferguson Court, Holly Berry Court, Riverview
East and West, Maurice View Plaza and Jaycee Plaza, as well as several scattered single-family homes. Along with its non-profit subsidiary, the Holly City Development Corporation, the organization plays a key role in the city by providing residents with affordable housing options and offering access to social services, community and educational services, including the only fully-equipped recreational facility in Millville, the Holly City Family Center.
About the Holly City Senior Housing Partnership, LP
The Holly City Senior Housing Partnership, LP, who developed and funded the project is comprised of the Millville Housing Authority, who is managing the Glasstown Residence on River Park property, The Bitonti Development Company, LLC and WNC and Associates, Inc.
Samuel Bitonti, sole owner of The Bitonti Development Company, LLC, has more than 26 years of experience in the real estate industry as both a developer and an attorney. Bitonti has developed over 30 projects that have produced more than 1,000 units of affordable housing to low and moderate income households in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area.
WNC and Associates, Inc. was founded in 1971 as one of the first corporations in the country to invest in affordable housing and assist developers with use of low-income housing tax credits. The firm has acquired $3.3 billion in real estate and more than 950 properties in 40 states.
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