Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Affordable Housing Agreement for Federal HOME Loan
Purpose: To authorize the execution of an Affordable Housing Agreement with Project Live, Inc.
Entity Name: Project Live, Inc.
Entity Address: 465-475 Broadway, Newark, New Jersey 07104
Grant Amount: $812,625.00
Funding Source: Federal HOME Program Funds
Contract Period: HOME Funds must be expended within forty-eight (48) months from the date of adoption
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
List of Property:
(Address/Block/Lot/Ward)
457 Broadway/Block 619/Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4/North Ward
Additional Information:
The entity will renovate an existing three (3) story supportive housing development consisting of nine (9) supportive housing rental units for extremely low-income special needs individuals, who are diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness (9 HOME subsidized), upon property located at 457 Broadway (Block 619; Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4) (North Ward) of the Official Tax Map of the City of Newark, County of Essex, State of New Jersey
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark, New Jersey (the “City”), desires to enter into and execute a Deed Restrictive Affordable Housing Agreement (the “AHA”) with PROJECT LIVE, INC. (the “Entity”), 465-475 Broadway, Newark, New Jersey 07104; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to provide the Entity with Federal HOME Program Funds in the form of a deferred zero percent (0%) interest-bearing loan for a period of twenty (20) years pursuant to the Federal HOME Loan Program (24 C.F.R. Part 92) and any amendments thereto; and
WHEREAS, the AHA is for the amount of EIGHT HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS and ZERO CENTS ($812,625.00) in Federal HOME Program Funds for the Project to be located at 457 Broadway (Block 619; Lots 1, 2, 3, 4) (North Ward), Newark, County of Essex, State of New Jersey (the "Property), which shall include the renovation an existing three (3) story supportive housing development consisting of nine (9) rental units for extremely low-income individuals (9 HOME subsidized) (collectively, the “Project”), upon the Property. Units assisted with HOME Program Funds shall be occupied by extremely low-income special needs individuals who are diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness; and
WHEREAS, the Entity has agreed that each of the nine (9) apartment units renovated for the Project will be deed-restricted for use and occupancy by extremely low-income special needs residents earning 30% or less of Area Median Income (“AMI”) (collectively, the “Affordable Housing Units”); and
WHEREAS, the Entity has agreed to renovate the Affordable Housing Units in connection with the Project provided it receives an award of HOME Funds from the City in order to provide it with a financial subsidy for the construction of these Affordable Housing Units for the Project; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City and the Department of Economic and Housing Development to establish contractual guarantees and procedures by which the City will ensure the Entity’s compliance with the requirements of the Federal HOME Program for the time and in the manner set forth in the AHA for the receipt of said HOME Program Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Project is also located within an area in need of redevelopment as defined under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 et seq. (the "LRHL") and as declared by the City Council by Resolution 7Rdo(AS), adopted on June 15, 2005, and is governed by the North Ward Redevelopment Plan, as amended (the “Redevelopment Plan”); and
WHEREAS, the Project currently has a significant funding gap that must be bridged in order to make the Project financially feasible; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-8(f) of the LRHL authorizes municipalities to provide grants or loans to redevelopers to provide financial assistance for the performance of redevelopment activities in order to implement redevelopment projects in accordance with redevelopment plans; and
WHEREAS, the Project qualifies for financial assistance since it is located within a redevelopment area and is being performed in order to implement an approved Redevelopment Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Newark Municipal Council recognizes the need to complete the above Project and desires to finance the making of a loan in the amount of EIGHT HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS and ZERO CENTS ($812,625.00) to the Entity to be used as a subsidy to develop the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development, are hereby authorized to enter into and execute a Deed Restrictive Affordable Housing Agreement (the "AHA") with Project Live, Inc. (the “Entity”), having its principal place of business at 465-475 Broadway, Newark, New Jersey 07104, for Federal HOME program funds in the amount of EIGHT HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS and ZERO CENTS ($812,625.00) to subsidize the renovation of an existing three (3) story supportive housing development consisting of nine (9) rental units for use and occupancy by extremely low-income special needs individuals diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness earning 30% or less of Area Median Income (“Project”). The site of the Project will be located at 457 Broadway (Block 619; Lot 1, 2, 3, 4) (North Ward), Newark, New Jersey 07104.
2. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development is hereby authorized to establish a declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions to ensure that the Project remains affordable for a period of twenty (20) years in accordance with the HOME Program. Said covenants, conditions, and restrictions shall run with the land and bind the Entity and any subsequent purchasers and owners, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and all persons claiming by, through or under their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns with the AHA for a period of twenty (20) years.
3. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development is hereby authorized to establish and record a declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions to ensure that the City shall be repaid the full amount of the HOME Funds disbursed to the Entity upon the occurrence of an event of default under the AHA by the Entity by requiring the Entity to execute a separate HOME Mortgage and Security Agreement and HOME Mortgage Note for the full amount of funding provided to the Entity in the AHA. Said covenants, conditions, and restrictions shall run with the land and bind the Entity and any subsequent purchasers and owners, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and all persons claiming by, through or under their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns during the term of the AHA and the City shall discharge such HOME Mortgage and lien in connection therewith upon its issuance of a Certificate of Completion for the Project
4. The Entity shall be responsible for the recordation of the final fully executed AHA and the related Mortgage and any amendments thereto in the Essex County Register’s Office
5. The HOME Mortgage and HOME Mortgage Note given by the Entity in favor of the City of Newark shall ensure compliance with all the requirements of the HOME Program, pursuant to the HOME Program Statute and Regulations (24 C.F.R. Part 92).
6. Subject to the satisfaction in the sole discretion of the City of all of the terms, covenants, and other conditions set forth in the AHA and other documents and agreements executed and delivered by the Entity in connection herewith and the Project, the HOME Mortgage Note and the HOME Mortgage made in favor of the City shall be forgiven and discharged by the City upon the expiration of the twenty (20) year affordability period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the loan will be required to be repaid in full at the end of the twenty (20) year affordability period or earlier if any of the terms, covenants, and other conditions of the AHA and/or other documents and agreements executed and delivered by the Entity in connection herewith and the Project have been violated and/or breached by the Entity or the Entity otherwise defaults with respect to their respective terms, covenants and/or conditions as provided therein.
7. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development is hereby authorized to effectuate certain business terms and conditions related to the AHA, as amended, as permitted by New Jersey Law, and may enter into subordination agreements, access and right of entry agreements and other relevant documents related to these fund allocations in forms subject to the approval of the Corporation Counsel. In addition, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development is hereby authorized to enter into a maximum of two (2) six-month extensions of the term set forth in the AHA, as amended, and any contract timelines and milestones contained therein, provided that any contract timelines and milestones are not extended beyond the two (2) permitted six-month extensions, subject to full written disclosure (in the form of a signed Memorandum to be submitted prior to adoption) to the Newark Municipal Council by the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development and the approval of the Corporation Counsel.
8. Disbursement of the Federal HOME Program Funds for the Project in the amount of EIGHT HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS and ZERO CENTS ($812,625.00) shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the AHA, which is attached hereto and a made a part hereof.
9. The Entity must adhere to all milestones and timelines in the Project Schedule approved by the Department of Economic and Housing Development. The Property must conform to the City of Newark Design and Construction Standards Guidelines for New Home Construction, including standards for environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, as established by the Department of Economic and Housing Development. Should the Entity fail to complete the Project within the specified time frame, then the City, in its sole discretion, in addition to any other remedy available by the AHA or as allowed by law, may direct the Entity to repay all HOME Program Funds expended on the Project back to the City.
10. The term of the AHA shall be for a period of twenty (20) years from the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution by the Municipal Council. HOME Program Funds must be expended within forty-eight (48) months from the date of adoption.
11. The Entity must remain in compliance with Municipal, State, and Federal Laws, including, but not limited to, the City of Newark's Minority Set-Aside Ordinance (6S&Fd adopted April 5, 1995) and its Affirmative Action Plan (7Rbp adopted March 1, 1995) and Federal Executive Order 11246 (as amended by Executive Orders 11375 and 12086) with respect to the award of goods and services. The Entity has agreed to ensure that a minimum of 40% of the workers employed during the construction of the Project shall be Newark residents and that 30% of all contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers shall be Newark companies.
12. Units assisted with HOME Program Funds must be designated upon execution of the AHA and must remain fixed units for the duration of the affordability period. Households seeking to occupy a HOME-assisted unit must be certified prior to occupancy and recertified annually.
13. Attached hereto is a Certification of Funds from the Municipal Comptroller of the City of Newark, which states:
a) there are sufficient funds in the aggregate amount of EIGHT HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS and ZERO CENTS ($812,625.00) for the purpose set forth herein and above; and
b) that the line appropriation of Official Budget which shall be charged is as follows:
Business Unit Department Div./Proj. Activity Account# Budget Ref.: Amount
NWO51 G21 D21FO A 7290 B2021 $812,625.00
STATEMENT
This Resolution hereby authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development to enter into and execute an Affordable Housing Agreement with Project Live, Inc. (the “Entity”), 465-475 Broadway, Newark, New Jersey 07104, for Federal HOME Program Funds in the amount of EIGHT HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS and ZERO CENTS ($812,625.00) to subsidize the renovation of an existing three (3) story supportive housing development for the extremely low-income special needs consisting of nine (9) supportive housing rental units (9 HOME subsidized), upon the Property. The HOME-assisted units must remain affordable for a period of twenty (20) years pursuant to the requirements under the HOME Program (24 C.F.R. Part 92). (North Ward)