Homes Court – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Introduces The Morris Housing Redevelopment Project

Michelle Lang — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:46:28 +0000

91��Ƭ hosted a Community Meeting at the NCC Neighborhood Center on June 5 to introduce The Morris, the organization’s latest housing redevelopment project. The Morris will be built on Morris Avenue in Newark at the former Homes Court site, which is next to the 91��Ƭ Property Management office and across the street from Gardens Senior. The Morris will offer 120 units for rent to families and will be 100 percent Section 8 subsidized housing.

91��Ƭ CEO Simone Gagneron called The Morris an exciting development project that will bring positive changes to the neighborhood. She also stressed the importance of community feedback.

“Your input is vital,” she said. “We are committed to a transparent and collaborative process. Let’s work together to shape a beautiful environment that our children can grow and thrive in.”

91��Ƭ Interim Board Chairman Edgar Nemorin thanked attendees for their participation in the meeting.

“This project is a labor of love and passion,” he said. “This is about you, the community.”

Retired 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman, who is working as a project manager on The Morris, talked about the uniqueness of constructing a fully subsidized housing facility in the city.

“Nothing like that has been built in Newark in many, many years,” he said. “We’re really excited.”

Associate Partner Anthony D’Agosta discussed the details of The Morris. The building will have 120 apartments. Twenty percent of the units will be one-bedroom, 20 percent will be three-bedroom and the remaining will be two-bedroom. There will be roughly 30 apartments per floor.

In addition to the apartments, The Morris will have a more than 4,000 square foot amenities space for tenants to use. D’Agosta pointed out that the minimum required size for an amenities space in this type of building is 1,600 square feet.

“Getting 4,000 square feet I think identifies the goals and commitment that NCC has for its projects and properties,” D’Agosta said. “They understand a project that has 120 families on-site needs to have some space to stretch their legs out.”

In addition to the indoor amenities space, The Morris will have a more than 8,000 square foot outdoor space for residents to enjoy.

The Morris will have an underground gated parking garage, accessible from Bruce Street, that will contain 130 parking spaces. There will be seven additional parking spaces outside. The building will have 24/7 security and tenants will have access to a Resident Services Coordinator.

D’Agosta explained that the plans include vibrant colors for the exterior of The Morris along with landscaping and the inclusion of natural light in the interior.

“We’re prioritizing welcoming families to this facility,” he said.

In addition to The Morris, 91��Ƭ is also working to construct five two-family homes in Newark for sale to first-time home buyers.

More information about The Morris and the two-family homes will be provided to the community as they become available.

Community Meeting 91��Ƭ NCC Redevelopment Project

Michelle Lang — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:00:00 +0000

91��Ƭ will host a Community Meeting on Wednesday, June 5 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the NCC Neighborhood Center, 56-68 Hayes St., Newark, to introduce its housing redevelopment project The Morris, which is located at the former Homes Court site on Morris Avenue in Newark.

The event, which is open to all, will also include an overview of 91��Ƭ’s programs and services and light refreshments will be served.

Click here to view the flyer.

91��Ƭ to Host Public Meeting 91��Ƭ Redevelopment Project on June 5

Michelle Lang — Thu, 02 May 2024 16:25:38 +0000

The event, which is open to all, will also include an overview of 91��Ƭ’s programs and services and light refreshments will be served.

Click here to view the flyer.

Honoring The Life And Legacy Of 91��Ƭ Founder Monsignor William J. Linder

Michelle Lang — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:46:35 +0000

Monsignor William J. Linder lived a life of service, helping to better the lives of countless individuals during his time on earth. Many of those people gathered to pay tribute to him after his passing June 8 at the age of 82.

Monsignor served others as a priest following his ordination in 1963. Five years later, he founded 91��Ƭ, which has served inner-city residents for 50 years and continues to provide critical services like housing, job training, health care and child care.

Those who knew him say he fought to get what was needed for community members and helped others without expecting anything in return.

91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman said Monsignor was very hands-on in his approach.

“He touched so many people. And he didn’t do this from up on high. He did it right in front of you, face to face, shaking your hand and walking you through his vision of where he wanted you to be,” Rohrman said. “The people of the city of Newark have lost their greatest and most persistent champion. There is physical evidence of Monsignor Linder’s legacy throughout the city, but his most important legacy is the difference he’s made in many people’s lives through the 91��Ƭ mission.”

Upon its founding in 1968, 91��Ƭ has had the mission “to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement.” Monsignor lived by that mission and worked to ensure those that needed assistance got it.

Housing was a major need. The first NCC housing development, Homes Court, which provided family housing, opened in 1975. Construction on the most recent, A Better Life, a supportive housing facility for chronically homeless individuals that Monsignor envisioned, was completed in 2017. In between, Monsignor oversaw the creation of numerous housing facilities for seniors and families in Newark, Englewood, Jersey City and Orange.

He was also at the helm of NCC when it opened the 91��Ƭ Federal Credit Union in 1984, took on the renovations at St. Joseph Plaza in 1985 and opened the nursing home, 91��Ƭ Extended Care, in 1986.

Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s transitional housing facility for homeless families, began housing people in 1989 and the Pathmark Shopping Center opened in 1990, helping to alleviate the food desert that existed in Newark at the time. Monsignor welcomed Gov. James Florio to the grand opening of the shopping center.

Monsignor was very involved in education, even before the founding of 91��Ƭ. He established the Queen of Angels – Seton Hall University Remedial Reading Program in 1964 at the Newark parish to which he was assigned after his ordination. He served as the administrator of the Queen of Angels Parish School from 1966 to 1973.

Education has always been an important part of 91��Ƭ as well. Under Monsignor’s leadership, 91��Ƭ Workforce Development Center opened in 1999. The school is an accredited post-secondary career and technical institution that offers certification programs in a variety of fields. Also in 1999, NCC established New Horizons Community Charter School in Newark. In 2001, NCC received its first adult literacy education grant which led to the current NCC Adult Learning Center. 91��Ƭ also operates two facilities for young children: Community Hills Early Learning Center and Harmony House Early Learning Center.

In addition to these services, Monsignor established the Monsignor William J. Linder Scholarship Fund, which has helped families afford to send their children to Catholic high schools. The goal was to provide a good educational foundation and encourage the students to continue on to college.

Children and parents have expressed their gratitude over the years, saying the scholarships allowed for them to attend a school they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford. The scholarship fund remains in place to continue to help young people get a head start on pursuing their dreams.

Family, friends, colleagues and members of the community celebrated Monsignor’s life and accomplishments at two masses: one at St. Rose of Lima where he served as pastor and the other at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the home church of the Archdiocese of Newark, where he was ordained May 25, 1963.

Father Beatus Kitururu, who is very involved in NCC and knew Monsignor well, delivered the homily at the St. Rose of Lima mass. He discussed how Monsignor’s faith played a large role in his life and because of that faith he was able to help so many others.

“Those who knew well Monsignor Linder realized that he never gave up on anybody,” Father Kitururu said during his homily. “He stood to the end by those who needed the love of God even when some cheated him or betrayed him or spoke ill of him.”

Father Philip Waters delivered the homily at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart mass. He focused on how Monsignor worked hard and successfully helped the people of Newark.

“Many other efforts in the city were built on sand — but his were built on the rock of faith which stood against all the storms that blew against them. Many other programs have been blown away. NCC endures,” Father Waters said in his homily. “But this man who was willing to walk with the poor and the disenfranchised built a legacy which will last as long as people of faith are willing to grasp his vision.”

Monsignor didn’t keep himself apart from those he served. In retirement, he remained a Newark resident and when he needed additional medical care, he moved into 91��Ƭ’s nursing home, Extended Care. He also decided prior to his passing that he wanted the funeral home that provided services for the patients who could not pay to handle his arrangements.

At the repast celebrating Monsignor’s life and legacy, which was held at St. Joseph Plaza following the funeral mass June 16, those in attendance were encouraged to share their memories. More than a dozen took to the microphone to tell the crowd how Monsignor impacted their lives.

Several talked about how once they met Monsignor, he directed their path in life and had great vision for their future, often seeing something for them that they didn’t see themselves. Many also discussed how he taught them what service to others truly meant and inspired them to give back.

“The one thing that I learned from him and 91��Ƭ was service,” said Cecilia Faulks, 91��Ƭ’s first employee. “He taught me service was the righteous way of living.”

Gilda Rogers, who helped Monsignor write his memoir “Out of the Ashes Came Hope,” said, “I just learned from him in the two-year process working with him on that book what it really meant to be of service to people. I thought I knew, but I didn’t.”

91��Ƭ Board member Edgar Nemorin said Monsignor pulled God-given talents out of everyone and positively influenced them.

“I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for Monsignor Linder,” he said. “I wouldn’t be involved in community service.”

CEO Rohrman said Monsignor played a large role in his career.

“I’m eternally grateful to him,” Rohrman said. “It’s been just a wonderful experience starting for me in 1981 working with him. And he’s really put me in a place that I never would have been without him.”

Although Monsignor is no longer physically present, the mission he created remains the driving force behind 91��Ƭ. Rohrman said NCC will continue to serve residents with Monsignor’s vision in mind.

91��Ƭ Board Member Dr. Zachary Yamba spoke prior to the mass at St. Rose of Lima, saying he is grateful for Monsignor’s love, kindness and humanity.

“He always remained true to those who were downtrodden and poor and in need of help,” Yamba said. “And so the board members will continue to remain true to his vision because that vision and that legacy should not die with him.”