The A. Harry Moore Apartments in Jersey City, NJ was a stereotypical high-density, high-rise development located in the West Side of Jersey City. A. Harry Moore was located in the midst of a relatively stable older neighborhood composed of one and two-family homes and small apartment buildings. The development is directly adjacent to a large, well-maintained cemetery, the business route of U.S. Highway #1 and immediately across the street from Hudson County’s Lincoln Park.
Built in 1954, A. Harry Moore originally consisted of 664 units in seven, twelve-story buildings on approximately 7.6 acres of land. During the late 1980′s and early 1990’s the A. Harry Moore complex experienced severely deteriorating site conditions, concentrated poverty, ever-increasing vacancies, vandalism and crime (especially drug related). These conditions of overall distress highlighted the site’s physical obsolescence and social isolation from the neighboring, more stable communities.
Recognizing the need to completely transform this development, the JCHA in cooperation with the City of Jersey City and the A. Harry Moore Resident Management Corporation received HOPE VI Demolition funding for the demolition of four out of the seven public housing high-rises (Phases I &II).
Now completely redeveloped Phases I & II of A. Harry Moore contain 149, one, two and three-bedroom mixed-income family units in five low rise buildings (residences are set-aside for income grouping of; less than 50%, 51-60%, 61-80% and market rate units). The development also contains a large management/maintenance office, a tenant council meeting room, a computer lab, play ground and a resident community room with a warming kitchen. Each of the residences contains central air conditioning, fully furnished kitchens and a washer and dryer.
Financing for the project was provided through the equity from the syndication of Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency, Balanced Housing Funds from the Department of Community Affairs, a HOPE VI Grant from the Jersey City Housing Authority, HOME Funds, Community Development Block Grant Funds and a grant from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund all from the City of Jersey City, a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, and a mortgage from the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency.