Naomi’s Way, a 12-unit shelter in New Brunswick, N.J., had been providing transitional housing for special-needs single homeless women and their children.
About a year ago, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., which operates Naomi’s Way, decided to convert the building to permanent housing. But it only had about $100,000 for much-needed renovations, and its initial plan was limited to redoing the kitchens in each apartment and making other, cosmetic changes, like replacing sliding closet doors with doors that swung open.
All-Phase Consulting Services, a general contractor in Perth Amboy, N.J., was hired to do most of that work.
Then the scope of the project broadened dramatically, thanks to the involvement of American Standard, the plumbing brand of Lixil, whose corporate headquarters is in nearby Piscataway, N.J.
American Standard donated in excess of $100,000 in products—including faucets, fixtures, and vanities—and remodeling costs, which allowed Catholic Charities to gut and redo each apartment’s bathroom. Then Philips, based in Somerset, N.J., donated all of the LED light fixtures. Leviton, which is based in Melville, N.Y., donated the switch/light outlet covers and AFCI outlets.
Fifty-five employees from American Standard and Philips volunteered to paint the apartments over a five-day period. Sherwin-Williams’ retail store in North Brunswick, N.J. donated the paint.
This corporate largesse “kind of turned this into a full-building renovation,” says Richard Matarangelo, Catholic Charities’ Facilities Maintenance Manager, who is supervising this project. He was able to replace the windows in the bathrooms with energy efficient windows with frosted glass, supplied by Silver Line Building Products, which is based in North Brunswick Township, N.J.
Richard Matarangelo, facilities maintenance manager for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., who is supervising the renovation of Naomi's Way to become permanent affordable housing. Image: BD+C
During the renovation, some residents who had been living at Naomi’s Way were relocated to one of Catholic Charities’ other shelter. (Statewide, Catholic Charities operates about 30 buildings with around 100 apartments.)
Naomi’s Way’s renovation is scheduled for completion on July 1.
Each apartment is getting new kitchen cabinets, faucets, and sinks. Some will also get new appliances. Image: BD+C
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Oct 16, 2019
Covenant House New York will support the city’s homeless youth
FXCollaborative designed the building.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 16, 2019
A new study wonders how many retiring adults will be able to afford housing
Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies focuses on growing income disparities among people 50 or older.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 14, 2019
Eleven, Minneapolis’ tallest condo tower, breaks ground
RAMSA designed the project.
| Oct 11, 2019
Tips on planning for video surveillance cameras for apartment and condominium projects
“Cameras can be part of a security program, but they’re not the security solution itself.” That’s the first thing to understand about video surveillance systems for apartment and condominium projects, according to veteran security consultant Michael Silva, CPP.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 9, 2019
Multifamily developers vs. Peloton: Round 2... Fight!
Readers and experts offer alternatives to Peloton bicycles for their apartment and condo projects.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 7, 2019
Plant Prefab and Brooks + Scarpa design scalable, multifamily kit-of-parts
It is Plant Prefab’s first multifamily system.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 3, 2019
50 Penn breaks ground in New York, will provide 218 units of affordable housing
Dattner Architects is designed the project.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 12, 2019
Meet the masters of offsite construction
Prescient combines 5D software, clever engineering, and advanced robotics to create prefabricated assemblies for apartment buildings and student housing.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 10, 2019
Carbon-neutral apartment building sets the pace for scalable affordable housing
Project Open has no carbon footprint, but the six-story, solar-powered building is already leaving its imprint on Salt Lake City’s multifamily landscape.