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 30, 2017
Multifamily ventilation: Help buildings breathe
What's the right set of "lungs" for your building?
Multifamily Housing | Oct 30, 2017
First two affordable family apartment communities open in Irvine’s master planned Great Park Neighborhoods community
The buildings offer a total of 166 apartments.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 29, 2017
Multifamily visionaries: The Beach Company’s family ties
Spanning four generations, The Beach Company continues to expand its development footprint across the Southeast.
Greenbuild Report | Oct 19, 2017
Can 'living well' sell?
As the competition for renters and buyers heats up, multifamily developers look to health and wellness for an edge.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 19, 2017
Enlightened conversion: A church becomes condos in D.C.
Once there were 857 churches in the District of Columbia. Now there are 856. One of them became an award-winning condominium complex.
University Buildings | Oct 13, 2017
The University of Oklahoma receives its first residential colleges
The residential communities were designed by KWK Architects and combine living and learning amenities.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 11, 2017
A 267-unit multifamily community is under construction in Summerville, S.C.
Summer Wind will be about half an hour outside of Charleston, S.C., in the rapidly expanding Summerville submarket.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 9, 2017
6 new products for the multifamily construction market
Bamboo wall panels, an adaptable prep sink, and a two-tiered bike parking system are among the product innovations geared for multifamily buildings.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 27, 2017
Pickleball, anyone?
Two-and-a-half million Americans are playing the game with the funny name.
Mixed-Use | Sep 25, 2017
One of L.A.’s most sought-after neighborhoods receives a new mixed-use development
The new development will feature 166 units and 9,000 sf of ground-floor retail.