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 | Nov 17, 2015
A new luxury high rise reflects a resurgent condo market in Miami Beach
GLASS is one of several residential buildings in the works in that city’s hot South of Fifth neighborhood.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 5, 2015
Architects propose residential tower in Singapore with gardens on every floor
Imagine a high-rise with lush greenery on every floor—that’s the design Ingehoven Architects and A61 propose for Marina One, a series of residential towers in Singapore.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 4, 2015
Labor City: The Qatari complex for 70,000 migrant workers opens
The project is just one of seven house complexes built by the government for the country’s approximately 260,000 labor migrants.
Architects | Oct 27, 2015
Top 10 tile trends for 2016
Supersized tile and 3D walls are among the trending tile design themes seen at Cersaie, an exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings held in Bologna, Italy in October.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 27, 2015
Multifamily building in downtown Montreal is being built from the roof down
The method eliminates the need for scaffolding and cranes.
Modular Building | Oct 22, 2015
My Micro NY will soon be New York's first micro-apartment building
The Manhattan modular building will be completed in December and will contain apartments with low rents, but small space.
Architects | Oct 20, 2015
Four building material innovations from the Chicago Architecture Biennial
From lightweight wooden pallets to the largest lengths of CLT-slabs that can be shipped across North America
Multifamily Housing | Oct 20, 2015
Builder confidence rises on multifamily’s strength
Starts and completions were up solidly in September, but permits are leveling off.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 16, 2015
Textile factory turned multifamily has train tracks running through it
The Counting House Lofts is a 200-year-old building that still has its train tracks, exterior train bay doors, and a watch house tower.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 15, 2015
Montreal apartment is world’s largest residential cross-laminated timber project
Its 434 condo, townhouse, and rental units in three eight-story buildings are made from sustainably harvested wood turned into panels by Canadian company Nordic Wood Structures together with the Cree Nation in Chibougamau.