Press Releases

Dream Affordable Homes Built for Low & Moderate Income Residents

September 12, 2006 – Harding Township, NJ – Under bright blue skies, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of the newly constructed affordable housing complex, The Farm at Harding, on Kitchell Road in Harding Township.  Mayors, Freeholders, planners, builders, non-profit colleagues, bankers, and other community supporters gathered to applaud the official opening of the complex.
 
The Farm will accommodate 24 low and moderate income families, and offers one, two, and three bedroom units.  The design theme honors Harding's rural character, as the building silhouettes recall a barn, a farmhouse, a carriage house, and even a tool shed for waste and recyclables.
 
John Franklin, CEO, United Way of Morris County, which includes increasing affordable housing in Morris County as part of its mission, was the featured speaker.  "We know that there are 10,000 families in Morris County who are in need of good, safe housing they can afford.  Over half our seniors are spending over half their income on housing.  There are about 13,000 single heads of households living on an annual income of less than $35,000 a year.  It's tough to afford a good home on that kind of income."
 
"We are all lucky to have The Farm at Harding as a model.  This complex is a sterling example of what can be done when public and private partnerships, vision, energy, and community come together."
 
John R. Murray, Mayor, Harding Township, kicked off the festivities, noting that in just 13 months the property had been transformed from a large pile of dirt to a sparkling spread of five buildings surrounded by acres of open fields and woods.  Those responsible for the project had been on a "trip down a superhighway, working as a super team of commitment, collaboration, and congeniality," he noted.
 
"It's rare to see the words 'affordable' and 'Harding' in the same sentence," continued Murray, citing The Farm as a model of how affordable homes can be built to fit into a community, to meet all environmental standards, and to exceed quality and aesthetic expectations.
  
"For United Way, the Housing Alliance, and for all others in Morris County who care so much about affordable housing, the future is brighter today.  We are not just applauding the completion of new affordable housing, we are welcoming our fellow neighbors home," Franklin concluded.
 
The complex entrance was christened MacDougall Lane, in honor of Harding resident Rod MacDougall, who was a prominent farmer in Morris County, and who served as one of the early members of the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).  
 
Families will be moving into their new homes in the days ahead.

About United Way of Morris County
United Way of Morris County is dedicated to helping people and improving the quality of life for all residents. We address issues most critical to the future of Morris County by bringing attention, expertise, and resources to them. For more information, visit us on the web at www.uwmorris.org, or call 973.993.1160.

Contact
Rebecca Fernandez
Marketing Communications
United Way of Morris County
973.993.1160, x129
Email