Long-Awaited Newark Apartments Will Be 100% Affordable Housing

NEWARK, NJ — When it’s complete, Kawaida Towers will make history as the first “100 percent affordable housing development” in downtown Newark.

On Wednesday, stakeholders and officials gathered at the future site of the building, which will be located at 17-21 Halsey Street. It will have an estimated 66 studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a community space that can host educational and cultural programs.

The building will replace a deteriorated, city-owned structure, and is being built in partnership with a minority co-developer with Newark roots, officials said.

According to city officials, Kawaida Towers will achieve a 50-year-old dream that was first envisioned by community activists such as Amiri Baraka Sr., the famed poet, activist and father to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

Officials shared the following details about the partnership that made the building possible:

“Kawaida Towers is a joint venture between Omni America LLC, the designated redeveloper, Mid-Atlantic Alliance, minority co-developer (10 percent partner), and The National Action Network (10 percent partner). Omni has a long track record of quality affordable housing nationally and in Newark. Mid-Atlantic includes two Newark natives and has completed projects that provide affordable homeownership opportunities in the city. National Action Network and Rutgers-Newark will operate Cisco Cyber Security and other STEM-related courses such as coding, website design, 3D printing and more on-site.”

Mayor Baraka pointed out that the building has a special meaning for many local residents.

"This was property that was stopped in the early 70’s in Newark," Baraka said. "It was picketed, tax abatement taken away, even violence ensued to stop African American families from moving in to certain parts of the city. This is a legacy project and we are very proud of it."

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