CHA - Housing group set to mark 45 years
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PostPosted: Sat, Jan 23 2010, 12:33 pm EST    Post subject: CHA - Housing group set to mark 45 years Reply with quote

Housing group set to mark 45 years
Friday, January 22, 2010 9:02 AM EST
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer

CRANBURY — Forty-five years after the first hammer was swung in the name of the community’s less fortunate, Cranbury Housing Associates will hold its annual reorganization meeting Sunday and celebrate the anniversary.

The driving force behind the township’s affordable housing efforts, CHA has come a long way since its inception in the early 1960s, said Mark Berkowsky, president of the organization.

”Basically, it started out as a hands-on, self-help organization,” he said.

Today, the nonprofit organization helps the township fulfill its affordable housing obligations by providing support services, monitoring the resales of purchased units and providing reports to the state Council on Affordable Housing.

At Sunday’s meeting, attendees can revisit CHA’s beginnings when organizers present some original slides and films of early volunteers and their efforts, Mr. Berkowsky said.
The public also will get a brief history lesson on the organization. For instance, since 1990, CHA has raised money for and constructed 96 units in Cranbury, he said.

”It’s how CHA has helped the township meet its affordable housing obligations,” he said.

While the organization’s representatives will give residents ample proof of its fruitful past, they’ll also present evidence of a bright future.

”We’re also going to present proposed plans for future developments (at the meeting),” Mr. Berkowsky said.

The main focus of that discussion will be the Route 130 D property, he said, an affordable housing site that is still in the concept phase. Mr. Berkowsky said development of the site could range from 29 to 48 units and is located directly across from the South River Road jughandle.

CHA, which has approximately 40 volunteers, also will use Sunday’s meeting as an opportunity to recruit more members, he said.

”Without community support, any volunteer organization would cease to exist,” Mr. Berkowsky said. “We really need new members and new blood to keep our organization going.”

The meeting will be Sunday at 2 p.m. in the large group room at the Cranbury School, 23A N. Main St. For more information, contact Mr. Berkowsky at 609-655-2400.

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2010/01/23/cranbury_press/news/doc4b58e80dc3888211089735.txt
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PostPosted: Sat, Jan 23 2010, 1:01 pm EST    Post subject: Re: CHA - Housing group set to mark 45 years Reply with quote

Why is Cranbury Housing Authority moving forward with 130D site plans when COAH maybe disbanded in a few months? I am going to the reorg meeting tomorrow to find out myself, and hope that all new plans are on HOLD in Cranbury till COAH is settled. No reason to move forward if things are going to change about our obligation mid year, so not sure why this Sunday party is celebrating moving forward with the 130D plans (its the cessation we should be celebrating instead.)
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PostPosted: Sat, Jan 23 2010, 1:04 pm EST    Post subject: Re: CHA - Housing group set to mark 45 years Reply with quote

and why is it scheduled just prior to the JET game at 2:00? The game is on at 3:00? Not a lot of time to do any work for many in Cranbury that are fans.
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PostPosted: Sat, Jan 23 2010, 1:59 pm EST    Post subject: Re: CHA - Housing group set to mark 45 years Reply with quote

Guest wrote:
and why is it scheduled just prior to the JET game at 2:00? The game is on at 3:00? Not a lot of time to do any work for many in Cranbury that are fans.

Hmm.... maybe that's the point - LOL
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PostPosted: Sat, Jan 23 2010, 11:55 pm EST    Post subject: Re: CHA - Housing group set to mark 45 years Reply with quote

Cranbury Press wrote:
CHA, which has approximately 40 volunteers, also will use Sunday’s meeting as an opportunity to recruit more members, he said.

”Without community support, any volunteer organization would cease to exist,” Mr. Berkowsky said. “We really need new members and new blood to keep our organization going.”


I'm glad to see CHA reaching out for "new members" and "new blood". I joined CHA a year and a half ago to be part of the solution. When I joined, it took a great deal of persistance to get a membership application (which is now available on their web site). I was surpised to learn there is no CHA newsletter or e-mail updates. Last year there was one annual meeting with limited opportunities for member participation. The CHA membership seems like a nice group of well meaning people. Hopefully, tomorrow will bring a greater opportunity to participate.
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PostPosted: Sun, Jan 24 2010, 12:11 am EST    Post subject: Re: CHA - Housing group set to mark 45 years Reply with quote

Guest wrote:
Why is Cranbury Housing Authority moving forward with 130D site plans when COAH maybe disbanded in a few months? I am going to the reorg meeting tomorrow to find out myself, and hope that all new plans are on HOLD in Cranbury till COAH is settled. No reason to move forward if things are going to change about our obligation mid year, so not sure why this Sunday party is celebrating moving forward with the 130D plans (its the cessation we should be celebrating instead.)


I'm not disagreeing with you, but to answer your question, until the rules change, Cranbury has to follow the COAH rules or risk a builder's remedy lawsuit. The current COAH rules require Cranbury to move forward with the planning, and possibly development, of the 130 D Site.

In my opinion, we should be planning no more than 29 units at the 130 D Site. In addition to being the right this to do, limiting the size of the development will save us money in the short term, and long term, if we are required to start building at the 130 D Site this year.
JD
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