Partnership proves cost effective for Millstone

The opening of the Millstone House on Burnt Tavern Road next week will mark more than just the creation of additional affordable housing in Monmouth County.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will also signify a successful partnership among Millstone Township, the county and the state. Working together, these entities pooled their financial, human and informational resources to achieve the shared goal of providing 11 more people with an affordable and decent place to live.

Forming working partnerships saves taxpayers money. In this case, the collaboration renovated an eyesore in Millstone Township and provided a way for the township to help meet its affordable housing obligation without building more homes.

Township Attorney Duane Davison and Richard Kramer, the township's planning consultant, notified the Monmouth Housing Alliance about the property because the former owner, a northern New Jersey-based nonprofit, had fallen behind on the property taxes, leaving the old farmhouse to further deteriorate.

Before the home went on the auction block as a tax sale, the township negotiated to buy the property. Kramer, who was familiar with the Monmouth Housing Alliance, suggested the possibility of bringing in the alliance to rehabilitate the property for affordable housing, and we commend him for that.

To get credit for creating the same number of units under the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) guidelines, the township would have had to approve the building of 110 single-family homes, according to Township Attorney Duane Davison. He said the renovation of the former farmhouse is a "win-win all around," and we agree with him. The project preserves open space and helps the township meet a sizable portion of its affordable housing obligation at a reasonable price.

Township Committeeman Elias Abilheira said the project is one of the more cost-effective ways to provide affordable housing in the township. Renovating the house cost $1 million, but the township didn't incur any of those costs - and it doesn't have to maintain the house either because of the partnership with the alliance.

Funding for the project came from the state Department of Community Affairs, the Federal Home Loan Bank and Monmouth County's HOME funds program.

The project has shown how partnerships of this nature improve access to affordable housing while not significantly impacting local infrastructure needs, municipal budgets and use of space. We hope more communities in the area will take advantage of the state Department of Community Affairs' Municipal Access Funds, which encourage municipalities to address their affordable housing needs through the purchase of land and affordable housing construction through nonprofit partnerships.

When working together for a common goal, these partnerships increase commitment to get results because all the entities involved share the risks and the benefits. Overall, they improve delivery of services to the community and at a lower cost to taxpayers and more of them should be struck.