AN EXERCISE IN COMMUNITY

PRESERVATION

MONTCLAIR

12 Miles West of NYCMontclair--

Founded: 18686.32 Square Miles

38,142 Population

Walkable Main Street

Trendy Restaurants, Shops, and the Arts

Historically diverse and integrated 100 Year Old Montclair Art

Museum

It Happens!!!!CHANGE

2000-2002Midtown Direct

Montclair Train Connection:

Joined the former Lackawanna Montclair Branch & the Erie Railroad’s NY and Greenwood Lake Railroad

…….911

And then…

Post 911 Montclair

New Yorkers Fled Manhattan in Search of Security in the ‘Burbs’

Housing Prices Skyrocketed Affordability Became Threatened The Seeds of Change Had Been

Planted

Action and Advocacy

Montclair Affordable Housing CoalitionGrass roots community organizing Community meetings/charettesPartnering with municipal/elected officials/residentsConsensus building

2004 – Montclair Affordable Housing Strategy

The Township of Montclair engaged consultants, Baird and Driskell, to draft a plan to research and provide action items to increase housing affordability

MAHS Summary

Designated Montclair affordable housing need: 4,240 units vs 600+/-

43% of renters are spending more than 30% of their income on housing

Created Montclair Affordable Housing Commission to advise Council on strategy implementation

Created Montclair Housing Trust FundStaffed by Township Planning Director

2006 Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

The Montclair Township Council approved the IZO:1 in 5 units, or 20%, of all new housing units must be affordable in developments of 5 units or more

Montclair Housing Affordability Since the IZO

Total Affordable Units: 639 vs Montclair’s 2015 estimate: 1,000

2000 2014

Median Home Price: $395,001 Total Housing Units: 15,531 600+/- Affordable Units White Population: 59.8% Black Population: 32.1% Other Population: 8.1% Median Income: $74,894 Poverty Rate: 5.6%

Median Home Price: 659,484* Total Housing Units: 15,481 639+/- Affordable Units White Population: 64.5% Black Population: 25% Other Population: 10.5% Median Income: $97,907 Poverty Rate: 6.6%

What’s the Impact on Community Preservation?

US Census, American FactFinder

*2016

What Does the Future Look Like for Montclair?

Successes--Walkable CommunityArts, Culture,

Shopping Good Public Schools2015 Great American

Main StreetInclusionary

developmentsGentrification/Mixed

Income

Challenges--Sustained

AffordabilityExplosive GrowthGentrification/Fewer

Lower IncomePolitical Will

Is Montclair Gentrified or

Homogenous??

HOMECorp

Homes of Montclair Ecumenical Corp.

Beverly M. Riddickinfo@homecorp.org www.homecorp.org

973-744-4141