Plans to demolish an old public housing project and replace it with affordable housing began with destruction of the first building at Ellis Manor on Thursday in Glassboro. Known locally as the “Ellis Street projects,” the 60 family apartments and 16 senior units were built on the 76-acre site in the early 1960s.
As the cost to maintain the buildings increased and the site deteriorated, the Glassboro Housing Authority began relocating residents in 2013. Work to demolish and remediate the site will cost $1.6 million, which is funded by a mix of state demolition funds, affordable housing trust funds and a community development block grant.
The housing authority and developer Pennrose Properties LLC plan to build affordable, age-restricted housing on the site, located at Ellis Street and Higgins Drive. The project will consist of 65 units for seniors, including 16 units for developmentally disabled adults. Demolition should wrap up by late August and the first phase of construction should begin by spring of next year, officials said.