History of the Bridgeton Housing Authority
DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRIDGETON HOUSING AUTHORITY
1957-PRESENT
The development of the Bridgeton Housing Authority can be traced back to the suggestion by Bridgeton City Councilman Solomon Riley in 1957 which gained Mayor John Spoltore's active support. Another young City Councilman, Bill Bowen, opposed the development of a housing authority, noting the many problems other communities had with their projects. After considerable discussion, Bill was persuaded to support the creation of the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeton and on February 10, 1958, the Authority was officially incorporated. At that meeting, Marvin Rempfer was elected the Temporary Secretary/Treasurer of the Authority and work began towards the development of the city's first 100 unit family housing project known as Maplewood Gardens.
The record shows that on October 27, 1961 the Housing Authority Commissioners voted to appoint William E. Bowen Executive Director with additional duties as Secretary-Treasurer and Contracting Officer for a five year term with Commissioners Dominic Sungenis, Wilbert Davis, Arnold Bauer, and Marvin Padgett voting in the affirmative and Commissioners Charles Patitucci and James Hursey voting for the retention of Executive Director Marvin Rempfer. Development of the Housing Authority continued unabated by this change in leadership. The Maplewood Gardens project was nearly completed with units being occupied even though some landscaping remained to be completed.
In September 1962, the Mill Street project with 36 family units was dedicated with construction completed in 1963. The construction of the Ramblewood senior housing complex was also completed in 1963 as a satellite of project number two. Ramblewood was a pilot project, the first in the nation, in which an off-site cottage style development was built. Considerable effort was needed to convince HUD but subsequent experience proved this to be an exemplary approach to housing low income elderly families.
In 1966 an urban renewal style effort removed some dilapidated structures at the west end of Vine Street and replaced them with fifty units of elderly housing. This development was expanded in 1972 with the addition of 38 units at that site along with an additional 62 units for family and seniors at the site known as Cohansey View. The origins of the Cohansey View development emanated from the first meeting in January 1970, at which the new Commissioner Barney Fisher attended.
Perhaps the most difficult project for the Authority was the construction of the senior citizen High Rise in 1973 at the site of the former Cumberland Hotel. Local sentiment supported the rehabilitation of the structure but the failure of the buildings systems and modern codes contended against this approach. After a long meeting at the site of the old Hotel lasting to 2 AM, local and federal officials conceded they could not rehabilitate the building whereupon it was suggested to replace it with a new structure. After a considerable campaign to convince federal and local officials the development was approved. Senator Harrison Williams and Bridgeton Evening News editor Ralph Brandt were particularly helpful with the effort to mobilize support for the project.
New members to the Authority in 1982 included Douglas Turner as plans for additional development continued. Project number six was built in 1985 with the development of 50 housing units for seniors at the Dare Avenue, Overlook, and Pine Street locations. The success of the Housing Authority officials in properly developing and operating the total of 450 units over 30 years is a testimony to the dedication of the Authority's Commissioners and personnel. In March 1991 Executive Director William Bowen retired with pride and well earned respect for his many achievements.
The Housing Authority received a HOPE VI grant in the amount of 10.9 million dollars in November of 2001 which, with additional mixed-finance funding, promised to build approximately 367 new homes while demolishing 98 units at Cohansey View and Mill Street.