CAMDEN, NJ — A groundbreaking attended by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) executive staff, kicked off construction of 58 affordable apartments for seniors, which is the last phase of the redevelopment of a former public housing site in the city’s Centerville neighborhood. Phase four of The Branches at Centerville will complete the comprehensive revitalization of the site of the former Clement T. Branch Village. The former Branch Village was built in 1941 and named for Dr. Clement T. Branch, who was a prominent doctor and the first African American to serve on the Camden school board. The development featured blocks of brick apartment buildings which eventually became severely dilapidated and obsolete public housing. The new development will include 58 one-bedroom apartments in a three-story building for residents age 55+ earning up to 60% of the area median income (AMI). Five apartments will be set aside for homeless individuals. Clement T. Branch Village is the last public housing community to be redeveloped in the neighborhood’s Mt. Ephraim Avenue corridor, a main thoroughfare to the east of the development. Eight two-story brick buildings were demolished, and three new public roads will be introduced to better integrate the community with the rest of the residential neighborhood. "The completion of this redevelopment and its replacement of obsolete public housing will be a major milestone for the residents and community, and will provide safe, modern, affordable homes for all the residents,” said NJHMFA executive director Charles Richman. "NJHMFA is proud to join this redevelopment through the award of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which are an invaluable tool in creating affordable housing in New Jersey.” READ MORE