O’Dea Supports 150 Bay Street Development, Calls on Other Mayoral Candidates to Back Affordable Housing Downtown

Powerhouse District Project Includes 25% Affordable and Workforce Housing, New Public School and Other Community Benefits

Mayoral candidate and County Commissioner Bill O’Dea is announcing his support for the proposed 150 Bay Street development, a project that includes significant new affordable and workforce housing in Downtown Jersey City where it is sorely needed. O’Dea is calling on his fellow mayoral candidates to join him in supporting the project and advocating for more affordable housing for Jersey City residents. 

“Housing affordability is the biggest issue facing Jersey City, and in order to solve it we need to support development projects that deliver the affordable housing our city needs,” said O’Dea. “No proposed project is ever perfect, and as Mayor I would mandate a 20% affordable housing set aside in exchange for tax incentives. But as it stands now with the city’s current Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and other housing policies in place, this project fits the overall vision of making our city more affordable and I believe that any candidate who is serious about the housing issue should publicly support it.” 

O’Dea’s stance in favor of the 150 Bay Street project fits with his push for a more affordable Jersey City, which he has outlined throughout his campaign for Mayor. O’Dea has also taken other candidates to task for failing on the affordable housing issue, including the fact that when Jim McGreevey was Mayor of Woodbridge he failed to build any affordable housing despite having a state mandate to create 1,351 affordable units. 

“Building affordable housing is critical in all parts of Jersey City, but it’s especially important Downtown where we have the strongest access to public transportation and job opportunities anywhere in the city,” said Team O’Dea Ward E Council candidate Dan Israel. “By supporting developments like 150 Bay Street that include truly affordable housing we can create opportunities for more residents to live here and enjoy everything that makes Downtown Jersey City one of the most in-demand places in the region.” 

O’Dea and Israel pledged to work with community groups and the developer to address resident concerns related to road infrastructure in the vicinity of the project, including improvements to streets, sidewalks, signage and other necessary work. The candidates pointed to low or no interest financing programs that can be made available to fund infrastructure improvements.