Egg Harbor Affordable Housing, LP is converting the former Clarion Hotel and Convention Center located at 6821 Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, into 84 units of affordable family housing.
The Clarion Hotel and Convention Center was in poor condition with a declining market for conventions and declining demand for hotel rooms outside of Atlantic City. With Superstorm Sandy, the condition turned dire as this property sustained extensive roof damage. As documented by the attached pictures below and resolution from Egg Harbor Township, significant storm damage occurred to the roof, and subsequently to rooms on the sixth floor, rendering that floor uninhabitable. Due to the widespread amount of leaks the entire roof will be properly removed and replaced. Moreover, the stair tower roof on the right side of the building was torn completely off along with an HVAC unit. Because the HVAC unit was blown off, all common areas were conditioned by one rooftop unit, which did not have adequate capacity for this load.
From a design standpoint, the project qualifies as adaptive reuse as all the units are located within the former Clarion Hotel. The building improvements were completed to the LEEDS Gold Standard, while providing a high level of on-site amenities for the tenants including a two-story entrance, six story light filled atrium, playground, brick patio, and pavilion.
Uses advanced technology to reduce energy consumption, such as NJ ENERGY STAR Homes or EPA ENERGY STAR Homes;
The scope of construction is being completed to both LEEDs Gold and NJ Pay for Performance Standards including the following energy efficiency features:
a. Select HVAC and finish materials to LEEDS Gold Standard. For example, increase thermal performance and Low-E coating of all windows.
b. Replacement existing skylight with new steel framed and roofed skylight to retain natural lighting in the six-story atrium while reducing the heat effect of sunlight.
Install solar panel sunshades on the south facing façade to offset common area electric
costs.
c. Install LED parking light lot fixtures and charging stations for electric vehicles.
- Offers an array of supportive services for tenants;
The project is very fortunate to have on site offices for two very experienced and very successful social service agencies. Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties (JFS) will maintain an office to provide supportive housing services for nine units and social services for all residents of the Project. Robin’s Nest will maintain offices for behavioral health services and their Atlantic County Family Success Center. The Project will also maintain a shared training center for use by management and these social service agencies.In addition, the Project will maintain storage units for all tenants in the basement, access through a dedicated freight elevator and outside entrance. The rear courtyard will also provide a large gazebo, pavilion, brick patio, playground for children, picnic and grill area. The front of the property will have a two story entrance and landscaped fountain. - Advances the vitality of the neighborhood and strengthens local economic growth
- Demonstrates the potential to have a lasting impact on the community.
As detailed above, the Egg Harbor Hotel Conversion Project has the potential to have a lasting impact on the community by demonstrating that affordable housing may be a benefit to the community:
- By addressing an existing deteriorating building in the community and giving it new life,
- By providing quality housing, social and supportive services,
- By accomplishing all of this in a designated redevelopment area, and on a property that occupies over 13 acres along a major corridor in Egg Harbor Township the impact of this revitalization on the surrounding area is significant.
