Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea’s (D-2) housing plan would require 20 percent affordable housing for any projects with tax breaks, reserved specifically for residents making 30-60% of the area median income.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“If developers want tax breaks, they need to give something back to our community — and that means at least 20% affordable housing, no exceptions. The City Council has had years to implement the kinds of policies and secure the necessary state and federal tax credits that are essential for building housing that serves everyone, but it hasn’t happened because we haven’t had the political will,” O’Dea said in a statement.
“Targeted, well-crafted PILOT agreements may be controversial, but we have to take bold action to make progress on housing affordability and anyone claiming otherwise isn’t being honest.”
He continued that his plan draws on his decades of experience working in affordable housing development and his deep understanding of state and federal tax incentive programs (O’Dea is also the deputy executive director of the Elizabeth Development Company).
The commissioner added that he plans to utilize funding from the state’s Aspire program and work with the Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA) to help pay for new affordable housing.
In that scenario, significant projects like Bayfront and Holland Gardens, which already have over 20 percent affordable housing, will get extra support to keep them moving forward.
The city will also step in to help fill funding gaps for projects set to start in 2026 and 2027.
Smaller projects, especially those with 40 units or fewer, will get help from state and local Affordable Housing Trust Funds.
A mentoring program will connect small nonprofit developers with experienced professionals to help them succeed. The city will also make better use of 700 available Section 8 housing vouchers for projects that meet affordability rules.
O’Dea also noted that tenant protections will also be a focus: committing to improving how rents are tracked, hiring more staff to enforce rent control laws, and create a public only database where tenants can check if they’re being overcharged.
Furthermore, a new fund will help pay for repairs in rent-controlled buildings, including fixing broken elevators and improving energy efficiency. If landlords don’t fix elevators on time, the city will step in and bill them for the repairs.
O’Dea also commits to reestablishing the Office of Receivership to oversee the management and rehabilitation of deteriorating occupied rental properties, particularly those neglected by bad actor landlords.
To that end, a dedicated Receivership Task Force will collaborate with the Office of Code Compliance, construction code officials, and the Office of Resident Solutions to prioritize intervention in buildings with repeated code violations.
They will enforce strict repair timelines and ensure financial transparency.
Additionally, O’Dea’s plan will develop a list of qualified receivers, create a Local Housing Preservation Loan Fund for necessary repairs, require financial commitments from owners seeking to exit the receivership program, and mandate monitoring to maintain or expand affordable housing units, once landlords exit the program.
Finally, more affordable housing for artists will be built near cultural spaces like Mana Contemporary. F
aith-based groups that want to develop affordable housing on their properties will get zoning changes and financial support through state and federal programs.
“Jersey City isn’t just for the rich. We’re making sure working families, teachers, first responders, and artists can afford to stay here. This plan is about action, not empty promises,” O’Dea concluded.
“Bill O’Dea’s Housing Affordability plan is exactly what we need to carry out plans like the ones I have proposed that require mandatory affordable units for all new developments in Journal Square. Let’s make Jersey City a place where everyone can have an opportunity to put down roots and be a part of our community’s future,” added Team O’Dea Ward C council candidate Tom Zuppa.
