Trenton townhouse wins excellence award

Real Estate Weekly, Nov 7, 2001

Willow Green, the Trenton townhome community, has received the Governor's Housing Excellence Award for "Outstanding Development" in 2001. The Excellence in Housing Awards recognize the achievements of developments, initiatives, organizations, and individuals whose efforts have increased the availability of affordable housing and support services for New Jersey families.

"The Willow Green development has been a stimulus to attracting low and moderate-income residents to the capital city," said Deborah DeSantis, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, who presented the award.

Willow Green is a joint venture of Leewood Real Estate Group and Lutheran Social Ministries of N. J. Leewood Real Estate Group had overall responsibility for the development, marketing, sales, and construction of Willow Green.

Michael Fink, president of Leewood's New Jersey division, said, "We are pleased to accept this award for the Willow Green community and to have brought new homeowners to Trenton. The demand for additional homes has emphasized the need for affordable housing in the area. We are proud to have developed a first-class community of new homes that not only reclaimed and beautified a neighborhood in Trenton, but also enabled hard-working New Jersey families to become homeowners."

R. Randy Lee, founder and CEO of Leewood Real Estate Group, added, "The Willow Green community and this 'Excellence in Housing Award' would not have been possible without the support of the City of Trenton, the State of New Jersey, Lutheran Social Ministries, the Federal Home Loan Bank, and Richmond County Savings Bank, Willow Green's lead lender. I am very pleased with the success of this development and will strive to continue bringing affordable housing opportunities to residents in Trenton and throughout New Jersey."

Willow Green's townhomes were sold out before construction was completed. To meet the demand, Leewood Real Estate Group/N. J. has identified several additional projects in Trenton, which are currently going through the approvals process.

Willow Green style townhomes, as well as additional duplex and two-family home models, are envisioned for these communities, the first of which is expected to be unveiled in early 2002.