Voorhees planning board approves 120 affordable housing apartments for Centennial Boulevard.

A now-vacant Voorhees plant that for years sent concrete to South Jersey construction projects will be demolished and a $50-million affordable housing apartment complex will be built on the Centennial Boulevard property.

The Camden-based Michaels Organization last Wednesday received planning board approvals for its preliminary and final major site plans and minor subdivision plan to build The Oaks at Centennial in two phases with 60 affordable apartments in each phase. The formal applicant is Centennial Housing Associates LLC.

For years, L&L Redi Mix Concrete made concrete on the 6.6-acre site until it was acquired in December 2021 by Silvi Concrete, based in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, and later shut down. At the time of the purchase, the 55-year-old L&L Redi Mix operated concrete plants in New Jersey in Voorhees, Southampton, Woodbury, Cinnaminson, Kingston and Clayton.

The 120 affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom units are included in the Voorhees affordable housing plan that was released last year and revised in February. The Voorhees affordable housing report says the site has been cleared of any contamination.

Monthly rent for a two-bedroom unit at the proposed 600 and 602 Centennial Boulevard development for a family earning 60% of Area Median Income would be $1,587. Rent for a one-bedroom unit would be $1,323 and $1,834 for three bedrooms.

Nicholas J. Cangelosi, regional vice president of The Michaels Organization, has said affordable housing in suburban towns is a way to help essential workers in retail, healthcare and the schools to live in the communities they serve.

Traffic consultant Shropshire Associates LLC of Atco estimates The Oaks would generate 43 extra trips during the morning peak hour and 60 extra trips during the afternoon peak hour.