U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi denied a bid by a coalition of mayors to delay the implementation of New Jersey’s affordable housing law.
The group of about three dozen municipalities filed a federal lawsuit in April seeking to undo the criteria the state uses to calculate municipalities’ affordable housing obligations. They wanted to stay the March 15 deadline to determine how high-density housing units are calculated.
“The courts have been crystal clear — New Jersey’s affordable housing law is here to stay,” said Fair Share Housing Center Executive Director Adam Gordon. “Now that the federal court has rejected these claims in full, it’s time to move forward — as the overwhelming majority of municipalities already are — by producing the affordable homes New Jersey desperately needs.”
The law, approved nearly two years ago, appears to address a statewide shortage of affordable housing estimated at roughly 150,000 units.
In October, Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy dismissed a lawsuit filed by the coalition, Local Leaders for Responsible Planning.
“The vast majority of municipalities are embracing New Jersey’s affordable housing law and utilizing it to build homes in ways that work best for their communities,” Gordon stated. “With the courts having repeatedly rejected these attacks, municipal leaders can now focus on implementing their housing plans and allowing the affordable homes New Jerseyans urgently need.”
