Build With Purpose Dedicates 25 Units of Affordable Senior Housing in River Edge

Build with Purpose, a NJ-based nonprofit, is celebrating the opening of The Senior Residence at St. Peter the Apostle in River Edge with a building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony at the residence on Sunday, October 20, at 12:15 p.m. The Senior Residence is located at 415 Fifth Avenue, River Edge, in the former convent of St. Peter’s church.

The celebration will begin with an 11 a.m. celebratory mass at St. Peter’s Church followed by a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony at The Senior Residence at 12:15 p.m. Reverend Sheehan, Pastor at St. Peter the Apostle Church, and Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo, Mayor of River Edge, along with other elected officials, will help to dedicate the building and partake in the ribbon cutting. Refreshments and tours of the residence will immediately follow the ceremony. The event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

Build with Purpose has been working with St. Peter’s Church and the Archdiocese of Newark for the past year to redevelop the vacant convent into affordable housing for seniors. The concept for The Senior Residence came from Build with Purpose’s desire to provide seniors with a warm, welcoming, safe and comfortable place to live at more affordable rates than living alone or in traditional senior residences or assisted-living communities. 

“We’ve come to learn that many seniors can’t afford or simply don’t want to live alone, and many can’t afford the high cost of traditional for-profit assisted living facilities," said Brian Keenan, Director and President of Build with Purpose. 

"We think this approach will help to fill the gap between living alone and assisted living,” he said. 

Work began on this effort in early 2012 as Build with Purpose saw an opportunity to create a new home for Bergen County seniors on the campus of the St. Peter the Apostle Church. The residence brings together a community of seniors within a warm, supportive environment, close to family and loved ones, but also offers residents a degree of independence. Monthly costs at The Senior Residence are a fraction of the state average for independent senior living and assisted living. Amenities include: three meals a day, housekeeping, transportation, recreation, private rooms and 24- hour on-site staff.

If you would like more information about The Senior Residence at St. Peter the Apostle, please visit their website at www.StPetersResidence.org.

Build with Purpose was started in 2003 and its mission is to build sustainable organizations and healthy, vibrant communities. Since its inception, the organization has helped dozens of organizations with their facilities, including over 21 schools. Build with Purpose has secured over $150 million in real estate financing and assisted more than 5,000 people. While charter schools have been the bulk of its business, the organization has also developed 300 units of housing in Delaware and New Jersey. Now in its tenth year of operations, the organization has expanded its work to the development of private schools and senior housing. For more information on Build with Purpose, go to www.bwpurpose.org.