A new 234-unit rental apartment complex is rising quickly in Woodbury Heights. The project will consist of nine buildings, including 34 affordable units.
During the planning board process, the project was referred to as Academy Pointe, but recent online postings related to hiring a community manager and allocating residential units identify the development as The Randall.
Located at Chestnut and Academy Roads in the quiet Woodbury Heights suburb, the property previously housed a large commercial door fabrication business and warehouse. A massive fire in 2010 severely damaged the structures, and two years later the remaining buildings were demolished.
The project will include several community amenities, such as a swimming pool, tot lot, and dog park. Residents will also have access to shared coworking spaces, a fitness center, and a lounge area. The wooded land to the north of the property—bordering the local school—contains wetlands, which will remain in place between the school and the apartment complex.
This development is using a unique modular construction method. While foundations and some first-floor components are built on-site, much of the project is constructed off-site as rectangular modules—complete with windows—before being transported to the property. Recent drone imagery shows roughly two dozen of these modules lined up at the site, awaiting installation on the building foundations. The angled roofs appear to be constructed traditionally with on-site truss framing.
The Randall – Affordable Housing
Of the total 234 units, 200 will be market-rate apartments.
Regarding the 34 affordable units, the Borough of Woodbury Heights has shared that qualified applicants can request to be added to the waiting list by January 6 by visiting AffordableHomesNewJersey.com and following the instructions to submit a preliminary application. Income will be verified, and residents or workers of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties will receive priority consideration over applicants from other counties or states.
According to the AffordableHomesNewJersey.com website, final allocation of the affordable units will be determined through a random drawing from the pool of qualified applicants on the approved waiting list. But again, check the official website for the most up-to-date and accurate information and requirements.
Planning for this project has been underway for roughly 12 years, with various litigation and court orders shaping the process. By the time of the 2024 planning hearing, approval was essentially predetermined by court mandate; and the hearing primarily ensured the site plan aligned with borough zoning and code requirements.
This property had also been considered during early planning for the proposed Glassboro–Camden Line, which once targeted the area as a potential vehicle maintenance facility. Those plans have clearly since been adjusted. The team moving the GCL rail project has stated their planning has already accounted for property being used for apartments.
Links and Location
The Randall Apartments – Woodbury Heights523 Chestnut AvenueWoodbury Heights, NJ