Two Thriven Design Projects Win Governor’s Excellence in Housing Awards
Thriven Design is proud to have been recognized alongside the project teams for not only one, but two developments selected by the Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development as winners of the 2024 Governor’s Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards: Village at Harmony Garden wins the Adaptive Reuse Transformative Award and the Autumn Ridge at Manitou Park wins the Leading Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Award. The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements in addressing the state of New Jersey’s housing needs and fostering robust economic growth. Congratulations to the project teams!
Village at Harmony Garden
Thriven Design partnered with Pennrose, providing the design for architecture, engineering, and planning, to develop the Village at Harmony Garden: a 65-unit community well situated for its senior residents and individuals with disabilities to live and thrive in harmony, all with convenient access to the shops, services and attractions of Rowan Boulevard in Glassboro, New Jersey.
The 10-acre community was previously a vacant public housing site in serious need of redevelopment and investment. Now it is the home of one- and two-bedroom cottage-style apartments with accessible units for individuals with physical, developmental, hearing, and vision disabilities. All units are 100% affordable, available at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) of Gloucester County. The affordable and supportive community enhances the southwestern section of the Borough of Glassboro and provides much-needed affordable housing while supporting the ongoing efforts to revitalize the local area.
The development also included a 2,908 SF community building which includes a community room, fitness center, and supportive services center. Thriven Design provided architectural, engineering, and planning services for the Village at Harmony Garden.
Autumn Ridge at Manitou Park
Thriven Design partnered with Homes for All in the redevelopment of the Manitou Park neighborhood, providing architectural and engineering design, as well as energy rating, which transformed an area in Berkeley Township, NJ, over the course of several phases and spanned over a decade.
The most recent phase, known as Autumn Ridge at Manitou Park, continued the mission of the redevelopment by promoting new investment in the local housing stock and infrastructure through adding 56 additional housing units. The homes were designed and adapted to fit in with the surrounding neighborhood while being updated for today’s housing market. Four model floorplans were built with varying options offered, ranging from 3-4 bedrooms, 1-2 car garage, and 1-2 stories.
Thriven Design incorporated sustainable building practices and guided the project towards Energy Star certification leading to energy efficient homes and lowered utility costs for the residents. The homes have energy star certified appliances, HVAC equipment, and light fixtures; as well as energy efficient windows and programmable thermostats.
The Governor’s Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards have celebrated outstanding communities with impressive achievements for over 25 years in the State of New Jersey. Thriven Design is honored to have contributed to the advancement of affordable housing opportunities and development over the years by having 15 project winners, including:
2023: Barclay Place Apartments, Excellence in Housing Development Award
2019: Dr. Lena Frances Apartments, Leading Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Award
2019: Camp Salute, Leading Supportive Housing Development Award
2017: Riverfront Village at Pennsauken, Housing Revitalization Award
2014: Dr. Walter G. Alexander Village (Phases I & II), Leading Housing Revitalization Award (Rental)
2014: Manitou Park Neighborhood Revitalization, Leading Housing Revitalization Award (Homeownership)
2014: Van Sciver Supportive Housing, Leading Supportive Housing Development through Creative Partnerships Award
2009: Sharp Road Family Housing, Outstanding Affordable Housing Development Award
2006: Faison Mews, Outstanding Green/Sustainable Development Award
2004: Metropolitan Inn & J. Frank Budd Building, Outstanding Affordable Housing Development Award
2002: Westport Homes / Elizabethport HOPE VI, Outstanding Affordable Housing Development Award
2001: Eastampton Town Center, Outstanding Green/Sustainable Design Award
1995: Fairmount Apartments, Project of the Year
