‘This Shouldn’t Be This Way’: Inside The Deteriorating Conditions At Lambertville Senior Complex

Residents of Heritage Village at Lambertville are raising alarm over unaddressed building damage, safety hazards, and staffing uncertainty at the 86-unit affordable senior housing community in the city.

The 55-plus property, which is owned by Community Investment Strategies (CIS), is suffering from severe deferred maintenance and damage from flooding and roof leaks. In multiple apartments and common corridors, exposed concrete, stripped drywall, open ceiling tiles, and visible mildew and mold odors remain unaddressed, according to residents who spoke to the New Hope Free Press.

Throughout the building, hall carpeting and tiles have been removed to show raw plywood and uneven surfaces, creating fall hazards for the senior population.

“There are places in the hallway where there is no flooring and someone can trip,” one resident said.

Additional concerns include aging and non-functional laundry equipment, questions regarding the security and sprinkler systems, poorly lit parking areas, and a large hole in the back parking lot near overflowing trash dumpsters.

CIS Founder and CEO Christiana Foglio said the opening is not a sinkhole, as residents described it, but rather the result of a water tank excavation that has not been fixed.

Outdoor lighting also remains partially inoperable, but recent landscaping efforts improved the unkempt exterior.

“Do you smell it?” a resident asked reporters during a recent tour. “That is the smell of the garbage room. The cans are almost overflowing.”

Another resident noted the recent outdoor upkeep: “They did just garden and it looks better. Thank God. But there is still a lot that needs to be done.”

Residents—many of whom are retired living on fixed incomes or using state and federal assistance such as Section 8—report limited housing alternatives in Hunterdon, Mercer, and Bucks counties even if they could move.

“This shouldn’t be this way,” said a family member of one resident. “If she could move somewhere else, she would.”

Tenants cited constant turnover among property managers, slow response times, and undertrained maintenance personnel.

Trust between residents and CIS was strained by public water shutoff notices stemming from unpaid utility bills by management. Water service was restored shortly after the notice was placed, residents said.

“We’ve been waiting and waiting for this renaissance,” Lambertville Mayor Andrew Nowick said at a recent city council meeting, adding he has met with residents regarding the property.

“I’ve been pretty forceful, I think, in some of my correspondence with CIS because I think that the conditions are very, very poor,” the mayor said.

According to Nowick, CIS representatives attributed delays in repairs and renovations to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development paperwork and hold-ups securing state and federal financing.

Nowick added that CIS expects to finalize details by early September ahead of a formal meeting to discuss the project.

CIS Founder and CEO Christiana Foglio, whose executive biography highlights a specialization in building high-quality senior and multi-family housing that retains its value, acknowledged the issues in an interview with the New Hope Free Press.

“This is a troubled project in our portfolio,” Foglio said, adding that financing for debt payments and a $15 million renovation is nearly complete after delays for government approvals.

“I’ve worked extremely hard to get that funding. I’m really delivering for them so that it can remain affordable,” Foglio said, adding that she could raise rents to offset rising costs but remains committed to affordable housing for the residents.

During the interview, Foglio said she would ask residents to remain patient with her and CIS as plans reach the final stages.

The planned $15 million overhaul will target deferred maintenance, common areas, and individual units with new kitchen cabinets and appliances, she said.

On facility staffing shortages, Foglio said there are industry-wide difficulties in securing on-site personnel, adding CIS is exploring artificial intelligence and third-party options to improve management continuity.

The CEO of the affordable housing company with more than 4,000 apartments across the state, plans to meet with city officials and residents in September to detail the renovation timeline.

“The property is in incredible need of renovation and that is why we want to do this,” Foglio said. “We’re in the homestretch.”

Residents of Heritage Village said they have lost trust in CIS over the years due to empty promises and their lack of response to having serious quality of life issues addressed at their community.

“This used to be a real nice place to live,” one resident said.

New Hope Free Press staffer Ingrid Sofield contributed to this report.