Shares

She’s called the Queen for a reason, and that reason is because she’s always looking out for her community.

The award-winning mogul’s real estate development firm, Blue Sugar Corporation, landed a deal to create new housing in Newark, New Jersey.

“To me, Newark is ours. Newark is yours. And I don’t want people to think that they can’t live in their own communities,” she said in an interview with News 12.

The 14 million dollar housing project has been in the works with New Jersey’s GonSosa Development since 2019.

“The project includes 20 three-family townhomes and a three-story mixed-use building with an additional 16 units,” NJ.com reported at the time. “Plans for the building include a fitness center and 1,900 square feet of commercial space that will be rented to nonprofits. The 60 units in the townhouses will be market-rate; the 16 units in the building will be affordable.”

Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey Sheila Oliver and Newark’s mayor Ras Baraka believe the project is much needed and will be game changing for the Newark community.

“I grew up around here. I grew up playing Westside Park, a block away. I grew up learning around here. I had a lot of family who lived around here,” Latifah said.

“I think it inspires everyone around to feel more pride in our neighborhoods,” Latifah added.

The partnership with two additional development firms will provide 76 townhomes and 1,900-square-feet of space for nonprofits.