Queen Latifah Breaks Ground on $14 Million Affordable Housing Project in Newark

Newark, NJ — July 26 — Award-winning entertainer and Newark native Queen Latifah is expanding her impact far beyond the screen and stage with a bold new role: real estate developer. The multi-hyphenate artist, born Dana Elaine Owens, has officially broken ground on RISE Living, a transformative mixed-use housing project in her hometown, aimed at addressing Newark’s critical affordable housing shortage and revitalizing a long-neglected neighborhood.

The $14 million development—named “RISE” as an acronym for Rita Is Still Everywhere, in honor of Latifah’s late mother, Rita Owens, a beloved Newark schoolteacher—stands as a deeply personal milestone. Spearheaded by Latifah’s BlueSugar Corporation in partnership with GonSosa Development and Life Assets Development, the project brings together housing, community services, and economic opportunity.

A Vision for Renewal

Located near Springfield Avenue and spanning South 16th to 17th Streets, the RISE Living site will convert a blighted block into a vibrant community space. The project includes:

• 76 total residential units, comprised of 20 three-family townhomes (60 market-rate units) and a three-story mixed-use building with 16 affordable housing units, priced according to household income.

• Community amenities such as a fitness center, business hub, EV charging stations, ground-floor parking, and 1,900 square feet of nonprofit commercial space. All units will include modern features like hardwood floors, stainless-steel appliances, and in-unit laundry.

• Economic benefits, including construction job creation and local workforce training for union roles, reinforcing Mayor Ras Baraka’s citywide push for equitable development.

Latifah, visibly moved at the April 26 groundbreaking ceremony, reflected on the project’s origins. “I grew up around here, playing in West Side Park, a block away,” she said. “I saw what was needed on this block, houses that weren’t lived in… so I thought, ‘Why not here?’”

A Response to Newark’s Housing Crisis

The development arrives at a pivotal moment for Newark, where the housing crisis continues to deepen. A 2021 Rutgers study found the city needs at least 16,000 additional affordable units to meet demand. More than 60% of renters are cost-burdened, and the city’s median household income hovers around $37,000, with over a quarter of residents living below the poverty line.

RISE Living directly tackles these issues, offering affordable housing options without sacrificing quality. “The affordable housing units are going to be beautiful—just as beautiful as market-rate housing,” Latifah promised. “We want people to have pride in where they live and not be pushed out of their communities.”

A Legacy of Giving Back

RISE Living has been in the works since 2016, weathering delays due to the 2008 housing crash, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic. But Latifah’s perseverance—fueled by her mother’s legacy—never wavered.

“There’s no way this would be possible if [my mother] was not still in the midst of this,” she said. The project also serves as a symbolic renewal of a block once marred by tragedy, including a fatal 2015 shooting.

Local residents have praised the development not just for what it offers, but for what it represents. “It means growth, it means pride in seeing the Queen come back and do something in her city,” said Natalie A. Brown, a Newark resident. “She didn’t forget about us.”

Newark’s Celebrity-Backed Renaissance

Latifah joins a growing list of high-profile figures investing in Newark’s resurgence. NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, also a Newark native, has backed projects like “Shaq Tower 2,” a mixed-income high-rise with a commitment to affordable housing.

As the city continues its journey toward inclusive development, Queen Latifah’s RISE Living serves as a blueprint for community-rooted progress. “This is not just about buildings,” she said. “It’s about building lives.”

Construction is already underway, with the first phase expected to open to residents in the coming year.

— By [Your Name], Staff Writer