As new luxury developments rise across Newark’s downtown -- boasting of a bevy of amenities and accessible rooftops -- a longstanding residential tower in the city’s South Ward is getting a makeover of its own.

Zion Towers, which hovers 28-stories above Weequahic Park, will see $18 million in renovations over the next year that include new kitchens and bathrooms for all 268 units, a rooftop playground and a new entry canopy with wood features.

The high-rise on 515 Elizabeth Avenue is 100% affordable and will remain subsidized for the next 20 years under a contract with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

“Things are going to be OK again,” said a 33-year resident of Zion Towers, who goes by Miss K but didn’t want to give her name. “It wasn’t as nice as it should have been.”

A bathroom that will be renovated of an empty apartment. Soon L+M Development Partners and Prudential Financial Inc. will begin renovations on the 268 units of Zion Towers in Newark's South Ward. Tuesday July 9, 2019. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ AdvaAristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

L+M Development Partners purchased the property from Radiant Management in January 2018 for $28 million with additional financing from Prudential. It’s the company’s latest effort to help the city preserve low- and moderate-income housing and provide safe and decent living conditions.

L+M launched similar renovations to Georgia King Village, another Section 8 building in the West Ward. The developer is also behind the Hahne’s building and the renovated Walker House.

“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a nice place to live,” said Jeffrey Moelis, managing director of L+M. "And people start to feel differently about where they live. If you build amenities ... people start taking pride in the building.”

Moelis said improvements include new windows and an expansion of the community center on the fourth floor that will feature large storefront windows. The community room will lead to a new 3,116 square foot playground that will sit atop the four-story parking garage.

An area that is planned to be converted into a playground. Soon L+M Development Partners and Prudential Financial Inc. will begin renovations on the 268 units of Zion Towers in Newark's South Ward. Tuesday July 9, 2019. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ AdvaAristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

The building’s security system is getting a major boost, too. Hector Corchado, regional security director for C+C Management, L+M’s management company, said 170 security cameras will be installed in every hallway, elevator and along the building exterior. Previously, only eight or nine cameras worked in the building and security guards used outdated equipment to monitor the premise.

“It’s going to have a major impact,” he said.

In the building's office, Hector Corchada, the Regional Director of Security for C + C, looks at some of the 113 feeds from security cameras in and around the building. There are plans to increase the cameras to 170 so every hallway and stairway is covered. Soon L+M Development Partners and Prudential Financial Inc. will begin renovations on the 268 units of Zion Towers in Newark's South Ward. Tuesday July 9, 2019. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ AdvaAristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

Zion Towers has often made headlines for its poor housing conditions and almost had its Section 8 contract (which allows the building’s residents to pay 30 percent of their income toward rent) pulled because no repairs were being made. Moelis said they spent more than $1 million on immediate repairs when they bought the building, including changing 100 showers and fixing a broken boiler.

Kitchens and bathrooms will be remodeled by next May with construction on the playground starting next summer.

The renovations are being financed partly through loans from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Financing Agency and Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Moelis said the federal tax credit program, which is administered by the state, has been a catalyst for incentivizing developers to invest in affordable housing.

Tyara Thomas, the property manager, said mostly families live in the building, some of whom have been there for generations.

“We’re committed to changing their quality of life,” she said.

Jeffrey Moelis, of L+M Development Partners, looks out the window of an 18th floor apartment. Soon L+M Development Partners and Prudential Financial Inc. will begin renovations on the 268 units of Zion Towers in Newark's South Ward. Tuesday July 9, 2019. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ AdvaAristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.

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