Major Route 17 Transformation: Paramus Approves New Affordable Housing Complex
file photo Route 17
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, A massive change is coming to one of Bergen County’s busiest corridors. The Paramus Planning Board has unanimously greenlit a brand-new, 65-unit affordable housing development right on Route 17. Located at the former Oster site (10 Route 17), this currently vacant lot—nestled right by the BJ’s Wholesale Club, Route 4, and Maple Street—is officially transitioning into a modern residential hub.
The project is a major milestone for the borough as it actively fulfills its landmark legal settlement with the Fair Share Housing Center.
Shifting Gears: Why the Route 17 Project Got Smaller
If this development sounds familiar, that is because it has a history. Back in 2020, developers initially received the go-ahead to construct a larger, 104-unit mixed-income building on the property.
However, after those initial approvals expired, developer Genesis Paramus Housing Urban Renewal LLC headed back to the drawing board to adjust to the modern economic landscape.
“The reduction in units was a financial feasibility decision,” explained Nicole Lockett, the managing director of development for Genesis Paramus.
Inside the New Design Blueprint:
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100% Affordable: Instead of a split mixed-income layout, all 65 apartments are designated as affordable housing.
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Family-Focused & Open: The units will not be age-restricted. The breakdown features 11 one-bedroom, 35 two-bedroom, and 19 three-bedroom family layouts.
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Building Profile: The structure will stand four stories high (approximately 42 feet).
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Surplus Parking: While local regulations required 65 parking spots, the developer is building 113 spaces to ease neighborhood congestion.
An official construction timeline has not yet been announced.
Part of a Much Bigger Suburban Overhaul
This Route 17 project isn’t happening in a vacuum. It is part of a sweeping, 10-year development roadmap designed to satisfy state mandates. Paramus has hundreds of residential dwellings currently in the pipeline.
In fact, local shoppers are about to see massive redevelopments at three major Paramus shopping malls, transitioning classic retail centers into vibrant, mixed-use residential spaces.
According to town officials, the newly approved Oster site is one of three key plots chosen for its “realistic development potential.” The other two areas designated for upcoming development include:
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615 Winter Ave.
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West Ridgewood Avenue & Paramus Road
“This implements the settlement agreement with the state,” stated Stephen Sinisi, the attorney representing the developer. “So we play an important role in that respect.”
Solving the “Unmet Need” Challenge
Because space is at an absolute premium in Bergen County, the borough’s master plan accounts for a 907-unit “unmet need”—housing mandates that cannot be built traditionally due to a lack of open land.
To bridge the gap, Paramus is aggressively utilizing progressive zoning laws passed in recent years:
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The Highway Corridor Commercial Zone: Allowing developers to build mixed-use residential apartments directly along major highways like Route 4 and Route 17.
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The Nursery Redevelopment Plan: Repurposing current and former local plant nurseries into residential housing properties.
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Tags: #ParamusNJ #BergenCounty #Route17 #NJRealEstate #AffordableHousing #SuburbanDevelopment
Just keep packing the town full of more structures and traffic.