the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, in a move to accelerate improvements on the long-stalled “Town Center” properties, Mahwah Township has added “condemnation” to its redevelopment designation for the site, located at the southwest corner of East Ramapo Avenue and Franklin Turnpike. The decision, recently approved by the Planning Board and Township Council, aims to motivate property owners to clean up and repair the 3.4-acre site.
A Strategic Tool, Not a Seizure
Township attorneys clarified that this action does not mean the immediate seizure of the property. Instead, condemnation serves as a potential “tool” to encourage redevelopment progress.
“You are doing it with the idea and notice to the property owner that if you make this designation, you will have the ability to condemn these properties for redevelopment under the redevelopment laws,” explained attorney Jim Turtletaub. “It doesn’t mean you have to. It just means you have the option to stir the progress along.”
Years of Setbacks and Abandoned Projects
Efforts to redevelop the Town Center properties have faced numerous obstacles. In 2017, a 175-unit senior housing project with ground-floor retail was proposed but later abandoned when developers lost their funding.
The U.S. Postal Service, a former anchor occupant, vacated the site in 2018 and relocated in 2020. Since then, the properties have been plagued by zoning challenges, maintenance issues, and developer funding struggles.
The site also faces environmental constraints, including its inclusion in the Highlands Open Water Protection Area and Riparian Area, further complicating redevelopment plans.
Heightened Accountability
The condemnation proposal has prompted renewed activity from the property owners. Township officials, including Mayor James Wysocki, noted that previous violations and maintenance issues were largely ignored until condemnation was raised as a possibility.
“Once we mentioned condemnation, you fix all the violations. That’s what’s amazing,” said Wysocki during a Planning Board meeting.
A Divided Perspective on Blight Designation
The redevelopment designation hinges on whether the site qualifies as “blighted,” a term legally required for condemnation under state law. Township Planner Doreen Green outlined the deficiencies of each lot in the area, citing conditions that justify the blight designation.
However, the property owners, represented by attorney Joseph Grather, argue that the site is not blighted and is instead undergoing redevelopment consistent with market demands.
“The only purpose [of the condemnation designation] would appear to be an attempt to prevent redevelopment of an excellent property and thwart private efforts to revitalize a downtown area directly across the street from the train station,” Grather said in a statement.
A Long History of Challenges
Mahwah has struggled to create a cohesive town center since municipal offices moved westward in the 1990s. The scattering of township facilities away from Franklin Turnpike disrupted efforts to maintain a central hub, leaving officials striving to reestablish the area’s prominence.
Next Steps
The property owners now have 45 days to appeal the blight designation. In the meantime, Mahwah’s officials remain focused on ensuring that the Town Center redevelopment moves forward, aiming to transform the site into a vibrant hub for the community.
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