The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey’s so-called “affordable housing” mandates have once again sparked controversy, with critics calling them nothing more than a court-ordered development scheme that benefits developers and politicians while raising the cost of living for residents.
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Hackensack NJ, With the May 13 municipal election approaching, Mayor John Labrosse’s team has a new candidate after a slate member withdrew to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
Richard Garcia, a Democrat working for the Bergen County Clerk’s Office, will replace Marco Howington, a real estate development consultant, on Labrosse’s ticket.
Continue reading Hackensack Mayoral Race: New Candidate Joins Labrosse Team Ahead of Election
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Ridgewood NJ, developer Onyx Equities‘ new-construction apartment complex in Ridgewood, the NOMA, has started leasing just two weeks ago and has already hit the 40% mark.
With the onsite leasing office now officially open to the public and accepting appointments, the NOMA with just 39 luxury residences complemented by a collection of lifestyle amenities has quickly become one of Bergen County’s most in-demand addresses.
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Saddle River NJ,Resolving a lawsuit that alleged that one of the nation’s most exclusive towns had for decades enforced exclusionary zoning policies that excluded working families and people of color, the Borough of Saddle River agreed this week to create nearly 150 new affordable homes in a settlement with Fair Share Housing Center.
A 5-acre Bergen County estate formerly owned by legendary actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell, and two adjoining lots, will be converted into a new inclusionary development with eight homes affordable to working families as part of a landmark fair housing agreement approved by local officials Feb. 10.
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Ridgewood NJ, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee released S368 (Cryan/Weinberg). The bill permits municipalities to require developers to make contributions for mass transit improvements.
“This legislation is important because it will make sure developers pay their fair share of mass transit costs associated with new developments. New developments create more demand on mass transit systems, and create more traffic in the area. New Jersey is one of the most densely populated states in the country, and we have some of the worst air quality in the nation,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Developers should be required to help offset the burden that their developments put on mass transit.”
Continue reading New Jersey May Finally Require Developers Pay Fair Share for Transit Improvements
“This town is turning upside down. Thousands will move in during a very short period of time. Be prepared for a shock.In addition to the garage, to accommodate the new horde a library expansion will follow plus a PAC which is masked under HS needs. Developers have not started with low income housing yet. Just watch. RW will be a mix of Hackensack, Montclair, Englewood and a bit of Paterson as well. Who wouldn’t want to live in this melting pot.
Ridgewood is GONE.
“This $15/hr, more than anything else going on, will break our CBD permanently. Our CBD businesses are all getting by on thin margins now: restaurants & retail. Now the state will reduce those margins even more. Look for more empty storefronts. The No-Math crowd behind $15 in the village [Library/Hospital Cabal, Apartments, Garage] are also Murphy Voters. So as all the new parking [proven that we don’t need] comes online and the $20m bill comes due this year, there will be fewer businesses to pull shoppers who will pay to park to pay the loan. How do you imagine that it will be paid for [hint: your highest-in-the-area property taxes/fees are going up, Way Up]. Also, as businesses shorten hours to cover the artificially forced higher cost of labor, less need for employee-only parking as there be fewer people working in the CBD. All these facts were known before Ramon/Jeff/Bernie pushed the garage and the Library Glamificiation. None of this is all that hard to understand unless you are a Socialist like a Murphy voter or our VC.”
photos courtesy of Chestnut Village
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Ridgewood NJ, Work continuing at Chestnut Village. Dense element continues. Roofing continues. Getting our new retaining wall installed. When done the wall will be stained to blend more naturally. Wedding the vibration absorbing hvac mounts to the structure. Ridgewood Fire Department has been touring the building and checking out our construction techniques and the non flammability of the project. They also are familiarizing themselves with the layout and construction. We can appreciate their diligence and dedication to the safety of our workers and also our residents to come. Our switch gears are being installed for the electric as well.
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Ridgewood NJ, on the Facebook page ,”It takes a Ridgewood Village “Steve Kim points out what the Ridgewood blog has continued to point out to no avail for so many years ,more pressing than parking is the problem with traffic congestion in the Village of Ridgewood. The problem has been so ignored that the Village has over the years exacerbated the situation with so called “traffic easing” ie turn 2 lanes into one under the trestle and install a suicide bike lane . Place “valet” parking eating up street parking and of coarse approving massive high density housing in the central business district .
Continue reading Its Not a Parking Problem in the Village It’s a Traffic Congestion Problem
“Thankfully there are some civic minded residents that hold elected and appointed officials accountable. Valley thought they’d cut a back room deal with then Mayor Pfund to double the size of the building. Residents got wind of it and ultimately won. On the other side, the apartment developers made friends with the Aronsohn regime and got their way. Residents should have acted more quickly and decisively. Now the BOE and the Library cabals (many of the same people behind Valley and the apartments) are coming at us again. Thanks to the residents who take it upon themselves to expose these pet projects and call bullshit.”
Apartment living has its own perks and privileges. But, many consider apartment living for its many benefits. For a lot of young people, it is a lifestyle worth considering. Those who opt for an apartment find several benefits of living on it, or much better compared to a regular house.
Reader says, “Too big. Just like everything else being proposed. I don’t mind if Mr. Saraceno improves his property – just do it within the rules set forth in the existing Mater Plan. Same rules for everyone right? I could make a ton of money by tearing my house down and putting up high density housing too. Thanks to Mr. Pfund’s ordinance I could petition the town to change the Master Plan because it would be good for me financially. I could conduct a study that would conclude that there would be no adverse impact on traffic or infrastructure. I could conduct another study that would conclude that there would be no additional children in the school system because I’ll only rent to “empty nesters”.
Why is Mr. Saraceno any different from the rest of us? Why should he be entitled to change the laws to suit his own financial interests? Not a single person has made any credible argument that Mr. Saraceno’s apartments will be good for anyone other than Mr. Saraceno.”