The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Saddle River NJ, It doeas look like many of the former Bergen County Mayors join this small but powerful government utility organization. Who else wants to work “In addition, the NBCUA Board of Commissioners named sitting Commissioner Brian Chewcaskie of Allendale, NJ, as Chairman, replacing William Dator of Mahwah, NJ, whose term had expired. Michael Kasparian of Ho-ho-kus remains as Vice-Chairman, he heads MDK Development, of Paramus, NJ.”
August 7,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the state of New Jersey currently has a total of 391,428 vacant housing units, according to Census data, with the highest concentration in Newark.
In a recent report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy the report noted that abandoned properties have a devastating effect on the fiscal health of the town. They pay little in taxes and generate little revenue. By devaluing neighboring properties, they reduce property tax collections.
Additionally, the government bears substantial costs to deal with these properties. The report calls them “a massive drain on public resources, hitting hardest those cities already struggling to meet payrolls and invest in their future.”
Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi noted , “Currently, New Jersey has a total of 391,428 vacant housing units, according to Census data, with the highest concentration in Newark. These numbers are staggering particularly as we build hundreds of thousands additional units of court imposed housing in New Jersey. Why aren’t we converting even a fraction of these homes into affordable housing rather than building on every last remaining parcel?What is wrong with this State?”
June 4,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, according to the group MahwahStrong , at the May 17th Council meeting town attorney Brian Chewcaskie gave a legal presentation on Mahwah’s affordable housing requirements. The video of this session is available at https://mahwahnj.swagit.com/play/05172018-820/6.
Summary of the Update
• Each NJ towns affordable housing requirements were based on 3 criteria. Mahwah ended up in Region #1 which had the highest affordable housing requirement. The criteria were;
1) Household Income (based on most recent census)
2) Amount of Non-residential Ratable properties
3) Vacant Land Available
• The number of units Mahwah is required to provide in this round is 830 units which after credits and other options will equate to approximately 210 new incremental affordable units built
• In addition to the 175 affordable units that will be built at the Crossroads center affordable units will be built at 3 other locations not previously discussed;
o 1 Fyke Road (Off Ramapo Valley Road) Approximately 42 units/ 7 affordable
o Mahwah Town Center (Post Office Location) Mixed Use commercial and residential. Residential will be no more than 14 units per acre. This site will yield an additional 10 affordable units
o 70 Island Road (Next to Fire Company #2) 15 units 100% affordable.
• Last, Mahwah must agree to set aside 20% of all future developments as affordable units.
If approved and agreed to this will close Mahwah’s affordable housing requirements through the year 2025 at which point additional affordable housing units will be required.
This affordability thing is one of the most perverted things I have come across.. How can an organization such as Fair Share housing have so much leverage in dictating their agenda. How can they play as they wish with the quality of life of so many towns, villages and people who have worked hard to make it where they are living now. Affordable housing can be beneficial to a handful of people but can be devastating to so many more. Yet there is no public outrage when they impose totally unrealistic numbers to nice towns without giving a sh!t in how people in these places feel about this. Local governments feel so powerless even though they represent the will of of local population.There are plenty of affordable places in NJ. Whoever can’t afford Ridgewood, HoHoKus, Montvale etc. can move to Paterson, Clifton etc. This has nothing to do with humanism, this is total abuse.
