“This house needs to be preserved and turned into a museum. Couple of decades from now when city of RW counts more than 100000 residents and many, many apartment buildings, people will visit this museum and will pay their respect to the father & mistress of the new Ridgewood.”
photo courtesy of Steve Kim
“Im a long time resident NOT in favor of these various apartments. Unfortunately in the state of NEW JERKEY a developer can pull a ‘mt laurel’ deal and get many more apartments than we are currently seeing built. Thank the NJ state supreme court. if we didn’t roll over somewhat…we would have had to bend over and grab our ankles. lets hope they are taxed appropriately so if they attract residents with school age kids… they pay.”
the staff of the Ridgewooed blog
Englewood Cliffs NJ, Englewood Cliffs is required to build hundreds of new homes affordable to working families and people with disabilities – after violating the state’s fair housing laws for decades, a Superior Court judge has ruled.
The decision by Bergen County Superior Court Judge Christine A. Farrington requires borough officials to provide a plan within 90 days to build 347 homes to satisfy the town’s fair housing obligations under the Mount Laurel doctrine – or be stripped of all zoning powers.
“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.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Princeton NJ, A major fair housing settlement approved by Princeton last night ensures the construction of hundreds of new homes for working families and people with disabilities in one of New Jersey’s most desirable communities.
The agreement establishes a fair housing obligation for of 1,394 homes, ending years of litigation over Mercer County towns’ fair housing obligations – which led to an important ruling by Superior Court Assignment Judge Mary C. Jacobson in 2017 recognizing a significant statewide need for affordable housing.
Continue reading Princeton Agrees to 1394 homes in major new fair housing settlement
“What no one talks about but the type of voter who moves into high density has different objectives than one buying a single family home. In Ridgewood we had a mayor who had run twice for Congress and lost twice in part because single family homeowner types didn’t buy off on his program. So once in Ridgewood the push began for high density housing, large garages, bike paths… all things that appeal to the kind of voter who would support him in another run for Congress. Things blew up before he got his wish but the move to making Ridgewood a different kind of community had already gone too far.would be surprised if Teaneck was not similar. “
photos courtesy of the Facebook page of Teaneck East Votee Neighborhood Assn
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Teaneck NJ, a highly controversial 68-unit apartment complex will replace a vacant office building on State Street.The township’s Zoning Board voted 6-1 Thursday night to give a developer the approvals needed to go ahead with the project, over the objections of massive resident protests.
The group Teaneck East Votee Neighborhood Assn has raised concerns about adding to the neighborhood’s density.The vote came after half a dozen hearings spread across nearly a year. Board member Monica Honis cast the sole vote against the project.
the staff of thenRidgewood blog
Paramus NJ, a New Jersey appeals court has upheld the Paramus zoning board’s decision to reject a 35-unit multi-family development in a part of the borough that is zoned for single-family homes only. The developer Highview Homes proposed a 45-unit development for the site that would include parking and other amenities in 2016. Homes had purchased 1.8 acres on Sorbello Road,the project required that three single-family homes on the property be demolished.
Continue reading Court Rules Against Development in Single Family Zone in Paramus
” Our town is living the reality of the reign of the 3 Amigos and the 6 th unelected council member, Roberta Sonenfeld. 500 people came to a public meeting to speak out against the high-density housing ordinances. They disregarded the resident’s opposition and plan for a compromise and voted in a bloc to pass the ordinances. They tried to have a giant garage built which extended into Hudson Street, was opposed by surrounding businesses and Mount Carmel. They left the new council with a dilemma. They chose a smaller garage which I believe now would have been defeated as we see the impact of higher parking fees and kiosks needed to fund the project. We have the bike lane to nowhere which has added all sorts of problems to the Wilsey Square area. “
Continue reading Reader says, “Our town is living the reality of the reign of the 3 Amigos”
“So let’s see. He slept with a married woman while married. And the woman was a fellow elected councilman, so pillow talk was taking place about things like high density housing and parking garages. He attempted to kill Mike Sedon’s candidacy by telling Mike’s employer (a Staten Island newspaper) that Mike was running for elected office (which was absolutely not a conflict, different states for God’s sake). He interfered with freedom of the press and speech by STOPPING PUBLICATION of a citizen’s letter to the editor that was critical of him. He lied to Father Ron of Mount Carmel in order to bulldoze his massive garage project ahead. He attempted to get a citizen fired from his job because the citizen was openly critical of him. He bullied Councilwoman Walsh at a public meeting about a parking ticket (teaming up with Pucciarelli on this one). And this, ladies and gentlemen of this fine town, is only the START of the listing of his horrific behavior. Who the hell is the council of churches?????”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in what can be called an absolute lapse of judgment and slap in the face to every Ridgewood resident the Bergen County Council of Churches has shamefully awarded the former ethically challenged adulterous Ridgewood Mayor Paul Arosohn the “Presidents Award” ‘
Continue reading Bergen County Council of Churches Loses its Mind and Gives Ethically Challenged Former Ridgewood Mayor the Presidents Award
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood is not the only North Jersey town reeling from development pressure .Towns like Ridgewood , Montclair, Glen Rock , Upper Saddle River, Montvale to Fort Lee looking to come up with different strategies, for approving a new surge of housing, retail and cultural options intended to revive local business districts, meet state affordable-housing requirements and cater to changing consumer tastes.
Continue reading Ridgewood Schools Superintendent Back Tracks on High-Density Housing Impact on Schools
by Ron Vradenburg
Park Ridge NJ, In speaking to folks from town I’m often asked about the Sony case ( fighting to prevent 1,000 apartments being built), the building going up in the center of town and general question about development in ours and neighboring towns.
In almost ALL cases, I find that people don’t understand the driving force behind towns agreeing to these large apartment buildings. Sometimes folks don’t even know how many other towns are being forced to do it and how many have already started construction on more apartments than a town can EVER support. And I don’t blame them one bit. We’re too busy with our lives to keep up with all this stuff. Most don’t even know how many AH units FSHC is saying Park Ridge needs to add by 2025. Or what round of obligations we are in ( round 3 btw) and that there is round 4 coming in 2025.
Continue reading People don’t understand the Driving Force behind Towns Agreeing to these Large Apartment Buildings
No more hiding…
.
Ridgewood is now squarely on the A-list of suckers and targets.
…they are coming and the pace will be relentless and voluminous
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, At the Village Council meeting last night October 23, Rev. Lemuel Brown from the Mount Bethel Baptist Church on Broad Street spoke. He stated that he had the “very esteemed honor” to visit the Kensington facility in Falls Church, Virginia. He said he was contacted by them, and they drove him around and they all went to lunch and quite by chance they met the mayor and a councilman (quite by chance, bulls–t). He didn’t actually say that they paid for his trip (or maybe they paid him to speak?) but it sure sounded like it. Rev. Brown came to the council meeting to sing the glories of Kensington.
Continue reading Kensington Senior Development Still Targeting Ridgewood
