Tag: high density housing

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Reader says Court Ordered Over development is part of the continuing efforts to punish the “rich’ suburbs and provide another method of transferring money from hard working folks to those who in many cases chose not to contribute

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At the base level, this is not just about housing. This is part of the continuing efforts to punish the “rich’ suburbs and provide another method of transferring money from hard working folks to those who in many cases chose not to contribute. Take a look at why the tolls are so high on the bridges or your NJ Transit ticket so high. There are large percentages of those funds that support the city infrastructures, subways, etc. Money transfer?
There a volumes of books written about these schemes to ‘change’ the neighborhoods through exaction of money, influx of people who could not afford to live there, and try to force people to accept those who they would prefer not to. I don’t care what the politics, race, or lifestyle is of my neighbor as long as they can pay for the house, taxes, and upkeep.
Wake up folks, keep voting for liberals and watch the things you want to protect continue to eroded underneath you. Ridgewood is directly in the sights of the Governor and others. Anyone who thinks we wont have 1000+ units at the Valley site and other locations is just not fully aware of how these things work.

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Why court imposed housing when we have so many vacant housing units in New Jersey ?

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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?”

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Reader says It is The Garden State no more

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I grew up in Ridgewood during the 40s, 50s, and early 60s. Ridgewood is an entirely different town now. I feel sad about the changes. When my generation passes on, no one will be left who remembers what it was like. Some of the comments replying to this post clearly reflect what Ridgewood has become.
I think that entire part of the country has been ruined both by developers and by the ever expanding levels of government required to manage the tangled mess they create and leave behind.. There is no going back to the standards and values of a bygone era. My Dad used to say we lived there at the last good time. From what I have seen firsthand and from what I have read on this blog, I think he was right.
Those who can do so are leaving New Jersey; it is not hard to see why. It is The Garden State no more.

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Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi : Raising Legitimate Concerns Over Court Forced Development is Not Racism

CBD high density housing

July 28,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

River Vale NJ, Holly Schepisi (New Jersey State Assemblywoman for District 39 )” I will say this as clearly as possible. The current system does not work properly for anyone. Because I want the legislature to do its job and implement better policies for our communities does not make me a racist or xenophobic as stated by Kevin Walsh, the Fair Share Housing head. I am committed to focusing on providing affordability in housing for all that need it, including our seniors, our veterans, our disabled, new home owners, people who have lost their jobs or have a medical issue and the poor of all races. I do not care what race, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation you identify with. If you want to be my neighbor I will welcome you with open arms. What I do not want is to have every last piece of green space in the already most dense state paved over with 1,000 unit complexes. These units are being forced to be built by Fair Share Housing in communities with no public transportation, no jobs, no infrastructure, all volunteer fire and ambulance corps while increasing populations of small communities by 30 percent or more. Excising concerns about these real life issues is not racism. Calling it such is outrageous. “

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NJ Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Hosts Forced Developement Lobby

CBD high density housing

July 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ,  Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Chair Benjie Wimberly will convene a Wednesday hearing to discuss the issue of affordable housing. The committee will receive testimony from invited speakers and the public.

In an effort to start a fresh discussion on housing concerns, Wimberly plans to hold similar forums throughout New Jersey.
“It is no secret that the cost of living in New Jersey is among the highest in the nation. And, currently, we are at an all-time high in terms of demand for affordable housing,” Wimberly (D-Bergen/Passaic). “We face a severe shortage of affordable homes in our state. This concerns us as a legislative body and committee.”

Among the invited guests for tomorrow’s hearing: Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, Fair Share Housing Center, the New Jersey Apartment Association and Community Investment strategies.
Audio of the hearing will be streamed at https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.

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Reader says the prior council had too many commercial supporters and buddies to really know what was going on

3 amigos

I seriously do not believe that our present council members are in it for the non- existent money that they have pouring in for their votes. They are actually forfeiting time that could possibly be used to earn money instead. I’m afraid I can only say that about this council as prior ones had too many commercial supporters and buddies to really know what was going on.

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Reader says People are willing to squeeze and financially suffer in order to get into a good school district

high density housing Ridgewood

No, I am not saying that only poor people with lots of kids will move in. Very few apartments are being allowed for low income, and that basically means an income lower than the average Ridgewood taxpayer. Many current Ridgewood residents could qualify. I am saying that, as has been noted before, many houses go on sale at Graduation time and the sale sign is posted near a Congratulations lawn sign. Many potential renters will find these apartments (at regular price) cheaper than either renting or buying in Ridgewood and the 2 bedrooms can handle at least 2 kids and the 3 bedrooms more. The various garden apartments in town have many children in them now.Though the quality of education has declined drastically since we moved in, it is still better than many other towns and Counties can offer. People are willing to squeeze and financially suffer in order to get into a good school district. The first built will have astronomical rents but the more that are built, the more the rents cannot stay that high. They will be reasonable for people with children. The high school is seeing the last of the lower birth rate children. Our lower grades are seeing a larger amount of children currently. Just drive around town and notice all the baby toys and strollers!

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Reader says if you believe no children will fill those apartments, I have a nice bridge to sell you

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We can’t afford to move but this means that we will never shop anywhere in Ridgewood again. Kings at least has its own parking. Our taxes have more than quadrupled in the time we have lived here. Now I assume they will quadruple again in the next 2 years. Ridgewood will soon be a town of only million dollar incomes because no-one making less will be able to afford to live here. Not only is the garage a financial disaster but the new apartments will require much more school space for all the children who will arrive with them. The quotes of”‘little or no children” were based on the one tall apartment building at the corner of Franklin and Maple. None of the garden apartments were surveyed at all. Why? Because children live in those. And, as someone said before, if you believe no children will fill those apartments, I have a nice bridge to sell you. Our council seems to have believed the hype that they will only be filled with hundreds of very very rich people who either have no children or are retired with a huge pension and who also don’t even have one car per apartment. I guess they were testers of the marijuana product before it comes on the open market. I hope they are planning to greatly increase the police budget because the garage and apartments will require many more police responses than we have police to cover the calls.

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Second Protest Planned at Apple Ridge

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Dear Mahwah, Ramsey and USR Residents and Friends,

It is time to organize our second protest against Toll Brothers at Apple Ridge. Following our first great protest this one promises to be even better!

Come and make your voices heard and protest the environmental damage that Toll Brothers are causing to our local environment and water. Bring family, friends and neighbors and support our community. Make some new friends, meet some old ones. Can’t stay for long, a short visit is great too! Short on time, drive by and honk your support!

Saturday July 21 12-4 pm.
269 E. Crescent Ave. Mahwah (on the Mahwah side of Apple Ridge)

Street parking is available, drinks and refreshments too!!

Bring signs, or your voice, wearing green is suggested and optional!

Hope to see you there!

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Reader says Citizens We have lost control of our town

high density housing

Citizens We have lost control of our town..but will pay the invoices for these scandalous errors and boondoggles for decades..many will see the handwriting on the wall and sell..then the newbees will be fresh rubes for the VC and their takers to clean them out as well..because they see the future and it’s all for their backers to cleave off extra unearned value by over developing the town and packing up the loot and jetting off to Margaritaville.Folks we are being ripped off.Young families won’t be able to easily sell with multiple kids in VR free but taxed school systems and longer term future college and tax costs so high.we have been gamed folks

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Bramnick announces rally against state-imposed, high-density housing

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Bramnick announces rally against state-imposed, high-density housing

July 10,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WESTFIELD N.J. ,Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union)  announced plans for a rally against state-imposed, high-density housing at a town hall meeting tonight in Cranford. The rally will be held on the steps of the Statehouse Annex on Thursday, September 20 at 10 a.m.

Jon Bramnick  , “We cannot allow the Courts to require our towns to build thousands of residential units without regard to the impact on schools, traffic and property taxes. The legislature must act immediately. Both democrats and republicans agree that action is needed now and at the very least a moratorium on litigation until the legislature acts. Local zoning laws should be respected.”

 

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BREAKING NEWS: NJ DEP to Send Investigators to Toll Brothers Site in Upper Saddle River

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photo Derek Michalski of GreenUSR and CBS

May 25,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Upper Saddle River NJ, On the one-month anniversary of the infamous discovery of the pumping of runoff consisting of a suspension of carcinogenic toxic soil by Toll Brothers directly into Pleasant Brook—a practice that has been apparently ongoing now for more than four consecutive months—at 6:19 PM tonight GreenUSR Attorney Gart Molander received the following text message from the NJ DEP:

“I work for the NJ DEP and have no information on what the locals did or how they have handled this issue. Today is the first time my office (Bureau of Emergency Response) was notified of this ongoing issue. As mentioned, I am sending someone from the County to investigate. They will advise me if there is any action necessary by the State. Thanks“

Apparently neither Mayor Minichetti, her Council, the Borough Administrator, nor Boswell Engineering deemed it necessary to report these ongoing erosion control problems, including the pumping of muddy runoff containing high levels of arsenic and lead directly into our precious waterways, from the biggest construction site in the history of Upper Saddle River to the NJ DEP Emergency Management Program.
We are now on the NJ DEP’s radar screen and let’s hope that finally reasonable minds will prevail to shut down this unprecedented environmental disaster.

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Latest update from Toll Brothers site in Upper Saddle River : Mud is back in Pleasant Brook 

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May 21,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Upper Saddle River NJ, Latest update from Toll Brothers site tonight. According to immediate neighbor of Toll Brother they were pumping mud all day today (Sunday, May 20, 2018). After documented Thursday (May 17 mud discharge) Pleasant Brook was starting to clear up this morning but and now it’s FULL of MUD again at 9:30pm .

At this point we don’t care if Toll Brothers is discharging this mud intentionally or that they simply can’t cope with the amount of storm water gushing from 100 plus acres of soil which was contaminated with high level of arsenic and lead.
Allegedly the soil was tilled with huge bulldozers – tillers and now it’s considered “remediated”. However no soil was removed from the site just spread around. Now the question remains what happens with that arsenic and lead after 5 months of being discharged (intentionally or unintentionally) to Upper Saddle River aquafire? So far not one water test was produced by neither Toll Brothers, Boswell engineers or our famous building director James Dougherty. Police officers called to the scene advised me that they were advised not to touch anything which might came in contact with that water due to alleged arsenic and lead contamination. If it’s bad for police officers how on earth can it be safe for GreenUSR residents. Since GreenUSR members lost confidence in ability of our local government to handle this situation we will be asking feds for assistance. 

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Upper Saddle River Attorney Files Criminal Complaint against Developer Toll Brothers for Alleged Intentional Discharging Storm Water

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May 16,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Upper Saddle River Nj, In the spirit of the below Toll Brothers settlement GreenUSR member accompanied by his lawyer Garth Molander, Esq. filed criminal complaint against Toll Brothers with the local prosecutor‘s office for alleged intentional discharging storm water into Pleasant Brook and dumping remediated arsenic and lead sediment into local waterways. Instead of following the above settlement agreement Toll Brothers recklessly dumped heavy mud for four consecutive months and didn’t take any precautions to protect our beloved GreenUSR environment.

“EPA estimates the settlement will prevent millions of pounds of sediment from entering U.S. waterways every year, including sediment that would otherwise enter the Chesapeake Bay, North America’s largest and most biologically diverse estuary. The bay and its tidal tributaries are threatened by pollution from a variety of sources and are overburdened with nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that can be carried by stormwater.”
( https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/homebuilder-toll-brothers-inc-pay-741000-clean-water-act-penalty-and-implement-company-wide ) ”