the staff of the Ridgewood blog
If your house is not already on the market, then you are not sitting on what you think will be a sizable retirement plan. Have you noticed how many for sale signs there are? Way more than is seasonably normal. There are a number of reasons for this exodus, some of it due to national and international changes, and some of it local. The local stuff that is negatively affecting real estate are things like the new SALT changes to what is tax-deductable in property taxes. The Ridgewood issues are the loss of that special vibe that Ridgewood had, which is quickly fading with affordable housing, apartment blocks, and a multi-story car park. Other factors that once made Ridgewood a highly desirable place to live was its schools reputation. This was mostly a myth, made possible by realtors, and parents that had fallen for the bs and now needed to re-state the myth to friends so that their home investment was maintained. These days, we live in a world of data. Home buys have a multitude of online tools where they can do their school research.
The world is also changing. There’s a gradual flattening process in terms of work. NYC generates most of the high-paying 6 figure salary jobs that fuels places like Ridgewood. These high paying jobs are slowing moving out. The advancements in technology are slowing changing the global landscape and places like NYC will no longer be one of the special places where “the talent” is.
I am moving out, having sold my place already. I’ve enjoyed my time here but I won’t be looking back at Ridgewood with any fondness.
In 1928 my Grandfather built the Ridgewood train station. Also ge built the 1st apt. building. in Ridgewood. My Mother graduated RHS in 1829 and got a Model A Ford as a graduation present. My brother was a star athletein 1957. He committed suicide in 1995. My sister graduated in 1964. I got my graduation in 1970 and had the fastest car and the fastest motorcycle. My point is this. Our Spirit Won’t Die..We are from Ridgewood High. This New Money guy can say Bye-Bye.He doesn’t get it. Sincerely, David Margesson Campbell III (from an old money WASP family)
Bye -bye.
Don’t let the door hit you on your ass on the way back to Manhattan
As the writer of this piece, and viewing the current three responses, I can’t say that I am particularly surprised. It’s only natural to be positive about the future, because, well because to think otherwise is depressing.
My only regret is that I didn’t make this move earlier. Although not feasible, I’d like to continue this discussion in 5-10 years.
As for going back to Manhattan, neither did I come from there not am I going there. I actually think Manhattan’s peak years are well and truly over in terms of quality of life and real estate values since BdB started destroying all the great work done by Rudy and Mike.
Mr. Campbell, always great to hear from the original settlers. RHS wasn’t there in 1829 nor was the automobile so probably you meant 1929.
I am with Mr. Campbell, but I have him beat….. I have 6th-gen- great grandparents in the graveyard old Paramus church on Glen from 1766-1828. I am sure they would be shocked to see the area today, but it is still great.
Who would want to pay those property taxes? Ridgewood is a beautiful town, but where does all that money go. I grew up in Wyckoff, property taxes are fraction of Ridgewood’s.
My friends in wyckoff pay in taxes for a house in the knolls area than I pay in the heights what does wyckoff have for a downtown …. Boulder run? I’ll take Ridgewood and paid fire department and beautiful downtown and train service and rear yard garbage pick up for less tax money, Try getting your facts straight,,,
Yeah, nobody comes here anymore. It’s too crowded.
The fact is; the only town in Bergen county that has low property taxes is Paramus. All the rest, including Ridgewood, have high taxes. The only debate is to compare taxes across the county and see if how Ridgewood is relative to others: are taxes relatively high, very high, abusively high, painfully high. Ridgewood is not an outlier. We do need to have realistic objectives over how we want our downtown to develop and STAY nice, not becoming Hackensack, which is not nice.
Hey Ridgewood lifer… where are you getting these so-called “facts” of yours???
Here is a fact. The lowest property taxes rates in Bergen County are:
Alpine (Borough) 0.801
Rockleigh (Borough) 0.873
Englewood Cliffs (Borough) 0.998
Saddle River (Borough) 1.013
Teterboro (Borough) 1.138
Franklin Lakes (Borough) 1.636
Wyckoff (Township) 1.76
Mahwah (Township) 1.786
East Rutherford (Borough) 1.8
Elmwood Park (Borough) 1.8
Paramus (Borough) 1.801
Carlstadt (Borough) 1.906
Palisades Park (Borough) 1.959
Old Tappan (Borough) 2.005
Edgewater (Borough) 2.074
Ho-Ho-Kus (Borough) 2.092
Wood Ridge (Borough) 2.092
Fort Lee (Borough) 2.272
Closter (Borough) 2.282
Allendale (Borough) 2.288
Montvale (Borough) 2.303
Ridgefield (Borough) 2.324
Washington (Township) 2.325
Upper Saddle River (Borough) 2.342
Ramsey (Borough) 2.352
Cliffside Park (Borough) 2.392
Rochelle Park (Township) 2.398
Moonachie (Borough) 2.411
Norwood (Borough) 2.43
Demarest (Borough) 2.484
River Vale (Township) 2.488
Westwood (Borough) 2.509
Tenafly (Borough) 2.523
Ridgewood (Village) 2.538
FACT #2: regarding Bergen County property taxes, Ridgewood is in the middle of the range.
Going forward, don’t post “facts” unless they are, in fact, facts. Thank you.