Ridgewood needs modern, convenient housing
February 6, 2015 Last updated: Friday, February 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
The Ridgewood News
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A need for modern, convenient housing
Anita Jones
To the Editor:
I’ve loved Ridgewood ever since moving here in 1978. But now, as empty nesters, my husband and I are faced with a decision – stay or go. With our adult children out on their own, we have no need, and no desire, to keep and maintain our single-family home.
We would like to stay in Ridgewood, but we’ve found that the right options for people like us simply don’t exist. There are basically two housing choices in Ridgewood today – single-family houses and outdated apartments, neither of which works for us.
The proposed new multifamily apartments in downtown are just what people like us are looking for – modern apartments that offer convenience, amenities and a great downtown location where we can walk to shop, dine and socialize.
In fact, all of Ridgewood will benefit by creating new downtown housing, because it will not just help long time residents stay in town, but it will also attract young professionals, revitalize vacant lots and add foot traffic for local businesses.
This seems like a word-for-word repeat of one or more previous letters to the editor expressing the same polyannish attitude toward high-density housing in Ridgewood.
Go.
Why isn’t the current zoning satisfactory to this author. Why do we need to re-zone? The developers have the ability to build now and take care of this woman — why does she need another 400 more units than the properties are presently zoned for.
How much do they think the units will be? They must have a plan, no one builds without knowing the cash flow.
What are the anticipated taxes and maintenance on a unit?
Where will family and friends park when they come to visit? Mine stay for more than three hours.
I will downsize to this if the carrying costs are less than my current home. I don’t want to spend the same money to live in a two bedroom apt as I do in my 5 bedroom house.
Cut my taxes by $15,000 and I will stay in my home. The family that buys my house will probably have a few kids to send to school. Mine are all done. 15,000 cut in my taxes or three new kids in the school system at a cost to the town of $45,000. I will sign papers saying that I will not use the schools while I own the house.