the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The “rendering” of new apartments at Broad and Franklin by John Saraceno’s architect leaves a lot to be desired, like a connection to reality for starters. So let’s break down the reality of what Saraceno is planning. Built on the former home of the Ken Smith car dealership, the 66 unit apartment with thousands of square feet of retail space is allowed under new village laws championed by Ridgewood resident Saraceno and then-mayor Paul Aronsohn.
Frontage:
Franklin St- 198 feet
Chestnut St- 119 feet
Height: 5 stories, putting it above all neighboring buildings and higher than the train station. Saraceno says his 5 story building is 50 feet high. The “tower” is 57 feet. The new Chestnut apartments several hundred feet away are four stories and 53 feet high.
Parking:
155 parking spots, the arches at the ends of the building on Franklin and Chestnut are the lot entry/exits. The Chestnut entry is near the new 43 unit high-density apartments being built on the old vehicle inspection station lot.
Reminder:
Saraceno and Aronsohn, who partnered to raise the density in this area to 35 units, said these two and three bedroom apartments won’t have a lot of school age families. The Ridgewood school budget has grown ~25% in less than 10 years on just about flat enrollment.
The Saraceno, Aronsohn, Hauck, and Pucciarelli dream of turning Ridgewood into high-density heaven is just a few months away. The most densely populated county in the most densely populated state in the union is about to get more crowded. Ridgewood used to be a place to get away from that, no more.
Yes, but didn’t the planning board have to approve the Saraceno proposal. Didn’t it take two , so to speak, to tango?
So Ridgewood residents, the planning board, approved the high density proposal. Right? They could have rejected it. Right or wrong?
7:13 I think Everyone from the planning board which approved those guidelines has quit the planning board. I think They were all baught by him. I think Even the members of CBR were baught out when the final votes were casted last year, there was ZERO opposition from CBR, which had collected hundreds of thousands of resident money.
welcome to the new Ridgewood.
Wrong. This planning board’s hands are tied by the change to the master plan by former mayor Aronsohn and former council members Hauck and Pucciarelli. In partnership with Saraceno they ignored thousands of residents who spoke out for years in opposition to high-density housing.
I predicate the majority-like most renters in the village– will rent short term for access to schools. if developer wont compromise, this will be a war of attrition. Push back on density–10 years of litigation, hearings, more litigation and even the mighty Valley Hospital with its huge warchest was brought to its knees. If the developer wont agree to a reasonable compromise that is what he should look forward to
My mistake . Why did the planning board approve change to the master plan. I remember speaking against that change.
Can someone answer these questions?
– Is this a done deal and there is no escape? I thought these plans were put on hold.
– Is any part of this mammoth monster tied to low income housing?
– When is the construction work slated to start?
The “council majority” saw a trusting populace and cashed in, screwing us all. Watch they move away when they’re done destroying us. They will be offering up for our votes a couple of candidates next spring. Do not be fooled.
Don’t look here… look there.
This planning board’s hands are tied by the change to the master plan by former mayor Aronsohn and former council members Hauck and Pucciarelli. In partnership with Saraceno they ignored thousands of residents who spoke out for years in opposition to high-density housing.
.
QUESTION:
If the prior council could change the master plan, then why can’t this council change the master plan back and undo the prior changes?
.
what a shit show.
Thanks for including the headshot of Saraceno….now I know what he looks like.
Yea thanks for the headshot…it will be useful.
And the famous quote “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.” If we must have water restrictions without all these new apartments, what happens when they are built? Are the builders planning to truck in water for their tenants?
4:31 we are getting Hosed in so many ways..High Taxes .out of control spending..schoool budget of over 105 Million etc etc