Massive Englewood Cliffs Luxury Complex ‘The Sylvan’ Begins Leasing After Bitter 9-Year Legal Battle
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Englewood Cliffs NJ, A massive 20-acre development that stood at the epicenter of a fierce, nearly decade-long affordable housing legal battle has officially opened its doors in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
The luxury project, named The Sylvan, has formally launched leasing for its apartment units at the site of the former Unilever campus on Sylvan Avenue.
Developed by Garden Communities—which acquired the property in 2021—the project comprises a 338-unit apartment building alongside 112 townhomes. According to company principal Brett Tanzman, nearly half of the townhome spaces are already occupied by residents.
Resort-Style Amenities Metres from NYC
Perched atop the scenic Palisades and directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, developers are pitching the community as a commuter’s paradise.
“It’s really a one-of-a-kind project,” noted Garden Communities principal Orin Wilf. “We have views of New York City from the top two floors of the building. You can walk to a park, to downtown Englewood, but you’re not right in the middle of everything.”
The premium complex includes high-end, resort-style amenities at no extra cost to tenants, featuring:
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A speakeasy-inspired lounge, billiards room, and sports entertainment space.
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A fully-equipped fitness center and dedicated yoga studios.
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An outdoor swimming pool, barbecue dining zones, and a splash pad.
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A rooftop terrace offering panoramic views of the New York City skyline.
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A quarter-acre pocket park and an on-site dog run.
The $7 Million Affordable Housing Legal War
The peaceful opening stands in stark contrast to the development’s highly contentious history. Englewood Cliffs, recognized as one of New Jersey’s wealthiest municipalities, spent years in court over the 800 Sylvan Ave. property.
The legal saga began in 2015 when Normandy Real Estate Partners filed a builder’s remedy lawsuit. After a highly charged public trial in 2019, a Superior Court judge stripped the local Planning Board of its authority over the site.
Despite multiple subsequent municipal lawsuits trying to void settlements with the Fair Share Housing Center, appellate courts ordered the borough to comply with its agreements. Ultimately, in 2024, the borough agreed to a $7 million settlement paid to the developer to end the housing litigation, alongside an additional $1.3 million to settle a tax appeal.
Rents and Affordable Housing Lottery Information
Market-rate rents at The Sylvan begin at $2,950 per month for a one-bedroom layout.
In compliance with regional affordable housing mandates, 20% of the total inventory (90 units) has been strictly designated as low- and moderate-income housing. Tenants for these specific budget-friendly apartments will be selected via an independent, third-party lottery system.
Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mark Park noted that the borough is focused on a constructive future following the site’s “long and complex history.” Mayor Park stated that local priorities have shifted toward maintaining municipal services, managing traffic flow, and protecting the quality of life for long-time residents as the transition moves forward.
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More Democrat-mandated human warehousing erupting like a massive sore in every corner of the state.
Your, and your municipality’s sovereignty has been stripped away and sold to the highest briber, by conniving, left wing politicians and the connected developers who are thanking them by stuffing said pol’s with cash and gifts.