Bergen County Redevelopments - Real Estate News

Home > Bergen County Real Estate News > August 2007 - week 1

Bergen county news with an emphasis on aspects affecting real estate, residency and community issues.

Bergen County: redevelopments planned
Housing in Ridgefield
Trailer homes continue in Bergen County
Housing proposal in Allendale
Bergen County minibuses checked

Bergen County: redevelopments planned

Bergen County and the neighborhood are planning renovations in housing and improvements in parking. For example, the borough of Passaic County, intends to use $220,000 for undertaking an year long study to understand the impact of various alterations to spruce up Madison Avenue. Besides this, officials also plan to bring in more activity into the Passaic-Bergen line.

Development and redevelopment have made people in New Jersey to rethink the alternatives they have, given constraints like limited land to develop. As the light rail will run from Hackensack to Hawthorne and activity is planned around the region. Inputs will be taken from the community members and officials to design a proper plan for development in the area. Many hope that the light rail will bring in new changes and development.

Housing in Ridgefield

Developers through Bergen County are turning their attention towards older and established regions, due to restrictions on constructing in the Highlands. Fort Lee, Englewood, Morristown and Ridgefield are a few regions where builders are now taking up housing developments or renovations. Redevelopments are the in thing as there is little land left for new constructions.

Trends also indicate that many customers are willing to pay higher prices for homes that have been renovated. One such instance was seen in Ridgefield, where builder Kevin Schmidt purchased a 40 unit complex for $12 million. The developer converted a few units into condominiums, with cherry cabinets, hardwood floors and granite countertops. Ten of these are currently for sale and are expected to cost approximately $400,000 for single bedroom apartments and $500,000 for double bedroom housing. Few homes have been left unfinished for residents to customize. The four building complex called the Dakota is situated on a hill overlooking the Ridgewood train station. The developer added that the units had a good market, given that Ridgefield was a favored area for many in Bergen County.

Trailer homes continue in Bergen County

The four year disagreement on eminent domain in the region of Bergen County was finally resolved. The case between the municipal officers of Bergen County and residents of mobile homes (in the low and medium income groups) has been going on in the courts for some time now.

However on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, the appellate court rejected the effort of Lodi officials to move and replace two trailer parks in Lodi. While officials had plans to bring in more upscale housing in the region, the court stated that the borough could not provide enough evidence to state that the regions are blighted and need redevelopment. A similar decision was also taken by the Supreme Court in another case last month. Residents at the trailer parks were elated at the victory and described the struggle as a difficult one. They added that trailer homes were the only affordable option of housing that they had in the expensive region of Bergen County.

Housing proposal in Allendale

Housing plans in Allendale altered a bit, when three acres of land was slated for purchase by the borough for $4.8 million. While twenty four townhouses were slated to come up at West Orchard Street and Franklin Turnpike, plans changed when the state extended the deadline of an environmental building permit which needed the land owners to speed up construction.

The borough entered into the last hour negotiations and decided to purchase the land. Half an acre would be used for affordable housing and six to eight apartments would come up in duplex buildings. These would be given to seniors or disabled people. The remaining land would be used for passive recreation facilities. While the ordinance was released on Thursday, July 26, 2007, it would receive final approval only on August 9, 2007. Grants for the project are expected to come from the Green Acres program of the state and the Bergen County open space fund. With its current plans, the borough feels that the development would augment Allendale and expect to close on the project by November.

Bergen County minibuses checked

As a part of safety precautions taken last week, eleven minibuses were taken off roads after inspection. Minibuses have evolved as a good means of transport in Bergen County and the neighborhood. Not only are these cheaper than NJ Transit buses, but they are also faster and have more stops.

However, many officials complain that the bus owners often do not maintain buses up to the mark, a factor that may lead to road accidents. Also many drivers tend to ignore traffic rules. The surprise inspections showed that some buses had violations. Some had Chinese tires and problems like worn tires, fluid leaks and fuel leaks. While officials say that the surprise check was issued just to check the standard of commute, most bus owners and drivers were not happy with the proceedings. Few said that the check would make the minibuses look illegal, while they were not. Others added that repairs should have been sent to the bus company, not to the impound lot, as was done in a few cases.

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