Editor’s note: The Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a virtual “Breakfast With the Mayors” on Jan. 26. Invited were the mayors of Montvale, Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, River Vale, Old Tappan, Hillsdale, Washington Township, Westwood, Emerson, and Oradell.
PARK RIDGE—Mayor Keith Misciagna told the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce (GPVCOC) mayors’ breakfast Jan. 26 that The James, the borough’s new downtown mixed-use residential and retail development on Kinderkamack Road, featuring 240 rental units, was “completely 100% occupied, which was a surprise for both the developer and the borough.”
He said The James only opened “a few months back” and that “the good news” is that the new tenants are “a mixed group,” including seniors who have scaled down — and new residents commuting into New York City, with rail transit close by.
Regarding the site’s 17,000 square feet of retail space, Misciagna said B&M Meat Market was moving in, offering dining and take-out.
He said another “high-end restaurant,” Wayland Fair, was moving into the north end of town.
Misciagna cut the ribbon on The James in August 2021. A crowd of residents and stakeholders filled the luxury lobby lounge, taking in the new upscale rental community that its developer said “stands as a beacon of the borough’s evolution while honoring its most famous hometown hero.”
Guests included family and friends of the late actor James Gandolfini, a local son widely known for his producing and acting, his lead role on HBO’s “The Sopranos,” and his generosity — and the building’s namesake.
Michael Gandolfini, James’ son and a rising star in his own right, joined Misciagna, other municipal officials, and principals from Claremont Development in cutting a ceremonial ribbon marking “the heralded addition to the borough’s housing landscape,” a collection of 240 studio, one- and two-bedroom residences.
Claremont Development told Pascack Press at the time that half was leased, with a number of residents moved in.
Officials lauded The James’ development team “for transforming the dilapidated property on Madison Avenue into a vibrant new community that will benefit generations to come.”
It includes street-level retail space, structured parking, and a public plaza. The project, replacing a waste transfer station, is helping the borough meet its state-mandated affordable housing obligations. Its developer is contributing toward a community center.
At the Jan. 26 breakfast, which was intended for the Iron Horse Restaurant in Westwood but moved to Zoom over pandemic concerns, Misciagna reported, “As you know Park Ridge has reinvented itself over the past few years. We’re becoming a lot like our neighbors, with a nice walkable downtown.”
He said traffic “is always going to be an issue” and noted “that’s a problem created by success.”
As one possible option, Misciagna said he “has always been a proponent” of a shuttle bus or trolley from the northern end of Montvale all the way down to Oradell and also back up through the Northern Valley. He said that could “be very helpful for traffic and convenient.”
He said he hoped the shuttle bus idea might be a project of the current Pascack Valley Mayors Association.
He said the new development may help keep seniors in town, and touched on remarks by Hillsdale Mayor Ruocco: lower taxes “are the big thing we can do to help our seniors.”
Misciagna said Park Ridge is also trying to bring more businesses into town to help keep taxes low.
He said a 55-plus apartment site is coming to the borough, and noted he was in favor of maximizing outdoor dining options, which proved popular valleywide during the height of the pandemic.
He said the borough has fine dining and small restaurants and that the borough is “suited for” outdoor dining facilities.
Misciagna said he did not want to be “a downer” but noted the next round of affordable housing obligations was coming soon in 2025. “I think we learned a lot over the last round and I hope we can work together so that we meet our obligation and we stick together and try to come up with a solution that we can all live with.” (See “At breakfast, mayors urge regional strategy on 2025 housing mandates,” Pascack Press, Jan. 31, 2022.
Park Ridge recently settled its years-long, costly Superior Court battle against Hornrock Properties (i.e. AR Landmark) and Fair Share Housing Center by agreeing to allow a 448-unit rental complex (with 68 affordable units) on a 30-acre former Sony property in late 2020.
In addition, the borough agreed to build a 50-unit, 100% affordable complex on borough property.
Park Ridge was the final Pascack Valley town to settle its third round (1999-2025) affordable housing obligations. (See “Deal Lands: Developer would get to build 448 multifamily units on former Sony site,” Pascack Press, Nov. 19, 2020.)
Misciagna said a new community center is progressing, and will be located near The James. He said the project, which was started a few years ago, has architectural drawings and they’re trying to deal with a doubling of center costs.
He said they hope to break ground by spring.
The mayor said he hoped Kinderkamack would be paved this year and noted an Ida-damaged new turf field should be replaced in a few months and be ready for spring.
He said the Pascack Valley Mayors Association was planning a joint meeting on regional flooding solutions with state officials, which he supported.
“I’m proud to be part of the Pascack Valley Mayors’ Association,” said Misciagna.
Misciagna’s report was momentarily punctuated by his dog, Deacon, barking loudly at an Amazon delivery man. “It’s a big dog, I’m sorry … it’s Deacon right here, it’s my bernedoodle,” Misciangna told the Zoom audience.
[Bernedoodle: “A cross between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle.” — Ed.]
He explained his dog was barking at a delivery next door, though his wife occasionally orders coffee pods through Amazon.
Robin Malley, chair of the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the annual meeting, leveraged the light moment to make a point:
Locals should always “buy local” even though Amazon has operations based in Mahwah, Malley said. “So we just challenge everybody: If you can buy it from a local store, please do. Don’t order it from Amazon. I won’t say any more.”
Check out the breakfast on WCTV-NJ, learn more about the GPVCOC at its website, and check out Michael Olohan’s report of the mayors’ breakfast discussion on affordable housing: “At breakfast, mayors urge regional strategy on 2025 housing mandates.”