EMERSON, N.J.—Mayor Danielle DiPaola, a Republican who inherited Democratic predecessor Louis Lamatina’s agreements for a major mixed-use redevelopment project downtown, told the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 29 that the borough has lost “seven of its thriving businesses due to redevelopment in the name of affordable housing.”
In order to get 29 affordable housing units, Emerson “lost seven businesses so far. Two others are still open and they’re fighting for their lives,” she said at the chamber’s annual mayors breakfast at The Iron Horse Restaurant in Westwood.
DiPaola said the borough is “desperately” looking for a place to help relocate Cork & Keg liquor store at 188 Kinderkamack Road after the borough’s redevelopment partner exercised their right to condemn the store’s lease.
She said the project, known locally as Block 419, was pitched such that it would result in something “similar to a Westwood Avenue” in Westwood.
“That’s not what’s happening,” she said. She described 14,000 square feet of retail space, in addition to the majority of the first floor occupied by “a large gym for the people living in the building only. The project will have a five-story parking garage, and traffic is going to be a very big issue.”
DiPaola also predicted a worsening of traffic on Linwood and Lincoln.
She said the borough hadn’t seen many traffic benefits from the recent Kinderkamack Road corridor overhaul, saying the council is “reaching out to Bergen County and New Jersey Transit for meetings, asking them to come back and revisit this issue.”
Regarding the planned 29 affordable housing units, 22 will be incorporated into Emerson Station as three-, two-, and one-bedroom units. The remaining seven units, DiPaola said, will comprise a standalone building across from Dunkin’ Donuts.
