HILLSDALE, N.J.—Affordable taxes, small-town charm and a more attractive, active downtown topped residents’ priorities in an economic development survey presented at the Sept. 8 Borough Council meeting.
More than 80% of respondents named “affordable taxes” a top priority, about half chose maintaining small-town charm, and a third wanted to improve downtown appearance and activity.
Administrator Michael Ghassali said the online survey drew 1,118 responses, including 864 with “substantive written comments.”
For improvements, 58% wanted better storefronts and facades, 42% wanted more outdoor or curbside dining, 34% wanted long-term streetscape upgrades, and 29% wanted improved traffic flow.
Restaurants and casual dining led business preferences at 77%, followed by cafes, coffee shops, bakeries and specialty food shops at 56%; specialty or grocery markets at 41%; and fitness and wellness businesses at 25%.
Officials said the survey’s results would be posted in the “What’s Happening” section on the borough website, and urged residents reach out to Ghassali with questions on survey results/data.
The council agreed to have the Economic Development Committee consult Borough Planner Darlene Green on next steps, including revisiting efforts to designate downtown properties as an area in need of rehabilitation. Such a designation could help properties qualify for state and federal revitalization grants.
Committee chair Councilwoman Melissa Mazza-Chiong told Pascack Press, “At our next Economic Development meeting, we’ll focus on developing the parameters and guidance for what we would like the planner to provide to us, which will include the feedback we received from residents through the survey.”
Ghassali linked the tax concerns to expanding the commercial tax base.
“But the point we want to drive is that unless we have revenue coming in, we have to raise taxes. So what can we do to raise revenue, ratables, so we don’t have to raise taxes,” he said.
“Survey supports commercially anchored investment more clearly than housing-driven redevelopment,” the committee’s presentation stated.
Recommendations included engaging the borough planner and attorney to finish the rehabilitation and rezoning plan; identifying vacant or underused parcels that could generate commercial tax revenue; and emphasizing stronger commercial activity while protecting Hillsdale’s character.
Rehabilitation effort dates to 2023
In February 2023, the council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 23073, referring a proposed rehabilitation designation to the Planning Board.
The referral included a preliminary investigation by DMR Architects identifying properties that met rehabilitation criteria under New Jersey’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law. The board had 45 days to review whether the proposal was consistent with the borough Master Plan. What happened afterward remained unclear, and the designation effort appeared to have stalled.