WOODCLIFF LAKE—Mayor Carlos Rendo told the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce Breakfast With the Mayors on Jan. 26 that 16 affordable housing units will be built on Highview Avenue in late 2022 or early 2023.
He said due to Covid and supply chain snags, construction on the units fell behind but action at the Feb. 16 council meeting should move the project forward.
He said part of the affordable housing settlement requires the borough contribute $800,000 for construction. He said $600,000 will be contributed from an application pending for 15 townhomes on Old Pascack Road. He said though the borough is on the hook for the balance, or $200,000, the local affordable housing trust fund’s balance is $400,000 and will cover it. “So we’ll be moving on that hopefully this year and I’m confident that the shovel will be in the ground, hopefully at the beginning of next year.”
For more, see our related story, “At breakfast, mayors urge regional strategy on 2025 housing mandates.”
Rendo also touched on:
216 Broadway application pending
Rendo said the 216 Broadway project at the old Faber Carpet store proposes to bring six residential apartments to Broadway (three already stand there) but he could not elaborate due to its status before the Zoning Board. (See “Six-unit Broadway plan dinged on trash, density, safety,” Pascack Press, Jan. 31, 2022.)
188 Broadway under appeal
He said a 53-unit proposal for 188 Broadway that was rejected by the Zoning Board and is being appealed by the developer is currently before Superior Court. (See “‘Gaslighting,’ ‘hara-kiri’ alleged in 188 Broadway appeal,” Pascack Press, Nov. 7, 2021.)
Party City chooses borough
Rendo said the borough attracted Party City’s corporate HQ to move to the borough, bringing with it about 750 jobs. (“Party City moving HQ to borough: Hundreds of new jobs; firm is first to land NJ recovery act award,” Pascack Press, Oct. 21, 2021.)
He said the borough was one of the first municipalities to participate in the NJ Merge program, a tax incentive program to entice corporations to establish headquarters in the state.
The Borough on Oct. 20, 2021 announced that Party City Holdings Inc., “the global celebrations leader,” will move its new U.S. headquarters here, to the empty ESAI building, 100 Tice Boulevard, in the second half of 2022.
The mayor noted a committee he established helped sell the borough to Party City executives. “We were able to beat [White Plains] New York for Party City We were able to win big even though New York had promised larger tax incentives to the corporation [estimated at $15 million]. New Jersey gave about $10 million.”
He said corporations that get tax incentives via NJ Merge are required to invest in municipalities participating in the program. He said Party City will invest funds for improvements to Galaxy Gardens Park, the Lydecker House, and infrastructure projects.
“And that lessens the tax burden on all residents, so it’s a home run for the community,” said Rendo.
He said “good development” is open space development, and that the borough offers that.
When the move was announced, Rendo told Pascack Press in part, “Our residents take great pride in building a strong sense of community and Party City is going to be a wonderful addition to our town.”
Galaxy Gardens park
Referring to Galaxy Gardens, Rendo said, “We’re taking an old gas station and an old landscape company and converting that into a park in the center of our town.” He said an architect will present a proposal at the next council meeting, with fall 2022 as the projected completion. (See “Next step for ‘Galaxy’ passive park: hiring a landscape architect,” Pascack Press, November 2021.)
Hope on the trail
Rendo said he was “hopeful” that the 1.5-mile long Reservoir Nature Trail around Woodcliff Lake Reservoir (a part of Suez North America’s potable water supplies) by working together with Park Ridge and Hillsdale.
He said the borough was looking to connect with the walkway and open a restaurant at the old public works barn on Broadway that faces the reservoir. He said if any restaurants are interested, “It’s a great and beautiful venue.”
Centennial Causeway
He said plans are in motion to refurbish the Centennial Causeway. The council plans to rebid the project soon, as original estimates were way over funding allotted to the upgrade. (See “Causeway upgrade project focus of M&C meeting Nov. 22.”)
Airplane noise
Rendo said the borough was taking a leadership role in addressing airplane flyover routes and noise, with resident Warren Feldman and councilwoman Jacqueline Gadaleta. He said both have been attending TANAAC (Teterboro Aircraft Noise Abatement Advisory Committee) meetings at Teterboro Airport.
He said pilots have not been following the alternate route over Route 17 to land at Teterboro Airport.
Oradell Mayor Dianne Didio urged Pascack Valley mayors to attend a joint call on the issue and express concerns to the Federal Aviation Administration and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. (Related: “Progress seen on Teterboro airport noise pollution; residents urged to complain.”)
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.”