It's not about the DMV
Monday night's emotional meeting between the Township Council, Motor Vehicle Commission officials, other area politicians, and local residents may have marked a significant turning point in the current Council term. While resident anger about the DMV's relocation to Teaneck Rd. and Tryon Ave. will abate with time once it becomes clear that local businesses have benefited from the increased traffic and that the area has not become a magnet for pedophiles, the reactions of local and state representatives to the citizen dissatisfaction could go down as the beginning of the end of the Township's recent (and perhaps short-lived) development push.
If action speaks louder than words, then the recent behavior of the Mayor and other elected officials demonstrates that the current administration is scarcely more committed to development than were previous administrations. While the Council had never publicly expressed support for the DMV coming to Teaneck, the apparent willingness of elected officials to ride the bandwagon of public opposition to the move and the sudden interest in exploring legal remedies reflect a commitment to political expediency above all else.
This has little to do with whether the DMV is a good or a bad addition to the neighborhood in question and a lot to do with the message Teaneck is sending to all businesses and other non-residential tenants about their place in the Township pecking order. While we are really looking forward to taxing you, we do not really want you here, they seem to be saying. Upon such a foundation, a strong diversified tax base will never be built.
Were local officials to stand up and say that development is not actually priority number one because it is too contentious and that the Township's fiscal challenges would be addressed in other ways, they would gain a lot more credibility. This might require them to backtrack from their optimistic campaign slogans, but it would be a refreshing dose of honesty that might clear the way for real progress on other fronts, such as spending cuts. As long as they talk out of both sides of their mouth, touting development as a panacea without having the stomach to take on neighborhood groups with other priorities, all of Teaneck will remain stuck high property taxes and no viable plans to lower them.
posted by Teaneck Blog @ 11:12 AM
14 Comments:
Mayor Elie Y. Katz said the township attorney is studying whether Teaneck has any legal means to block the lease
Oh great another increase in taxes becuase the Township leaders want to take someone else to court and more than likely loose!
I hope the landlord/owner of the building sues the township for butting-in and telling him who he can and can not rent too!
A guaranteed 10 year lease on a building that is currently VACANT..I say go for it and to hell with the interest groups!
Let's get real about making life bearable for taxpayers. We need major development all over town that brings in ratables. Forget about trees and country living. No matter what we will be less developed than Manhattan. So let's live with the only solution to impossible taxes.
Even if the Town Council were to assume a highly aggressive pro-development posture, the tax savings to homeowners would be marginal because decent sites are few and far between and density is generally scorned by the public.
And budget cutting is politically risky as well and will only go so far.
This is a situation of caveat emptor for people considering purchasing a house in Teaneck or anywhere in North Jersey.
For those who intend to use the public schools, the cost may not seem as high as it will for those who don't intend to use the schools.
The whole point is to stop "scorning density" and embrace growth instead of trees.
Does anybody know what they are doing with the old bowling alley site on Palisades Ave...across the street from the US Post Office?
A multifamily project was proposed for the Feibel's site at least five years ago. The community freaked out over traffic and parking issues and the site has remained a vacant eyesore ever since.
I always thought that the Feibel's site would be a good location for a commuter train station with a parking deck reserved for Teaneck residents, however my plan pre-supposes that the West Shore tracks be used again for commuter trains as they were until the 1950s. The problem with commuter train service from Teaneck (and the reason it west bankrupt in the 50s) is that the tracks lead to the Weehawken waterfront requiring a ferry trip to the City. In my commuter fantasy, someone figures out a way for West Shore trains to go directly to Penn Station. I know this will never happen in my lifetime.
thanks swurgle...
I asked about the site as they are doing construction so was wondering what was going on.
also in weehawken they can now catch the light rail to hoboken and then on to NYC...this is still a workable plan swurgle...save us a trip to Anderson Ave. every morning and afternoon!
I believe it is a medical building going up.
OH LOVELY...just what the town needs another medical building :(
Why would the DMV attract pedophiles to the area? I don't get that.
It wouldnt...it is just another baseless statement that the residents of the area have made!
What the dialogue at the meeting DID accomplish was to focus much-needed attention on the abysmal traffic light at the corner of Teaneck Rd and Tryon Ave. There is no left signal for traffic turning onto Teaneck Rd. North, there is no time for walkers to cross Teaneck Rd, and the crossing guard for the BF walkers leaves at 4PM when kids are still coming home from after-school clubs and sports. The residents in that area of town have cojplained for years about this, and now perhaps something can get done that will protect kids and adults alike while keeping traffic flowing more smoothly.
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