North Arlington voters have been promised senior housing for decades, despite the fact if senior housing was constructed in North Arlington, would it be dedicated to local residents?
It’s the central question to the viability of senior housing and the cost to local homeowners.
NA TODAY has learned that local officials are investigating the construction of senior units at the site of the VFW on River Road which is borough owned property.
While the details are vague and murky, can NA officials guarantee that current residents will go to the head of the line or would senior housing be located in NA, but open to seniors anywhere?
Sources tell us the use of federal funding would prohibit any preferred list of local applicants and the overall amount of units would never satisfy the need for this affordable housing option for those retired and seeking to downsize as empty nesters.
“It is very easy to talk about senior housing, it is quite another to deliver on this somewhat myopic promise,” offered one former local official when asked to comment.
“Senior housing is a complicated governmental maze that is bureaucratic and lengthy in terms of a proposal to actual construction. There is a reason why so few units have been built in the South Bergen area.”
While senior housing exists in Lyndhurst and East Rutherford, is there a true need for more units and how would North Arlington attack the issue from a funding perspective?
Would such housing come under HUD funding, or in cooperation with the Bergen County Housing Authority?
Could North Arlington got it alone create its own housing agency?
And just how popular is the concept, and what would be the cost?
Lots of questions that are complicated, and will take preparation, research and the patience to make it happen!