CONSTRUCTION OF MORE APARTMENTS ON RIDGE ROAD IS URBANZING NORTH ARLINGTON!
Candidate Balwierczak believes massive overdevelopment by Pronti is changing NA into a small city!
NORTH ARLINGTON – Here is the latest update on the construction site that was once the popular Italian Villa restaurant, now making way for more apartments, density and the urbanization of the community. 
Mayoral candidate John Balwierczak, who is running under slogan of keeping North Arlington “small, safe and suburban,” believes being the gateway to Bergen County is what longtime residents and seniors support.
Balwierczak, a life-long resident and graduate of North Arlington HS, is running for mayor with homeowners Dennis Papile and Cengiz “Jim” Sever for Borough Council.
Balwierczak believes the gentrification and urbanization of Ridge Road have decimated what was once a proud business district that has become a wasteland of empty storefronts.
“Dozens of empty storefronts including the old MELRAYS location are having a negative economic impact on the community. More apartments are the agenda of out-of-town developers who are fueling Pronti’s reelection campaign. His campaign headquarters is in one of those vacant storefronts only proving the point that the proliferation of apartments is increasing traffic, creating less residential street parking and still raising property taxes,” said the mayoral challenger.
“Dan’s policies don’t work, he is mimicking the failed development practices of Belleville, where his mentor, ex-Mayor Michael Melham, who was tossed from office last May for massive overdevelopment. North Arlington is not Belleville. We are a suburban community more comparable to Lyndhurst or Rutherford. This year’s tax hike is a direct result of his inability to understand you can’t govern in a vacuum,” noted Balwierczak. 
Balwierczak is proposing a moratorium on all apartment construction along Ridge Road and a revitalization of the business district that has been decimated by Pronti’s obsession with more apartments all of the time.
“More apartments means higher taxes, higher rents and the eventual urbanization of a bedroom community. The increased traffic and loss of residential street parking alone should be enough proof we need to change course now.”
“We need bipartisan and consensus government. I was once a Republican and if I’m successful, I can work with the remaining Republicans to end this massive overdevelopment that is just making NA more expensive and unaffordable. I’m concerned about young people who can’t afford to live here any longer and the seniors who are being systematically pushed out. It’s unfair and wrong,” said the challenger.
“Dan Pronti has had 10 years to do as he pleases with no opposition of any kind. It’s been Dan’s way or the highway. I believe homeowners and tenants are equally unhappy and I can provide the right direction that ends this madness on Ridge Road of unbridled apartment construction that eventually will increase school costs and forever change our values and character as a small, safe and suburban venue.”
Meet the next Mayor. 
He will be happy to meet with you and talk about the issues you really care about.
He can be reached at (201) 655-8497 or [email protected]