WHO WANTS MORE GOP INSPIRED APARTMENTS? NOT NORTH ARLINGTON!
The only people who seem to support this density and urbanization are incumbents Fitzhenry & Sheedy.
NORTH ARLINGTON – If the chatter on FACEBOOK is any indication where North Arlington stands on the unbridled explosion of apartment dwellings along Ridge Road, GOP incumbents Brian Fitzhenry and Allison Sheedy are in for a rude awakening by voters come the fall general election.For after years of all Republicans all of the time, residents are making their opinions known to their fellow neighbors and friends that this plethora of apartment dwellings is threatening North Arlington’s historical and widely known belief that NA is the gateway to Bergen County and that remaining “small, safe and suburban” matters to most residents.
One FB poster exclaimed, “we aren’t getting the occupancy and not for nothing, what happened to small town vibe, family? Instead we are getting apartments and looking like a city and increasing already overpopulation and issues with parking and classes in school are too large.”One resident yearned for the days of Jim Dandy’s, that was replaced by the 7/Eleven on Ridge Road. “We need a good burger place in town.”Another resident was concerned about privacy and having multiple dwellings constructed next to single-family homes.“As business owners on the block we hope that it’s not another apartment building. While these structures allow for one spot per unit, the reality is that most people (couples) that would live in these units sometimes own two cars. That will affect our business negatively.”
Other concerns were the ability for the community’s large senior population to have access to street parking and that more apartments simply urbanizes a changing Ridge Road.Rumors also seem to be rampant that the vacant Italian Villa pizzeria structure will be torn down in the coming months, but no one knows for sure.Democratic candidates for borough council oppose this rabid construction of apartments anywhere and everywhere and through their door to door campaigning have failed to meet anyone who believes urbanization and gentrification makes sense for North Arlington. “Change for change sake and change that does not have the support of most residents is a detriment to North Arlington. All one needs to do is examine who is fueling and funding local Republican council races and that’s developers, builders, speculators and other real estate interests that do not speak for the people,” observed John Balwierczak, a longtime local and first time candidate.“We urge the Republicans to visit voters at their homes like we do all of the time and this is what they oppose, and do not support. If you needed one single reason why we need responsible two-party government this is the issue,” noted both Balwierczak and his council running-mate John Yampaglia.
“The North Arlington Planning Board and Mayor & Council have an obligation to listen to the opinions and feedback of our residents and homeowners. They are fearful of change that does not include them in the process and rightly so. This notion that Republicans can do as they please and we just live here has run its course. We will defend the principle of keeping North Arlington small, safe and suburban because that’s what the people want,” offered the candidates.