More then just a building!

While I was gathering accomplishments of the current administration, Teaneck Progress beat me to it.

The only thing I can add to her list is a simple time frame. That is that her list was pretty impressive, especially since they have only been in office for less then 14 months! Most impressive is that this has been accomplished with the "dirty dozen" detractors killing a solid hour every meeting to rip the council on everything under the sun but progress.

I am excited for the future of Teaneck. I am confident that this Council will have a lot more allies now that the new tax bills have been mailed. One example is the recent vote on the Glenpointe building.

On to that subject. I received a few forwarded emails this weekend from the usual detractors about this property. I am quite the proponent of this project as can be expected, but not just because it is an $800,000 ratable. I believe the benefits are far greater and include:

A further contribution to the Township's coffers based on the new sewer ordinance for large users

As this building will bring thousands of new workers to the complex, it will not only increase the occupancy and revenue of the hotel (making for a higher assessment) but will also contribute further to the townships coffers via the hotel occupancy tax.

As this building will further make the complex an office park destination, it will further increase the occupancy and assessment of the other office buildings.

As all of the above take place, the surrounding new residential developments, many with high vacancies, will fill up and have increased value and assessment.

None of the above will further burden our existing Township services (so lets end that discussion before it starts) for the following reason:

Parking- there is plenty of it. Here is something you may not know- the top floor of the current parking garage has been leased to a car dealership for storage as the spaces are not needed.

School- obviously the office complex does not use the school, and the nearby developments are smaller units not child friendly. As a matter of fact, a larger business presence will increase the business/ school mentor programs, civic donations etc.

Police- the police presence/ response etc for the complex is minimal (even with the hotel) and as such will not require additional hires. Any increased calls can be covered with existing sector patrols.

Ambulance- does not cost the township

Fire- Not only will fire calls be minimal, but any new inspections, etc are covered by the associated fees for same. No new hires will be needed, and any calls will simply be a cost of fuel. Considering the response is from Station # 3 at Degraw and Teaneck Road, once again this does not drain the township.

As far as the three homes that border the site, unless they owned the property before the Redevelopment Agency began its work decades ago, there is no apologies needed. You cannot make an argument that they bought their home not realizing this would go up, unless they did not do their research. If you argue that they bought their house because they thought there would be only 6 story building and now there is a 13 story building, well, join the dirty dozen because that is outright sad. If you argue that this will ruin their view, consider they are at the intersection of two of the nations busiest interstates. Not nearby- directly AT!

See you at the ground breaking!