The Personal Injury Attorney in Palisades Park, NJ, You Can Trust

A potential remedy for New York’s housing crisis — and the similar crises in other coastal cities — is on display in this small New Jersey town two miles west of the George Washington Bridge.

Palisades Park is one of the few places in the New York metropolitan area where it is legal to replace a single-family home with something other than another single-family home. Over the last few decades, developers have bulldozed many of the old houses and replaced them with bigger, fancier duplexes.

There have been some growing pains, but many more people are now able to live in Palisades Park. Since 1990, the population has increased by 40 percent. The main street has revived and flourished, becoming a destination for Korean food. And the growth has allowed Palisades Park to reduce its tax rates.

One of the most important causes of the region’s housing crisis is the dearth of construction in communities around New York City, where most residential land is reserved exclusively for single-family homes. It is illegal to build more housing on that land, and so it has become impossible to provide enough.

The homes get larger, and the prices go up, but the number of residents does not increase.

Opponents of allowing more homes in suburban communities have sought to scare voters — so far, quite successfully — by insisting any changes in building rules will end in skyscrapers. Last year, after New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, proposed some minor leniencies to allow a little more housing construction, one Long Island politician said the plan would “turn Nassau County into New York City.”

Palisades Park shows that a little more density can deliver big benefits. A quirk in the town’s zoning code, which dates back to 1939, allows two homes on most residential lots — but no more than two. The reasons for that unusual provision are lost to history, and for a long time it didn’t really matter. But in the 1980s, Korean immigrants began moving to the area, and as demand increased, developers discovered that they could turn a single house into two homes.

The new duplexes are typically both more valuable than the homes they replace. That has allowed Palisades Park to cut property tax rates even as its budget has increased. In the early 2000s, Palisades Park and the adjacent town of Leonia, where it is illegal to build duplexes, both taxed homes at roughly the same rate. Last year, Palisades Park’s property tax rate was less than half of Leonia’s.

Allowing more density does not mean that existing homes are immediately torn down and replaced. It will take a few more decades before the supply of single-family homes in Palisades Park is exhausted. Edward Pinto, a co-director of the housing center at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank, has found that a typical annual rate of redevelopment is about 2 percent of the parcels in a given area that are legally available and economically attractive.

Mr. Pinto grew up in Palisades Park, in a single-family home built by his father, and I first heard about the changes in the town from him.

Like many proponents of increased housing construction, Mr. Pinto used to focus on the need to make room for larger apartment buildings. But on a visit to Palisades Park a few years ago, he was struck by how the town had changed. His childhood home had been replaced by a duplex, as had many of the other homes. It caused a shift in his thinking — a recognition of the value of what he calls “light-touch density,” meaning the replacement of single-family homes with a few more units.

One key benefit is that this kind of construction doesn’t require large-scale government coordination or investment.

“You don’t need a renewal plan,” said Mr. Pinto. “You don’t need subsidies. All you need is the right to build duplexes.” He added that if duplexes had been legal across northern New Jersey — not to mention suburban counties in New York and Connecticut — “we would be in a very different situation today.”

Versions of this idea are increasingly popular in other parts of the United States. While the specifics vary, the common theme is allowing the construction of a little more housing in areas previously reserved for single-family homes. California passed a law in 2021 allowing the construction of up to four units on single-family lots, although local governments have found other ways to stymie development. California has been more successful in allowing homeowners to add an apartment to any residential property. More than 80,000 of these “accessory dwelling units” have been permitted since 2016.

The cities of Minneapolis and Charlotte, and the states of Washington, Montana and Maine are among those that eliminated most single-family zoning in recent years. Communities across the country have made it easier to build accessory dwelling units.

In the New York region, however, politicians continue to sit on their hands. Ms. Hochul deserves credit for her blunt diagnosis that the state needs more housing, but she hasn’t made any discernible progress in building a political coalition sufficient to overcome the intransigence of the suburbs.

It is understandable that residents like their communities and fear change. A few years ago, Halyna Lemekh, a professor of sociology at St. Francis College who has lived in Palisades Park for two decades, decided to study her own community, interviewing dozens of residents about its transformation. “Many people expressed their resentment that it became a citylike place with less greenery,” she said. “This wasn’t just a face lift. It’s a very different place from what they knew as children.”

But Ms. Lemekh also found that the current residents of Palisades Park are generally pretty happy to be living there. And the important point is that more people are now able to live there.

New York and New Jersey should end single-family zoning so more people can build the communities they want and need.

And to those wary of change, I’d encourage you to take the opportunity to see what the future could look like. Visit Palisades Park.

3-minute read

PALISADES PARK — The Bergen County's Prosecutor's office will follow up on the mayor's actions from election day after a complaint was filed and the mayor was asked to leave a polling location by the board of elections chairman.

Mayor Chong "Paul" Kim was a challenger on behalf of Democratic council candidate Suk "John" Min on Nov. 7 at the Senior Center, where Kim also works as its director.

The mayor was seen entering a polling booth, helping voters outside of the polling booth while speaking Korean to a voter, passing out campaign materials inside the polling location and yelling at poll workers, according to the complaint.

Board of Elections Chairman Richard Miller said he was called to the Palisades Park senior center twice to address issues with the mayor. The mayor was issued a warning and then asked to leave on the second visit.

Story continues below photo gallery

A complaint was filed by borough Clerk Gina Kim to Superintendent of Elections Debra Francica two days after the election. To properly respond to the clerk's complaint, it was forwarded to the Bergen County Prosecutor's office for further follow-up, Francica said.

'Harassed and threatened'

The super board worker for the senior building notified the borough's clerk that he was "harassed and threatened" by the mayor as he was setting up the voting machines, according to the complaint, placing "undue pressure on him."

The mayor was witnessed handing out election campaign materials to incoming voters. When the super board worker confiscated the materials, he saw that they were copies of the ballot with names already checked off.

Miller said there were complaints over the mayor intervening with the voters. Miller said the mayor denied the allegations despite witnesses saying otherwise.

"As a challenger you can't go and engage the voter," Miller said. "You're not allowed to do that or engage and help them by the voting machines."

Challenger's role

A challenger's purpose is to check a list of registered voters when they come into vote, Miller explained. "Maybe around 4 p.m. a challenger will notice 50 people still haven't showed up to vote yet, and they call them," Miller said.

A challenger sits at a table to check names and can challenge a person voting if they know they've moved out of town. In that case, a poll worker will give the person in question a provisional ballot and it will be counted as legitimate only after information is confirmed.

The mayor said he didn’t know a complaint was filed, denied all allegations and said that the real problem was not having Korean American speaking poll workers in town. He also alleged that the clerk is "out to get him."

"In the busiest poll location in town there wasn’t one Korean American speaking worker, so I helped them out," Mayor Kim said. "They asked if I could help them out and I told them I couldn’t help them anymore."

During election day, when the super poll worker asked the mayor to cease all interactions with the voters and poll workers, a "heated exchange" began where the mayor told the poll worker "Do you know who I am?" and said he was an employee of the senior building so he could "do as he pleased," the complaint said.

At one point during election day, the mayor's wife was also seen at the senior center polling location and assisted voters but refused to fill out an assisted voter form.

"A challenger’s duties are clearly defined, and Mayor Kim was made aware of the same on multiple occasions by the super board worker, myself, and the Board of Election Commissioners," the borough's clerk, Gina Kim, said in her complaint.

"However, Mr. Kim used his mayoral position to harass and intimidate the poll workers" Gina Kim's complaint says, "and there were multiple witnesses who saw the mayor causing a major disturbance in the polling place on more than one occasion."

The clerk also noted in her complaint that this isn't the first time she has filed complaints on Kim's involvement in elections and his actions at the senior building.

Documents from emails show that Gina Kim is one of many employees who have filed complaints regarding mold in borough hall.

"What do you expect from this individual, right?" the mayor said. "This individual is out to get me. I’m not surprised she did it. I have witnesses saying I didn’t do anything wrong."

PALISADES PARK, NJ — More than a dozen Palisades Park employees are claiming mold in the borough's municipal complex made them sick and have accused officials of allowing the hazard go unaddressed for months, according to reports.

An attorney representing 15 workers who recently filed workers' compensation claims sent a letter Wednesday to Mayor Paul Kim and Councilman Jae K. Park, NJ.com reported.

In the letter, attorney Andrew R. Bronsnick said borough officials were first made aware of the issue in February and demanded "immediate action" to remedy the problem, the report said.

"The borough has failed to address our clients' medical and health complaints, and the ongoing issues expose all borough employees to harmful mold and environmental hazards," Brosnick wrote in the letter obtained by NJ.com.

He continued, "The continued failure of the borough to remedy the mold condition and the employees' exposure will result in additional medical injuries and damages. The borough will be held liable for failure to address the mold exposure and detrimental health concerns of our clients."

The letter was sent a day after NJ Advance Media published a story about the borough's director of public works ordering his staff to abandon their offices at the municipal complex, citing an unsafe work environment and dozens of fire code violations throughout the building.

In September, the Bergen Record obtained over 400 pages of emails and documents detailing health concerns among employees due to mold contamination and air quality.

According to the Record, more than 50 injury claims were filed to insurance due to illness caused by the building conditions and mold.

Borough Administrator Dave Lorenzo told the Record he sent several emails to the mayor and council asking them to hold special meetings and to take action against the hazards.

"This has been an ongoing issue for close to two years," Lorenzo told the Record. "Unfortunately, the mayor and certain members of the governing body have not authorized any actions up until this point."

Meanwhile, Mayor Kim blamed Lorenzo, according to the Record.

"The borough administrator is the main building guy; he should have followed the law," he told the Record. "He's saying the mayor and council didn't decide, but he should have just done it. Instead, he's saying it was the governing body that didn't decide."

Opening

Crispy Club, Palisades Park

This new spot specializes in crunchy Korean corn dogs. You can also get a hot dog in a bun, with toppings like kimchi or shrimp teriyaki. Loaded fries, sides, burgers, coffee and tea will be offered soon, following Crispy Club’s soft-opening phase. 210 Broad Avenue; 856-389-3391

Let’s Noodle, Morristown

This fast-casual Chinese restaurant pays homage to Szechuan street food, serving up bowls of noodles with Szechuan-inspired flavors and sauces. Make-your-own bowls are available. Also on the menu: dumplings, pork buns, shrimp toast, pickled slaw and crispy noodles. 26 Washington Street; 973-359-5467

Raising Cane’s, Burlington Township

The popular Louisiana-based chicken-finger chain has finally made its way to the Garden State, and the first of many South Jersey locations opened Wednesday in Burlington Township. The fast-food hotspot specializes in box combos, comprised of chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, a fountain beverage and the famous Cane’s sauce. Marlton, Cherry Hill and Deptford locations will open in the coming months. 2329 Burlington-Mount Holly Road

Reunion Hall, Haddon Township

This dining concept fuses a brewery/bar scene with three distinct eateries. Choose from 56 craft beers on tap, plus cocktails and wine, to enjoy in the wide bar area on their own or paired with dishes from Chicken Joint, Poppy Taco or Local Standards. The hall is located in the heart of Haddon Township and under half a mile from the Westmont PATCO Speedline, a direct train to Philadelphia; owner Dave Welsh, a South Jersey native, hopes to attract customers from Philly. 206 Haddon Avenue

[RELATED: The 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey]

Closing

Valentina’s Trattoria Italiana, Northfield

Valentina’s, an Italian eatery and pizzeria in Atlantic County, unexpectedly shuttered last week. In a Facebook announcement, Valentina’s said it received a 60-day notice last month that a neighboring medical office is expanding. The restaurant’s team decided to close but said a future location would be announced on social media.

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For people in Palisades Park this Facebook post was a sight for sore eyes.

It’s official! We are so excited to announce that Palisades Park Bakery is finally re-opening next month, July 2023! We will have returning staff including our bakers and other team members. Following recent renovations, there will also be an indoor seating area for customers to enjoy. We look forward to seeing everyone soon! Stay tuned for more updates! ☕️ #palisadespark #bakery #cafe #cake #coffee

Palisades Park Bakery was among the thousands of businesses that fell victim to the pandemic. They fought their way through spring and summer of 2020 then regretfully closed in September of that year for what they hoped would be a short temporary hiatus.

It was longer than anyone wanted and certainly much longer than their fans wanted.

Their Facebook page sort of tells the story. The posts before the one announcing their comeback were both dated June 10 of this year announcing updates.

But the one before that goes all the way back to March 17, 2020, frozen there in time right before the pandemic shut down the state.

The news of their reopening was well-received by customers.

“Omg! This is the best news ever! Love, love, love ❤️❤️❤️ Palisades Park Bakery! Woohoo!“

“The BEST news I have heard in AGES!! This just made my day!! Maybe my month!! SO excited!!! Welcome back!! Been WAY too long!!!”

“OMG!!! Best news ever!!!! I miss your pecan danish ring with custard and your St. Joseph day pastries!!! Can’t wait!! ”

Sounds like there just might be a line out the door.

While an exact date for a grand reopening isn’t announced it should happen sometime this month. Palisades Park Bakery is at 325 Broad Ave. in, obviously, Palisades Park.

While we’re waiting for the day here’s a quick look to make you hungry.

Red velvet cupcakes to die for

They’ve got you covered for Halloween…

Thanksgiving…

Christmas…

and beyond

And of course special occasions

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski only.

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