After Mayor Steve Fulop temporarily halted demolition of old buildings in March, believing too many quaint structures in the Heights were being demolished for more monolithic designs, the City Council rescinded the ban but said they’ll soon adopt new safeguards.
On Wednesday, the council adopted a measure to revise the city’s demolition ordinance, but then introduced an even newer version that they’ll hold a hearing on at their next meeting. Reports say the measure will be revised to require that the city’s historic preservation officer review all demolition permits, and to require that a zoning officer review permits for partial demolition.
If a permit is not approved or denied within 45 days, the city’s construction officer may issue the permit. If the permit is denied, the applicant can appeal to the city Zoning Board. The officers’ report must note whether the structure is more than 50 years old.
Ogden Avenue, where Fulop lives, has seen a spike in the construction of similar multi-family houses in an area regarded as one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the city.
Wednesday’s 8-0 vote (Councilwoman Joyce Watterman was absent) came after a 90-minute public hearing during which residents largely spoke in favor of adopting the ordinance revisions.
Developers have expressed opposition to Fulop’s executive order, which banned demolition of one-to-four family buildings. Four companies sued the city, calling the order unlawful.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer was quoted in media reports yesterday saying the suit has been withdrawn because Fulop rescinded the order.
Supporters of the new review process in the ordinance said some of the city’s newly constructed homes are degrading the charm of neighborhoods, robbing the city of open space and street parking, and replacing affordable housing with expensive houses out of reach to people earning modest incomes.
Council President Rolando Lavarro said the updated ordinance allows a backlog of 29 permits for demolition to continue.
“This ordinance will go into effect immediately, rather than the normal 20 days. By doing that, it allows for the [mayor’s] executive order to be lifted in order for the demolition permits to be reviewed and processed,” said Lavarro.
He criticized real estate companies for engaging in “fear mongering” in letters to homeowners telling them their property values would drop because the city is preventing them from renovating their homes, according to published reports.
“It was irresponsible of them because the ordinance we are voting on tonight is strictly within the realm of demolitions,” Lavarro said.
Last month Fulop issued the temporary moratorium to allow the city to review whether or not well-built and maintained homes were being targeted in order to make room for what he saw as “Bayonne Boxes,” a comment that Bayonne officials found insulting and which incited a war of words between them and Fulop.
