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POMPTON LAKES - Blue Acres buyouts continue
(by Leslie Scott - Staff Writer - October 02, 2008)
POMPTON LAKES - The borough is making good use of appliances and materials from a home that is ready to be demolished under the state’s Blue Acres Bond Act.
Homes on one entire side of River Edge Drive, which are next to the Ramapo River, all qualify to be purchased under this act.
Environmental Officer Ed Merrill explained that all of these homes are located in the floodway, which is classified as an area known for multiple losses.
“Only half of the street is in the floodway. So if you are on the river side of the street, you are in the floodway. But if you literally walk to the other curb, you are out of the floodway. None of the houses across the street are eligible for this program,” said Merrill.
Since the first law was passed in 1995, 15 of the 23 homeowners in the floodway of River Edge Drive volunteered to enter this program. Also, two additional homes located at the end of Walnut and Laurel avenues were purchased under the 1995 act. These two homes were near the Pequannock River.
All of these homes were demolished. Merrill said anyone can tell where the homes once existed because of the driveway curb cuts that remain.
Eight homes in the floodway still stand on River Edge Drive.
One homeowner said she did not sell because the state offered less money than what the house was worth.
Another homeowner, Ilyas Bas, said his family is still there because he and his wife are disabled and are comfortable where they are. They have lived in their home since 1985.
“If they give the money to me, I can’t go buy a house. Houses are very expensive. They are $300,000 and $400,000. I have very little income coming in,” Bas said.
From the outside of the Bas home, it is difficult to tell how big a toll the floods have taken. Bas said he makes repairs whenever something happens.
“I take care of the house,” he said.
The latest home to be added on to the demolition inventory is 1531 River Edge Drive. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) closed on the property early this month.
DEP spokesperson Karen Hershey said the agency purchased the home for $305,000. The money to purchase this property came through the 2007 Blue Acres Bond Act, which replenished the 1995 bond as it ran out of funds.
The borough has already begun preparing the home for demolition. Borough Administrator Vito Gadaleta said the municipality is responsible for coordinating the demolition of the home but the DEP will reimburse these costs.
The borough has made good use of some of the things that were left in the home. The hot water heater was removed and will be reinstalled in the Civic Center. Also, the sink and kitchen cabinets will be reinstalled in the employee lounge at Borough Hall.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Ben Steltzer said the department salvaged as much as it could from the home. DPW workers took windows and removed nearly $700 worth of recyclable materials and some piping they could use for future projects.
The Fire Department will also use the home for practice. Chief Dean Cioppa said it would be out there soon to cut holes in the roof.
“We basically have stripped the house and it is ready to be knocked down now,” said Steltzer.
The demolition will commence once the state provides specs, detailing how the home will be demolished, explained Steltzer.
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