On Tuesday, June 28, The Teaneck Township Council in collaboration with The Teaneck Chamber of Commerce hosted the first in a series of upcoming forums entitled “Discover Teaneck.” Held at the Council Chambers, the event was attended by developers, real estate professionals and community residents.
Mayor Elie Katz offered opening remarks before a crowd of 80 people. Katz explained the goal of this initiative is to spark more development in an effort to enhance Teaneck.
“Teaneck is open for business,” Katz declared. “Teaneck is a wonderful town. Those who live here know it and those who buy here are soon to find out.”
Additional members of the council in attendance included Dr. Henry Pruitt and Mark Schwartz (co-publisher of The Jewish Link). Both have been long-time supporters of new development around town.
“The idea is to make Teaneck the best town it could be, and improving the infrastructure is the best way to do so,” commented Pruitt. “Better late than never,” remarked Councilman Schwartz. “Teaneck has come to the forefront in the development stages. We believe in community collaboration and we want to hear from you.”
William Broughton, Teaneck Township Manager, educated the audience on important facts about Teaneck. Founded in 1895, Teaneck spans 6.2 square miles and boasts a population of nearly 40,000. Located eight miles from the George Washington Bridge and half an hour from major airports, Teaneck is strategically located for commercial and residential buyers. Services and amenities in Teaneck are premier. Fourteen of the 24 local parks are developed, including 40-acre Votee Park as well as recently redesigned Overpeck County Park. Broughton commended the public service providers in Teaneck, underlining the police department as the best in the state. Teaneck also boasts a full-time-career fire department as well as the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corp. Major businesses in the township include Holy Name Medical Center, Fairleigh Dickinson University, The Glenpointe Hotel and Cognizant Technologies.
Former Mayor Paul Ostrow was in attendance representing Holy Name Medical Center.
“Holy Name Medical Center is the largest proprietor in Teaneck, currently employing 4,000 paid employees and 600 volunteers. If, God forbid, you require medical help, you are in the right place,” said Ostrow,
Representatives from the Teaneck Board of Education were also on hand to offer participants background about the educational system, something of obvious consideration to potential families moving in. Teaneck supports a vibrant school system servicing a huge diversity of students. Over 30 languages are spoken among students from a vast array of socioeconomic backgrounds. The township prides itself on providing an outstanding education to students in grades K-12.
“We provide all of our students with resources they need to be successful,” explained Dennis Heck, principal of Teaneck High School. “Because of the diversity that exists within the student population, we work hard to meet the needs of all individuals.”
After representatives described the amenities and services Teaneck has to offer, presentations of the two areas featured at this event began. The two zones highlighted were the Alfred Avenue area and the Queen Anne Road/Degraw Avenue business district. These locations offer many potential development opportunities both on a commercial level as well as a residential level. The Alfred Avenue section of town is extremely accessible by car, bus or foot. It is a development-friendly area with zoning laws tailored to allow a great deal of flexibility. Allowances for 60 units per acre of land have been sanctioned and there is a total availability of 18 acres for development. Residential development up to five stories high is permitted.
The Queen Anne Road/Degraw Avenue Business District has great potential for growth. Developers can build as high as three stories with no minimum front or side yard required. This section of town has veteran retail anchors that include CVS Pharmacy, Julio’s Fruit Boutique and a variety of eateries.
The Teaneck Chamber of Commerce realizes that businesses need to work together to achieve success. To that end, the Chamber has formed two committees, The Real Estate Committee and The Banking Committee.
“By working together we are not only setting an example for the community but we are in essence strengthening the community,” Larry Bauer, president of The Teaneck Chamber of Commerce said. Vice President Jennifer Glass expressed the importance of soliciting businesses that residents want and will continue to support. “We need to attract people who are invested in the town and want to help it grow.” Attempting to upgrade and develop underutilized properties in these two locations is the start of many forthcoming changes to improve the township.
Upon completion of the presentations, guests were invited to network and ask questions. Gervonn Romney-Rice, an active community member, participated in the event to share her commitment to the township. “We like the fabric of Teaneck and the diversity therein. We take pride in our community,” Romney-Rice told The Jewish Link. “It is important that residents are informed and have a voice in community affairs.”
Perhaps one of the outstanding factors that make Teaneck unique is its community diversity. There is a place or a home for everyone here in Teaneck, and “Discover Teaneck” is hoping to foster that sense of growing community life through advances in business and residential dwellings. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and optimism for what promises to offer new prospects for an ever-improving township.
By Andrea Nissel
