COAH Funds Still in Flux in Ridgewood

Nearly a year after the state said it would be seizing $164 million in unspent affordable housing funds from hundreds of municipalities, Ridgewood officials remain in limbo.

The Christie administration in July of 2012 said it would be coming for $195,000 in funds dedicated to COAH unless the village demonstrated a legitimate plan to construct affordable and/or special needs housing.

Non-profit group Habitat for Humanity approached the village with a plan to construct several facilities at undisclosed blighted properties in town and sell them for a discount to families in need. Spurred to act or face seizure, in July a resolution was passed, setting aide nearly $200,000 for Habitat.

Although talks with Habitat have continued since last summer, no concrete plan of action has come to fruition, Village Attorney Matt Rogers said. The state sought to seize money last Wednesday but a court ruling pushed the deadline up to June 5. 

Gov. Chris Christie, a frequent critic of COAH, disbanded the agency's board of directors two years ago. An appellate court reinstate it, but the murky situation has left many officials across New Jersey wondering if and when the other shoe will drop.

"We're keeping one eye on Habitat and the other on the court process," Rogers said Wednesday night when asked by a resident of unspent COAH funds. Due to legal issues, Rogers reviewed few details of the ongoing talks.

Unlike its neighbor, Glen Rock has implemented an affordable housing plan and is not under threat of having any money seized. 

Correction: The Glen Rock affordable housing efforts are not centered on senior housing.