Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • November 21, 2012 Allendale Borough will shift $150K to complete housing by John Koster Mayor Vince Barra won the informal, unanimous approval of the Allendale Council to shift $150,000 from the Allendale Housing Trust to the fund to complete Crescent Commons. “This is not taxpayer money,” Mayor Barra said at the council’s last public meeting. “This is money that has been contributed by developers.” The formal vote is expected to take place just before Thanksgiving. The $150,000 will cover a small shortfall from the $5 million in federal, state, and county funding used to construct special needs housing at Crescent Commons, which is located at 303 West Crescent Avenue. At press time, a ribbon cutting had been scheduled for Monday (Nov. 19). The Allendale Housing Trust Fund is comprised of money given to the borough by developers in return for the right to be excused from building low- or moderatecost or special needs housing as part of developments. Mayor Barra said, as an example, that The Whitney tract of luxury condominiums now being constructed, will give Allendale $100,000 for each unit that would otherwise have been special needs. Allendale will now use the money to pay for special needs housing in Crescent Commons, where people with special needs may be sheltered and supervised more efficiently. As an added incentive to dedicate the money, Mayor Barra said New Jersey could theoretically forfeit any money left in the Allendale Housing Trust Fund and not used for special needs or low- or moderate-income housing. However, this scenario is not likely, borough officials agreed. Allendale has won plaudits for the amount of special needs housing the borough had constructed: The completion of Crescent Commons will bring Allendale’s total to 35 units for the community of 6,100 people. “We can honestly say that we have gone in over our heads and now have 35 special needs units in Allendale,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth White, who is also a trustee of the Allendale Housing Trust Fund. “If every town did half of what Allendale has done, they’d wipe out the waiting list for special needs housing.” Mayor Barra added, “The project will be completed with 100 percent of what was designed. We didn’t skimp on anything.” Woman’s Club offers memorial scholarship The Allendale Woman’s Club will offer a memorial scholarship in honor of Linda Fleischauer, a dynamic woman who touched the lives of the club’s members through her love of visual arts and her compassionate, selfless nature. Applicants must be Allendale residents who are in their senior year of high school and are planning to attend an accredited college, university, or trade/technical school with an interest in the visual arts. Those who apply must also demonstrate their contributions to their community, work, or family. Students may obtain an application for the scholarship in their high school guidance office or at the club’s website: www.allendalewomansclub.org. Please note: All applications must be received by Jan. 31, 2013.