BAYONNE, NJ – A less than enthusiastic city council voted to approve a study on possibly reinstituting rent control in the city, although only Councilman Neil Carroll appears to fully support the idea.
While other members of the council voted in favor of studying a property in need of redevelopment and examining their rent control laws, most appeared to prefer other options such as the use of the Affordable Housing Trust fund to create more affordable housing in a city that has seen a flood of luxury rental developments – most of which were attracted to Bayonne after the city abolished rent control.
The resolution would require a reexamination of local rent control laws, while looking at other aspects of the existing housing stock.
Unlike Jersey City and Hoboken, Bayonne largely did away with rent control, which in part made the city more attractive for development of high end rental development, but with rising rents throughout the city, the need for affordable housing has become dire, supporters of the measure, including Carroll, say.
Councilman Loyad Booker, who is also a member of the Bayonne Planning Board, said he would like to see more workforce units to allow teachers, city workers and public safety workers to remain in the city, rather than seeking more affordable housing outside the city while Councilman Jacquiline Weimmer said she would like to see the development of for sale condo units in the city.
Last year, the one project proposed for such condos requested revisiting its agreement with the city to develop luxury rental units instead.
Condo development in the city largely ended with the 2008 real estate crash when banks ceased offering easy ways to get mortgages, an issue that is still relevant today as increased interest rates make first time home ownership a significant problem.
Council President Gary LaPelusa said the council will look over the report when it is concluded, adding that caveat that he has reservations about restoring rent control.
“I’m always willing to see a study. Maybe we can always learn something new,” LaPelusa said.
Carroll admitted that the lack of rent control in the city had made the city more attractive for luxury development.
“But I think we’ve reached a point where we need to look at what we need and how much we’ve already accomplished,” Carroll said. “I think everybody on the council wants to do something to keep Bayonne affordable.”