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Ringwood plan raises hopes

Monday, November 17, 2008
Last updated: Monday November 17, 2008, EST 6:40 AM

BY BARBARA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

RINGWOOD — It's been two years since sinkholes forced evacuation of two houses and swallowed part of another yard, yet the affected 23 Upper Ringwood residents are still without permanent homes.

Now, finally, borough officials have a plan to remedy that. Whether it will work depends on a number of factors — mainly, money. And already the strategy has some doubters.

It entails using some $600,000 in grant money to pay off the two mortgages and demolish the Van Dunk Lane homes. It also calls for subdividing, purchasing and fixing the section of Roger DeGroat's yard containing the largest sinkhole. Whatever money is left would be given to the two homeowners to put toward another house.

"We're working really hard to help these residents," said Kelley Rohde, borough clerk and acting borough manager. "It's a plan that we're working on that we'll present to them when we get the money. They have every right to refuse it."

Residents are wary, but hopeful. They've been out of their homes since November 2006, when borough officials, based on geological experts' recommendations, determined that sinkholes surrounding the homes made the properties dangerous. They moved the residents into trailers for several months before finding and paying for rental units for some of the 23 people displaced.

Others are staying with extended family. And DeGroat's family has been living with his SUV-sized sinkhole fenced off in the middle of his yard since July 2005.

The neighborhood, once an iron ore mining community, also is the site of a Ford Motor Co. industrial waste dump. Residents are currently suing Ford and the borough for property damage and illnesses they say were caused by the contamination.

Ford denies the heavy equipment it used to remove the waste triggered the underground shifts that caused the sinkholes. Geological experts cannot refute Ford's claims, and the residents have been pinning their hopes for sinkhole remediation on the borough and the state.

"We'll see what the town is offering," said Jeanine Mann, who now shares a two-family rental house in Riverdale with eight extended family members. "I just want what I had before all this happened — my own home."

But that may be difficult since it is unclear how much money will be available from the $600,000. Estimates to fix DeGroat's sinkhole are over $200,000, and the other two homes still have mortgages in excess of $150,000.

Officials said they are trying to negotiate with the mortgage companies to reduce the debt. Currently, each property has a tax assessment of just $100 for the house and $5,900 for the land.

Both houses had homeowner's insurance, but the companies denied the claims, saying that because the structures aren't damaged there is no coverage. And New Jersey Insurance Underwriting Association is taking homeowner Rodney Mann to court, asking a judge to rule that it made the right decision to deny his claim.

Mann is also cautiously positive about the borough's plan to help those affected get new housing.

"I think they're on the right track — I would be happy if they paid off my mortgage," Mann said. "But it has to be done equally so everyone gets help, even the tenants."

The plan has opposition.

Wenke Taule, a former mayor and councilwoman who has been advocating for the residents, said the proposal needs to include new housing.

"This plan doesn't include relocation, and it must," Taule said. "The borough can't just force them out of their homes and throw them out on the street."

At one time, the land under the homes was owned by the borough, and the houses were built with federal grants. Legally, however, the problem now is the homeowners' responsibility, borough attorney Richard Clemack said.

"Look, this isn't a perfect solution, but given the times we're in, I think it's fair to everyone," Clemack said.

E-mail: williamsb@northjersey.com

RINGWOOD — It's been two years since sinkholes forced evacuation of two houses and swallowed part of another yard, yet the affected 23 Upper Ringwood residents are still without permanent homes.

CHRIS PEDOTA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Roger DeGroat looking out over his back yard, which is fenced off because of a huge sinkhole. Estimates put repair costs above $200,000.

Now, finally, borough officials have a plan to remedy that. Whether it will work depends on a number of factors — mainly, money. And already the strategy has some doubters.

It entails using some $600,000 in grant money to pay off the two mortgages and demolish the Van Dunk Lane homes. It also calls for subdividing, purchasing and fixing the section of Roger DeGroat's yard containing the largest sinkhole. Whatever money is left would be given to the two homeowners to put toward another house.

"We're working really hard to help these residents," said Kelley Rohde, borough clerk and acting borough manager. "It's a plan that we're working on that we'll present to them when we get the money. They have every right to refuse it."

Residents are wary, but hopeful. They've been out of their homes since November 2006, when borough officials, based on geological experts' recommendations, determined that sinkholes surrounding the homes made the properties dangerous. They moved the residents into trailers for several months before finding and paying for rental units for some of the 23 people displaced.

Others are staying with extended family. And DeGroat's family has been living with his SUV-sized sinkhole fenced off in the middle of his yard since July 2005.

The neighborhood, once an iron ore mining community, also is the site of a Ford Motor Co. industrial waste dump. Residents are currently suing Ford and the borough for property damage and illnesses they say were caused by the contamination.

Ford denies the heavy equipment it used to remove the waste triggered the underground shifts that caused the sinkholes. Geological experts cannot refute Ford's claims, and the residents have been pinning their hopes for sinkhole remediation on the borough and the state.

"We'll see what the town is offering," said Jeanine Mann, who now shares a two-family rental house in Riverdale with eight extended family members. "I just want what I had before all this happened — my own home."

But that may be difficult since it is unclear how much money will be available from the $600,000. Estimates to fix DeGroat's sinkhole are over $200,000, and the other two homes still have mortgages in excess of $150,000.

Officials said they are trying to negotiate with the mortgage companies to reduce the debt. Currently, each property has a tax assessment of just $100 for the house and $5,900 for the land.

Both houses had homeowner's insurance, but the companies denied the claims, saying that because the structures aren't damaged there is no coverage. And New Jersey Insurance Underwriting Association is taking homeowner Rodney Mann to court, asking a judge to rule that it made the right decision to deny his claim.

Mann is also cautiously positive about the borough's plan to help those affected get new housing.

"I think they're on the right track — I would be happy if they paid off my mortgage," Mann said. "But it has to be done equally so everyone gets help, even the tenants."

The plan has opposition.

Wenke Taule, a former mayor and councilwoman who has been advocating for the residents, said the proposal needs to include new housing.

"This plan doesn't include relocation, and it must," Taule said. "The borough can't just force them out of their homes and throw them out on the street."

At one time, the land under the homes was owned by the borough, and the houses were built with federal grants. Legally, however, the problem now is the homeowners' responsibility, borough attorney Richard Clemack said.

"Look, this isn't a perfect solution, but given the times we're in, I think it's fair to everyone," Clemack said.

E-mail: williamsb@northjersey.com

© 2008 Skylands CLEAN, Inc. • Background photo courtesy Dwight Hiscano, 908-273-5666