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Residents raise safety, access concerns after Overlook Avenue retaining wall collapse
Summary
Neighbors told the Ridgefield Park Board of Commissioners that a collapsed retaining wall on Overlook Avenue has restricted vehicle access, complicated parking and EV charging, and raised safety concerns; the town says the wall is private property and is coordinating with the owner and engineers for repairs.
Residents voiced frustration at the June 9 Ridgefield Park Board of Commissioners meeting over a collapsed retaining wall on Overlook Avenue that has blocked vehicle access and disrupted daily life.
Thomas Vercelli, who said he first notified the Building Department, Scott Court and DPW on Feb. 24 and later provided photos showing fresh cracks, asked why the village engineer had not inspected the site. "The wall was only patched," Vercelli said, and later reported the wall was "once again starting to crack." Several other residents — including Stacey Vercelli, Filiz and Kutluay Say, Kristen Perez, Cheryl Flynn and Tony Wu — described hardships from the road closure: parking far from homes, trouble charging electric vehicles, possible delays for emergency vehicles and ongoing construction dust and noise.
Mayor Adam MacNeill told residents the wall is not village property and "the town could not step in," saying the fastest remedy would be cooperation from the property's owner. Village Engineer Joseph Dunn said temporary fencing will be installed and that "the street can be walked on, but no vehicles will be able to use the street" because of the wall's stability. Dunn added that the town's engineer (Boswell Engineering) will review Scott Court's contractor plans and that a site representative will monitor construction and dust control when work begins.
Police Chief Mike Cmielewski said police and emergency services will maintain resources and a safety plan during repairs, and officers will improve signage and monitor the area. Construction Code Official Mike Landolfi said Scott Court's engineers have been cooperative and will provide engineering reports to confirm home safety after repairs. Residents asked the village to provide frequent updates, clearer signage and copies of engineering and safety reports; officials said contact information given to the village clerk will be used for updates.
The board did not set a repair completion date at the meeting, citing the need to review contractor plans and engineer reports before establishing a timeline.
