to the city by train and bus, having new businesses that have just moved into town, medical businesses and retail businesses,” Mayor Mike Ghassali explains the town’s magnetic pull for newcomers. The statistics tell a compelling story of suburban success. One-third of Montvale’s residents have arrived within the past five years, drawn by toprated schools, pristine neighborhoods where 84% of residents own their homes, and seamless connectivity to Manhattan via the Pascack Valley rail line. “We currently have very low available housing inventory for sale,” Mayor Ghassali notes, with new construction commanding $2 million before completion and homes averaging $688,500. What makes Montvale particularly intriguing is its corporate heritage. The town previously housed major headquarters including MercedesBenz USA, and A&P Supermarkets, establishing its credentials as a business-friendly environment. While the era of massive corporate campuses may be waning, Montvale has successfully attracted a new generation of companies, from urgent care facilities to automotive innovators. This evolution from corporate giant magnet to diversified business hub positions Montvale as a model for suburban economic adaptation. BALANCING GROWTH WITH SMART DEVELOPMENT The challenge facing Montvale mirrors that of many affluent suburban communities: how to encourage economic growth while preserving the character that makes the town desirable.Administrator Joseph Voytus approaches this balancing act with measured pragmatism, recognizing that the old model of massive corporate headquarters no longer fits today’s business landscape. “We’re seeing a lot of businesses come in.A lot of that is on the retail end or smaller professional offices, dentists, orthodontists, and then that supportive retail for some of the housing in the area,” Voytus explains.“You’re not seeing as much in terms of the old school corporate campus that’s sort of going by the wayside.” The shift represents a broader departure from sprawling headquarters complexes that defined suburban development for decades. 107 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 10 MONTVALE, NJ
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