Billionaire’s 496-unit housing development threatens new jersey’s old-growth forest and retiree’s dream

Roy Oser’s vision of a peaceful retirement is now under threat from an unexpected source: affordable housing mandates. When the former attorney purchased his North Jersey condo in 2018, he carefully researched the property, drawn by his backyard’s direct access to pristine old-growth forest and assurances that the woodland would remain protected. Now, six years later, those woods face potential destruction.

Billionaire Zygi Wilf has proposed building 496 apartments directly on the Second Watchung Ridge, the forested area adjacent to Oser’s home. The development has created a complex environmental and social dilemma, pitting New Jersey’s state-mandated affordable housing requirements against critical ecological concerns. The proposed site sits on old-growth forest that serves as vital habitat for local wildlife and plays a crucial role in regional water management.

Environmental scientists and local residents are raising serious concerns about the project’s potential impact on flooding patterns and water quality in the area. The Second Watchung Ridge’s mature forest ecosystem currently helps manage stormwater runoff and maintains the delicate balance of the local watershed. Critics worry that replacing this natural infrastructure with nearly 500 residential units could destabilize the region’s environmental systems.

The controversy highlights a growing challenge facing many communities: balancing legitimate needs for affordable housing with environmental protection. While New Jersey faces genuine pressure to increase housing availability, environmentalists argue that sacrificing irreplaceable old-growth forest represents a shortsighted solution that could create long-term ecological problems far costlier than the short-term housing benefits.