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Today, Phil Read catches up with Jersey’s land hunters, including a few in Montclair. From the Star Ledger…

They are land hunters, on the prowl. Poring over tax maps to eyeball a hot prospect. Getting behind the wheel to scout for the next acquisition. Knocking on doors, hoping to find an owner in the mood to sell.
Denis Orloff knows the terrain.
“It’s getting harder and harder to find any place to build in this town,” said Orloff, who is building two five-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot houses on Montclair’s Valley Road. That deal came after he got a tip. He found the seller, quickly, and started talking.
“While I was making a deal and shaking his hand … his phone was ringing off the hook,” Orloff said. “It was unbelievable. I got that one by the skin of my teeth.”


The two homes above, set way off Valley Road and forming a little enclave that seems carved out from land situated near another cul-de-sac, Victoria Terrace (off of Park Street) can be seen here on the website of architect Jonathan Perlstein of Oasis Architecture. From a distance, the homes appear way more in keeping with Montclair than what we’ve seen of late. And opposed to Crisco’s “let’s pack in as many as we can” strategy, there are just two.
Also mentioned in the article are the folks who built these two homes. The one on Walnut Street is still on the market for $1,695,000.

Liz George is the publisher of Montclair Local. liz@montclairlocal.news

46 replies on “Got Land?”

  1. Explain what information tax maps provide to a land hunter. And what strategy of approach is used to persuade a homeowner to sell just because they are being offered a bundle of cash?

  2. “And what strategy of approach is used to persuade a homeowner to sell just because they are being offered a bundle of cash?”
    You’re joking, right?

  3. looks like the perfect home for a wealthy family getting divorced! can’t complaing about who has the better home! shared yard!… or maybe even NYC polygamists!
    Nothing like a mirror view of your own home out your front window.

  4. We were just discussing whether we might get a variance to build a house on the landlocked lot behind our own (which we own).

  5. “‘It’s getting harder and harder to find any place to build in this town,’ said Orloff, who is building two five-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot houses on Montclair’s Valley Road.”
    Well, duh! That’s because all the developers have gotten their grubby little paws on every available lot in sight (or on a map).
    I think Realhawker hit the nail on the head: Perhaps we are getting an influx of “Big Love”-type families moving into Baristaville.

  6. Big Love Montclair Edition:
    Steve Plofkler, #1 Bobbie Brown, #2 Miss Martta, and #3 Maui Girl.

  10. MM you have to admit, though, casting you as “Nicki” is inspired, right?

  12. inspired by wha?
    Nicki is the nasty jealous one who has run up major credit card debt.
    he’s insulting you MM- big time

  14. Nah, how can he insult me if he hasn’t met me? My credit is excellent, and I’m neither a blonde nor an LDS member.

  16. p.s.
    Nicki asks all the uncomfortable questions which have to be asked. She’s a well written character (as are they all)

  18. Nicki is such a well written character. In many ways the family would fall apart without her, as judgmental, uptight and spend-a-holic as she is. She’s almost the man of the house, because Bill is fairly absent. She’s the one you see hauling dryers around on a dolly or fixing sinks. She keeps them on The Principle (whatever that is…). She cracks me up. I love last week “Am I warm?” (The response: No.)
    I love all 3 actresses though and all the characters. The kids are great too! I love that show! Nothing will ever replace Six Feet Under, but this comes close!

  19. ROC: Some people actually like their home and property more than any cash amount. Some people see their home as their legacy, not as a seasonal fashion statement like cars or clothing.

  20. Somebody did something right at HBO if Butch and ROC both love the show. That’s a W-I-D-E demographic!

  21. There is a lot in between your ridiculous extremes, Jim.
    I’ll bet there are very few who don’t have a price.

  22. Jim – Not everyone can afford to take less for their property for emotional reasons. This area is expensive and you’re lucky if you own a home – and privileged if you can just accept thousands less for the sake of a “legacy.” Most of us would have to take the best offer financially.

  23. will someone tell them there is an empty lot on Elm St that is just overgrown? and that nabe is definitely on the upswing.

  25. Also, what’s up with the vacant lot on Glenridge Ave.? Where the fire was? That’s been vacant for years.

  26. I’m addressing the camp of homeowners who put down their roots for generational transfer rather than short-term “roof over my head” necessity. Some of the Montclair estates never see a public sale because they are passed down from generation-to-generation. To those “less privileged,” this might all seem terribly old-fashioned and passe, but this tradition has also preserved the architecture and character of some of the town’s attraction with newcomers and developers. The key, though, is to balance tradition with new development so that original attraction does not diminish.

  28. LIM: Read above … some homeowners aren’t interested in how much cash can be offered by the developer-of-the-month … and we should be thankful that such homeowners exist … otherwise, Montclair would begin to look like any other unremarkable town of mish-mash homes, like Wayne, Morris Plains, Hanover, Bridgewater, etc., constantly plowing over the old for new development, subdividing lots, and taking away the green acres and generous-size lots that attracted so many residents in the first place …

  29. “To those “less privileged,” this might all seem terribly old-fashioned and passe, but this tradition has also preserved the architecture and character of some of the town’s attraction with newcomers and developers. The key, though, is to balance tradition with new development so that original attraction does not diminish.”
    “unremarkable town of mish-mash homes, like Wayne, Morris Plains, Hanover, Bridgewater, etc.,”
    Thank heavens for the elitist rich! Wherever would we be without them?
    Well, Jim, down here on the other side of the tracks, if someone offered me oodles of cash for my property, remembering the underfunded nature of my children’s college fund (I’m lucky to even have one) I’d TAKE it. Gobble it right up, even, if the price were right.
    And if that means you kids might have to see (god forbid) new construction on their way to Bryn Mawr, so be it!
    Bring back the landed aristocracy!

  31. Despite Pat’s assurances that they are worth hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars, (minus) $800 bucks is, so far, my “highest” offer.

  33. RoC, you speak from lack of imagination – an enormous number of houses in the lowest income sections of town pass from generation to generation.
    And by the way, despite Barista’s glowing review, these homes are also quite different from what was in the original renderings to the Planning Board. I believe the developer had also hoped to squeeze in a couple more houses, but was turned down.

  34. You may believe that, Helen, but respectfully, you are wrong.
    The “developers” wanted ONE more house. Which would have been a total of three. Now there are only two. The two houses are set so far back from the street that many people don√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t even know they are there. It√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s also worth mentioning that the two houses are being built exactly as they were presented to planning board.
    The following should be noted: √¢‚Ǩ≈ìThese homes will not only be luxurious and timeless in design, they will be highly energy efficient, and as such will qualify under the New Jersey √¢‚Ǩ≈ìEnergy Star√¢‚Ǩ¬ù incentive program. Additional √¢‚Ǩ≈ìgreen√¢‚Ǩ¬ù or environmentally responsive features include the minimization of impervious areas throughout the site, the use of engineered lumber (preserving old growth trees), the minimization of windows and doors facing north, and the preservation of mature maples and oaks, which ring the site on three sides. ”
    These houses have been designed and are being built by people who genuinely care about quality design and construction…and care about Montclair.
    To imply otherwise based on rumor or gossip is to do them, and our neighbors, a disservice. And, again, respectfully, not at all like you.
    By way of disclosure: I am acquainted with both architect and builders and have toured the site.

  35. To respond to Helen’s comment:
    The web site rendering accurately shows a two-house design that was fully developed between the initial three- house scheme than Dan Epstein correctly refers to, and which predates the final two-house scheme, which is being built now.
    This intermediate scheme was presented to the Planning Board, which requested the footprints be reduced. It is the reduced footprint scheme that is being built now, in full accordance with approved plans.
    Jonathan Perlstein
    Oasis Architecture

  36. They also seem to be 4000 square feet per house as opposed to Crisco’s 5200 square foot monsters…
    When you think about this scheme being reduced from three to two houses, it’s amazing that Crisco was allowed to put up 10 homes!

  37. What are the set backs, and are they 4,000 or 5,000 sq. ft. as recorded on architects website??

  38. I got the order of events mixed up. I’m glad the lesser footprint plan was asked for by the Planning Board. Sorry if I stepped on your toes, Dan (are you the builder?) but while I agree the houses look pretty good and unobtrusive from the Valley Rd. side, they felt like monsters when I saw them recently from one of the neighbor’s back yards.

  40. I am not the builder. But I am acquainted with them. And while the same might not be said about some of the other local builders/developers, I know that in every neighborhood where these folks have completed projects…the neighbors are pleased with the projects, and the neighborhoods are the better for it.
    Do a little homework. I doubt that you’d disagree.
    No sane person could disagree that these are bigger rather than smaller houses. But there are big houses all over town. I’d suggest that it’s the context to the lot that is at issue with many local projects. And these two houses are on a lot of land.
    I have no personal stake in this. I just hate to see some of the Good Guys get a bad rap.
    Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. This is mine. 😉

  41. what is the difference between this builder and crisco?? Didn’t he try to fit 3 houses on this lot, but was denied?

  42. nNo- he asked for three house- got two and then didn’t up the size of the houses to the absolute max and didn’t build so that the owners could borrow sugar by passing a bowl between houses.
    He also built on a lot that it didn’t look like anyone else had figured out how to build on and didn’t dwarf the neighborhood.
    there’s a decided difference.

  45. Actually, no. They were to be smaller than 5000 sq ft.
    This, as well as all other testimony, is public record, along with all other minutes of the Planning Board.

  46. Yet, it’s a shame that the latest Montclair Planning Board minutes on the website are 10/20/2003
    It may be public record, but you’ll probably have to file an OPRA records request to get them.
    Here- have fun reading the Planning Board Minutes from 1999-2003.
    Please note that there’s a link to 2004 but no minutes are posted there.
    https://www.to.montclair.nj.us/planningdept/planningboardminutes.cfm

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