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Long-vacant “Town Garage” back on in the news again
As previously reported in reader commentary : Urbanization of Downtown Ridgewood is coming
Massive development set to take place in the Central Business District
http://theridgewoodblog.net/reader-urbanization-of-downtown-ridgewood-is-coming/
Long-vacant “Town Garage” back on in the news again
THURSDAY JULY 26, 2012, 1:49 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Village Council members are expected next month to resurrect a discussion initiated by the Ridgewood Planning Board, which has asked the governing body to review the stipulations and intentions of the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Area and Redevelopment Plan.
The Village Council will reopen discussions next month on what to do with the Town Garage property.
When it opens the conversation in August, the council will direct its attention to the much-maligned southwest corner of North Walnut Street and Franklin Avenue.
The area is currently comprised of the vacant Town Garage building and its adjoining, unused parking lot. A waist-high stone wall separates that property from a village-owned, metered parking lot located at the corner of North Walnut and Franklin.
The long-standing history of the redevelopment area includes ideas for a multi-tiered parking garage, retail shopping and residential units. The village also abandoned a previous attempt to acquire the Town Garage property through eminent domain, and both properties have been cited by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for underground.
At the last council meeting, Mayor Aronsohn tabled the Town Garage owners application to wait and hear the proposal from his buddies on the Chamber. The Town Garage owner put his application before the Planning Board and it was approved by them to send to the Council. Why did Mayor Aronsohn then unilaterally table the discussion? Something smells rotten in Denmark.