THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.
The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Reader : Urbanization of Downtown Ridgewood is coming
Reader : Urbanization of Downtown Ridgewood is coming
Massive development set to take place in the Central Business District
A local business men ( Paull Vaggeniso Greek to me, Ed Sullivan Blend Tom Hillman Hill Electric William Gillsena Gillsena Reality and John Saraseno Selfons building) have been meeting for some time about a parking garage or two in Ridgewood Central Business District or CBD for short .
The group will present their plans to the council in August . The locations that have been discussed are Hudson st lot and Walnut st lot. It should be noted that each of these gentleman have something to gain from this enterprise . Either proximity to the business or profit from any real estate that the village may want to sell to partially finance this project.
It also seems that there have been meetings between at that time council elect Hauk at her home and an engineering firm discussing parking garage.I Do not believe in coincidences.
Tom Hillman had a Paul Aronsohn sign in one of his vacant store fronts. John Saraseno gave to Paul Aronsohn campaign and we all know how much Ed Sullvan loves Paul Aronsohn .
So who is going to foot the bill? why the the tax payers of coarse , socialize the risk but capitalise the profit This is also an attempt to fulfill another campaign promise to fill ever store in the CBD and got the new council support from the chamber. There is no down side for the group if the project experiences cost overruns or does not fill every store then they walk away and we are stick the taxpayer with the bill.
Two parking garage combined with the massive building on Broad St ( Brogan 160 Apt) chestnut St ( Bolger 80 apt.) Maple ave will forever change the look, traffic and schools in Ridgewood.
And don’t forget Valley and re-zoning of Linwood and Paramus Rd for a restaurant. If you think traffic is bad now just wait. All this because of GREED and AMBITION. They have been waiting for the right people to get control of the Village.
Parking garages will not save the stores people go to the malls ( 3 located within 5 miles) all stores are inside and air condition or the highway where there are better deals to be had with available financing or the Internet( No sales tax) something that local stores can not offer.
This has been the Chambers problem they have been to busy blaming local government because because there members cannot compete. They should do like other small towns have done and re-invent downtown. Small specialty shops shops like antique dealers. but then they would need the support of the landlords some who are often the very same owners of the shops.
The only thing that garage will help is on the week end when people come to eat but what about the rest of the week? Who are going to use all the spots commuters? Just try getting out of Ridgewood when the train comes in.
The proposed buildings are really outrageous. I would like the Vilage council to address the costs (tax and otherwise) to Villagers of: increased traffic; more students in our schools; increased water usuage; increased fire and policy; sanitation; and, COAH housing.
Not sure if our new mayor and two new council members read this blog, but I would surely love to here what they have to say. And we need specifics — not just generalities. What have independent studies shown on these issues — how will we deal with the increased population — and how much will our taxes rise?