Village’s plan to lease Gilsenan/Gap property falls flat
September 10 ,2014
11:17 PMRidgewood NJ, The following resolution was unanimously approved by Village Council members on 09/08:
#14-219: Reject Bids for Lot 12 – The Gap Parking Lot – Rejects the bids for this project due to the fact that revenues did not meet the Village’s financial expectations and there were too many zoning variances required for both bids that were received.
In a nutshell, there will be no building constructed on the Village owned property between Gilsenan Insurance/Realty and The Gap. Those who were interested in the lease proposed offering way too little in terms of annual rent, and wanted to build a structure(s) much larger than what the Village Council had envisioned.
Village Council members, and select Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce members, had hoped a real estate development firm would step forward and offer big bucks to construct a 2-story retail/office building on the property. The revenues would have been earmarked for the construction of a parking deck at the Hudson Street parking lot.
This is the second complete failure associated with this plan
A dumb idea from the start. The 3rd time will not be a charm so don’t waste our money bidding it out again.
Didn’t Tom Hillman and Paul Vaggianos claim that developers would be climbing over one another to lease that space? No sign of either Tom or Paul on the TV last night during Council meeting. Well guys?
A location for that needed parking Bldg. will be found soon, I’m sure.
However, owners of likely locations owned by Realtors often do need to l lighten up a bit and not try to “black mail” the Village.
Certainly that Gilsenen bldg. with it’s painted billboard type sign doesn’t care what visual appearance looks like. It’s gross looking and the Village and Chamber should ask them to re-paint it.
I think Dom is starting to see the light
I hope the parking garage fades too. I see an 8 million dollar bond that taxpayers will have to pay the debt service on, and I see a parking garage that is barely used.
Why don’t we ask the Rev. Al to pray on this and maybe all will be revealed. Say alleluia say amen.
Time to apply of “eminent domain” …..
Value to the owner realtor will see the quickly his ship is seeking soon.
PS: Dom is putting the light of reality on black mailing realtors.
Did you catch our mayor’s attempt to fix the blame on the chamber of commerce? He said it was the chamber’s plan. He took no responsibility whatsoever.
Dom, what the hell are you talking about?
Yes #8 this was the big plan but it was not the whole Chamber just the usual players. You know Paulie The Greek and The Ed Sullivan Show. They were going to be the saviors of Ridgewood along with our Mayor. Next they are going to move on to the Walnut St. Lot along with the Right Rev Al. Then the Hudson St lot. When these project fail to make the money they expected you will see the same reaction as you saw last night and we will be stuck with the bill. Paulie the Greek should stick with gyros. Where the hell was he last night?
From the 10/3/2012 Council meeting
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak at this time.
Paul Vaggianos, 280 Rivera Court, said that he got together with the gentlemen who put together the parking garage proposal, and they have set a date and reserved a location for an open public forum, where members of the public are invited to come and ask whatever they want regarding the proposed parking garage. It is to be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at 7:30 PM, in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom of the Ridgewood Village Hall. Mr. Vaggianos said that the proponents of the parking garage will stay as long as necessary to answer residents’ questions and concerns. In addition, Mr. Vaggianos said that the group had forwarded to the Councilmembers and Dr. Gabbert some of the backup information they had, which he hoped would answer the Councilmembers’ questions regarding the original proposal. Mr. Vaggianos stated that if the Councilmembers have any additional questions, they should contact him or any of the other gentlemen involved in the proposal.
8/8/2012 Council meeting
Rocco Orlando, architect, said that he was asked to work with the Chamber of Commerce on this project as an architect and a planner, as well as a Village resident. He noted that the proposal encompasses three sites, as Mr. Hillmann said. Mr. Orlando said that the parking lot between the Gilsenan Real Estate Office and the Gap is a very valuable piece of Village-owned property that is not being used to its highest potential, and it is also problematic because cars are allowed to enter and exit in the middle of the block. Mr. Orlando said that it was the committee’s feeling that it was not a good idea from a pedestrian safety standpoint. He pointed out the lot in question, in the drawings provided by the Chamber of Commerce to the Councilmembers and other Village personnel. There would be a 12-foot-wid