$9 Million Disaster Revisited: Ridgewood Installs New Flood Walls 26 Years After Hurricane Floyd Disaster!
phot courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village of Ridgewood has initiated construction on a new flood dam system at Village Hall. The project, which began Monday, is expected to take three weeks, with the majority of the work impacting the Main Entrance and Community Center Entrance this week. The Village has assured residents and employees that only one entrance will be closed at a time to maintain access.
This proactive flood mitigation measure is a direct response to the persistent vulnerability of Village Hall, a vulnerability deeply rooted in the history of one of New Jersey’s most devastating natural disasters.
The Ghost of Hurricane Floyd (1999)
The need for updated flood protection is a painful legacy of Hurricane Floyd in 1999. The hurricane caused $250 million in damage across New Jersey, with Bergen County being one of the hardest-hit areas. The disaster famously flooded the Village Hall and Public Library, setting off a renovation project that continues to haunt the Village budget and political landscape.
The “TAJ”: Five Years and $9 Million Later
What was initially pitched to the public as a $2 million, six-month renovation ballooned into a five-year, $9 million debacle. This project, sarcastically nicknamed “The TAJ,” is still remembered by many as a monument to cost overruns and poor planning.
Despite the colossal final price tag, the newly renovated Village Hall has allegedly continued to suffer from flooding during heavy rains. Records show the first floor was taking on water again as early as 2007 and discussions for repairing the first level continued into 2011, proving that the $9 million was not a permanent fix. The original goal of improving the drainage pipes under Vets Field was, allegedly, never even completed.
file photo Boyd Loving 2022
The Turf Debate: Did Field Turf Make Flooding Worse?
file photo by Boyd Loving 2021
Compounding the Village Hall issues, local flooding has also been a contentious issue related to the highly debated use of artificial turf on local fields. The Village is “abuzz” with talk that the problem has been exacerbated by turfing efforts near the High School.
- 2009 Referendum: Residents voted for a controversial $48 million Referendum to turf Ridgewood High School Stadium Field, despite dire warnings that the field—located in a flood plain—had a history of flooding since 1890.
- Runoff Concerns: Homeowners have long accused the Village of worsening local flooding by turfing Maple Field, which they claim pushes runoff water toward Vets Field, RHS Stadium, and Stevens Fields.
- 2019 Expansion: The Ridgewood Board of Education voted 5-0 to turf Stevens Field, a move critics say further exacerbated the drainage problems.
file photo Boyd Loving 2021
The Legacy of Fiasco: Roof Repairs and Long Memories
The current, necessary flood dam project, combined with a 2018 Notice to Bidders for a partial roof replacement at Village Hall, serves as a sharp reminder of the financial consequences of the initial 1999 “wreck-ovation.”
The Village is now working to protect a building whose renovation costs and subsequent maintenance have become a decades-long financial burden—a true “gift that just keeps giving.”
Stay updated on state and national news that affects you. From politics to policy, from culture to current affairs, our eBlast will keep you well-informed . http://eepurl.com/bgt6T #RidgewoodBlog #News #LocalNews #StateNews #NationalNews #Subscribe #StayInformed #Community
Likelihood of this project costing $9mm or less? Zero!
Evan The Bond King looked over the numbers…he’s a financial wiz so if it’s okay with him, it’s okay with me.
Water and more specifically ground water rises. The flood gate will stop the water from flowing into the building from outside. However, it will not prevent the water from rising through the foundation, unless it was built like a ship’s hull. Of course, the gates will require installation during the preparations for a storm. I hope the person responsible remembers to put up the gates.
like putting a screen door on a submarine
How long has our engineer been F’ing up??? Maybe time to go?
Spend the money on village hall
While residents have to
Worry about their homes
Getting Flooded from the deteriorating walls of the saddle
River.
Don’t forget the many homes dealing with the Ho Ho Kus Brook.