Ridgewood NJ, The reason why the project has been studied and studied but never actually built is because at the end of the day, although we need more parking, it does not make sense from a practical, logistical or financial sense to build one in the downtown proper
Going to the BCIA , once the money is approved, it tends to appear almost instantaneously, accruing interest long before the project can even get started. That is a significant reason to reconsider this plan or ploy and an excellent reason, if it does happen, not to ask for a cent more than is needed. But losing control over the way commuter spaces are priced is a huge problem and there are undoubtedly more.
There will be approximately 320 car garage. 4 levels. The mayor said in the last meeting that 2 levels may be dedicated to commuters. That’s about 160 cars for commuters. We currently already have one level, which is mostly used by Ridgewood commuters. Lets say the second level is used by Bergen County commuters at no extra money compared to Ridgewood commuters. So, 2 levels are either used by out of Ridgewood commuters or commuters who are already using this lot today without the garage.
With remaining 2 levels, we will get 160 new spot, presumably for non commuters. Cost – 12.3 million in new bond, 500K bond has been already spent + 450k already spent on environmental studies in 2014 & 2015 on this lot. = 13.25M.
That’s 82,800 for every new parking spot created for CBD. This assumes that the project will not go over the budget. With the way this council and village manager are spending the money, this is highly unlikely to stay in the budget.
How does putting a garage at one end of the CBD really help the rest of the downtown area ? This proposal, like Valley, is over the top and in no way needed. This country goes into a slowdown/recession and you can kiss going out to the real beneficiaries of this (the restaurants) good bye.
Having a bunch of people from neighboring towns coming to downtown Ridgewood every day is good for all of us. Commuters will promote stores and restaurants. In turn we might start to fill in some of those empty storefronts and start to revitalize the downtown. All of this benefit for the low cost of $82k a space instead of $12k per year per kid for new residents.
Out of town commuters will not use it. Convenience and particularly time is critical to these folks. They are not going to go through all the production of driving in, up a level or two, then walking down and then walking to the station. These folks will naturally and literally take the path of least resistance in their daily commute.
Commuters likey to hit whole foods and then run for their own hills via their commuter cars jamming up an unwanted and expensive boondoggle.images of tired commuters after a long day strolling the village
during the workweek before claiming their vehicles is likely not accurate.
Streets will be chaos at peak commuting and pre dining weekend hours near that oversized garage.garages are eyesores if we all open up our eyes and see those dirty garages in other towns insulting those neighborhoods,
Brian – First, we will be adding hundreds of new residents (and yes 12K/each kids) with the four multi-family housing units that WILL be built, no matter how much I wish it weren’t so. 2nd, commuters will not promote stores because they WILL BE WORKING. Stores close early every night except for Thursday. 3rd, Midland Park, Waldwick, Glen Rock all will be close enough to use it if they need access to train. Lastly, we have plenty of residents willing to support quality businesses despite parking being tough. If your business is struggling and not a compelling proposition, RAISING meters will not help you!! The garage is far uptown and still a walk anyway.
Parking will make Ridgewood a commuting location for many folks who are not on a train line. Think Orange county or Kinnelon or West Milford. As they commute in to take the train, it is predictable that they will patronize the morning coffee, bagel places. They will also be much more likely to meet a friend or a spouse for dinner or drinks in town.
As for the stores closing, I have no love loss for the local merchants who clearly dont want my business because they are open a whopping total of about 8 hours of the time I am in Ridgewood each week and 7 of those hours are on Saturday when I am spending time with my family. But more potential customers might just change that dynamic so a drug store in the northern part of town or a cooking store or sporting good shop or pet shop might just take hold.
According to the meetings, commuter parking will also be limited. The whole garage will not be for 12 hr sessions from those awful out of town commuters.
the issue is if the out of town commuters with contribute to the CBD economy and use the merchants , after all was not that the point of the garage ? When I moved back from NYC I never got home once in 5 years in time to shop in stores in the CBD . Some business opened and closed before I have got to peek in their door .
In reality it is the chains that are open. Gap and Joseph A. Bank are open evenings and longer hours. I shop there. The boutiques are never open. I will never forget walking into the not-surprisingly failed chocolate store at 7pm on Valentines Day and being told they were closed. You have to make your money when your customers are there.
Parking is important to attracting more serious merchants who will cater to actual customers instead of just opening vanity boutiques. My understanding is that parking is a factor when businesses apply for loans to open. An increase in parking allows potential merchants to demonstrate greater potential. My hope is that good stores like Williams Sanoma will return or that we might get a pet store like the one in Radburn which is a smaller local chain. These types of businesses will help anchor a shopping and restaurant destination that can mature and start to fill in the empty storefronts.
Brian,
How many restaurants do you want ? Taking into account those in the towns that border, and include Ridgewood, you have at least 150. And most, by the way, are near empty Sunday thru Thursday. I don’t know how old you are but if you think this sector can survive an economic slowdown of any kind, including what happened before in Ridgewood, you’re looking at this over the top garage issue in the wrong light.
Brian,
“Think Orange County or Kinnelon or West Milford.” I don’t know about Orange County, but you have to be nuts to make the commute down Rt. 23, or Ringwood ave/287/208 between 6:15 and 7:30 to park your car in Ridgewood. Has never happened and won’t.