Ridgewood draws county financing support for downtown parking garage construction
FEBRUARY 4, 2016, 7:26 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016, 9:15 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Plans to have county money fund construction of a municipal parking garage on Hudson Street took a step forward Thursday after the Bergen County Improvement Authority agreed to bond for the project.
The unanimous vote was taken after nearly two hours of commentary from village residents that, at times, mirrored those at recent Village Council meetings — business owners and local officials spoke in favor of the 325-car garage, while various residents concerned with its size, scope and aesthetics spoke against it.
But BCIA commissioners reiterated that the board provides financing, not judgment, on an individual project’s merits. That, they said, was best handled at the local level.
“We offer conduit financing,” Commissioner Philip Wilson said afterwards. “They need to go back and talk some more — but it doesn’t have to do with this board.”
The five-member BCIA now will apply to have the state Local Finance Board consider the project of about $11.9 million in cost and give an opinion on its finances. That hearing is set for March 9.
Meanwhile, the Village Council will vote next Wednesday on whether to adopt its agreement with the BCIA.
Discussions about building a parking garage in Ridgewood goes back decades. Local officials hope its construction will ease longstanding parking concerns in the village’s often-cramped downtown.
The BCIA’s action likely will be seen as a victory for Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn, who has moved the parking deck proposal forward despite vocal opposition from some residents. After Thursday’s meeting, Aronsohn said it was a “good moment for the village.”
Who is this guy sitting between Paul and Roberta?
It is disappointing to see how our village is being run into the ground to satisfy the greedy pockets of developers. Lets all be honest here, the parking garage is nothing but a conduit for the developers to get needed parking once the high density housing is approved. Wake up Ridgewood!
Hungry dogs waiting for a meal
Ridgewood will pay a lot more going through the county, rather than bonding it ourselves. Just get a design that fits on the footprint of the lot that isn’t towering over the existing buildings, and you’ll have a 5-0 vote. Ridgewood commuters will certainly lose if we bond through the county. Ridgewood will have to charge non residents the same amount for a parking pass. Commuters from Midland Park, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus and beyond will come to park in the garage. When the Ridgewood commuter drives downtown to park, and hop on the train, there will be no spots left in the garage.
Aronsohn said it was a “good moment for the village.”.. I think he meant it was a good moment for his failing political career.
Sad day for the Village – but only a day.
We should neither despair nor capitulate. We can prevent the council from handing the Village over to failed developers and downtown businesses. The May 10th election really isn’t that far away, and these things can still be derailed and prevented. Thankfully there are people working on doing just that. We need to all join in. Aronsohn knows his plans can be undone – – that is why he acts like he does when you try and nail him down on specifics. What scares him beyond belief is that if he doesn’t deliver, his developer friends will drop him like a hot potato. He’s not loved in either the local or state level democratic organizations or other groups. He knows the developers are his last hope to ever winning a real election. And yes, our current debates about Village life are all about one man’s political future (or lack thereof) – – that is what makes the sell-out so despicable.
Let’s keep the pressure up. And let’s see what happens in the May election. If those of us opposed to the overdevelopment are truly in the majority, as I suspect we are, then the council votes will reveal just that. In the meantime, lets not have this fellow undo over a hundred years of village life just so he can try and advance his own failed political career.
Pure stupidity
Has anyone declared their candidacy for a seat on the Village Council?
Is there any chance Aronsohn realizes that his beside-the-scenes, backstabbing, vindictive, egotistic behavior, ignoring the public weal while stopping at nothing to forward his personal interest, echoes that of someone he professes to detest: Governor Christie? Sadly for both of them, it’s going to backfire politically big time. The only difference is that Aronsohn will be left with the sort-of-job he now claims to have whereas Christie can make the big bucks indefinitely working his legal contacts for his new friends.
Poor guy forgot to shave….
Got off 8 pm train fm NYC. Last evening FEB 5 2016
.walked to Cottage place lot across from Rite Aid to my car ,and even on an early Thursday evening clear mild weather – with no rain ,My car and about 20 others were all alone in the entire lot of empty free parking spaces…street was completely full of unused parking spaces as well..definition of a Boondoggle.This crew is a bold and irresponsible leadership example.
Hey Mayor how many unions have you made happy yesterday?
Well 11:52 I liken Aronsohn to a skunk. Do you think a skunk know he stinks.?
Love the photo in the Record.. Paul looks like he wants to make Lorraine disappear. And Albert, what a shock, he is on his ipad, forever and forever emailing and texting.
The lack of convenience of the garage is almost laughable. Unless you are going to Latour, you will be walking between 1/4 and 1/2 mile to the majority of the other downtown shops and restaurants. The Wagner is 1/3 mile away, so that’s a 2/3 mile round trip walk if you park there for a movie. We all better hope for good weather, because a 1/4 mile walk in the rain or snow won’t be fun.
S. Frapz, you can do the same walk now minus 12.3 million! There is always parking, any night of the week, in front of NY SportsClub. People don’t walk there because it is not convenient for more outings. I don’t think it is far myself, but it is not convenient and this garage won’t be either.
It’s Paulie Vag’s village…we’re just timid actors….like in The Truman Show.
what a fuckin scam.
The question remains, who is this guy..?
Kind of looks like Benedict Saudino’s nephew….