Readers say at the end of the Taxpayers will be on the hook for the garage while business,developers and NJT will all benefit from it
My questions:
1. What happens if parking revenues fall short of expectations?
2. What is the proposed parking fee structure for the new garage?
These are very important questions and I will explain why. For the first one, the answer is pretty obvious. The Village taxpayers will be on the hook for it as the construction bond cannot be reneged on just because you hoped there would be enough revenue. The second one will absolutely dictate the success or failure of the entire project. Any fee structure that is more than street parking will completely disincentivize most people from using the garage. They will circle the blocks until a street space frees up, or they will go somewhere else to eat/shop. As I’ve stated before, this garage will represent the parking location of absolute last resort, and I predict it will be viewed in years to come as one of those “what were they thinking” buildings.
Its called a shell game. money from the parking revenue is now used to support the town budget. money from the new garage if a surplus will be used to pay the loan off on the new garage. If revenue from the new garage isn’t adequate the town (I mean taxpayers) will have to make up the shortfall.
Or should the Village tax the CBD landlords for the garage or local businesses, their the ones that are going to profit from it.
Ridgewood NJ, Walker Parking study compares a traditional self storage parking complex of 5 stories to using an automated vehicle storage and retrieval system(AVSRS). A 5 level self park structure would increase parking approximately 350 spaces while the AVSRS at a significantly higher cost would add approximately 393 spaces according to Walker.
Walker looked at 2 types of automated parking systems Puzzle and Rack .
Self park would cost roughly $42,200 per car and total cost estimate of $11,500,000.
Puzzle Automated Park $60,900 per car and total cost estimate of $23,900,000.
Rack Automated Park $53,800 per car and total cost estimate of $17,310,000.
Larger capacity self park 394 spaces , $30,800 per car and total cost estimate $12,140,000.
Walker Parking Consultant Study – Ridgewood Hudson Street – July 5th
Parents are often at fault, directly or indirectly, when children and teenagers become hooked on electronic media, playing video games or sending texts many hours a day instead of interacting with the real world and the people in it. And as discussed in last week’s column, digital overload can impair a child’s social, emotional and intellectual growth.
This sad conclusion of many experts in child development has prompted them to suggest ways parents can prevent or rectify the problem before undue damage occurs.
“There’s nothing about this that can’t be fixed,” said Catherine Steiner-Adair, a Harvard-affiliated psychologist. “And the sooner, the better.”
As Susan Stiffelman, a family therapist, put it in The Huffington Post, today’s parents are unprepared “to deal with the intense pull and highly addictive nature of what the online world has to offer. As parents, we have an opportunity to guide our kids so that they can learn habits that help them make use of the digital world, without being swallowed whole by it.”
Ridgewood NJ, Is it just me, or does the draft wording of the proposed non-binding referendum question suggest that property tax revenues will not be required to finance or build a “downtown parking garage?”
The proposed wording of the question voters would see on Election Day, read aloud by Mayor Paul Aronsohn during last Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, is as follows:
“Do you support a proposal to finance and build a downtown parking garage on the Hudson Street lot, located at the corner of Hudson Street and South Broad Street, by bonding up to 15 million dollars of public funds, which would be paid for by using parking revenues.”
Doesn’t the wording of this question imply that parking revenues will be the sole source of funding required garage financing and construction?
So what happens if there’s a recession, like we had in 2008, and people cut way back on shopping and dining out. No shoppers, and no diners means no parking revenue. Then who’s left holding the bag? You guessed it folks!
Remember fellow voters, the Village Hall renovation project was sold to taxpayers with a projected cost of $4.5 million. At $11 million, they stopped counting. To this day, we still don’t know how much was spent renovating Village Hall.
I’m skeptical that parking revenues alone can pay for a $15 million garage. I’m also skeptical that the brain trust at Village Hall would be actually able to bring in a project on time and on budget.
Before you enter the voting booth this coming November, know exactly what you’re voting for and how it might impact your pocketbook/wallet (i.e., property tax increases).
NONBINDING REFERENDA – ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES
The governing body of any municipality or county may “ascertain the sentiment of the legal voters of the municipality or county upon any question or policy pertaining to the government or internal affairs thereof” by adopting an ordinance or resolution at a regular meeting requesting that the proposition appear on the ballot at the next general election. The request must be filed with the county clerk no later than 74 days before the election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1 et seq.)
Once a municipal governing body has adopted a resolution or ordinance placing a nonbinding proposition before the voters and transmitted the request to the county clerk, the voters of the municipality have the power to place a reasonably related nonbinding question or policy before the voters by presenting to the governing body a petition signed by 10% or more of the registered and qualified voters of the municipality. The governing body must adopt a resolution at its next regular meeting requesting the county clerk to print the proposition as formulated and expressed in the petition on the ballot and must file the request with the clerk no later than 60 days prior to the election. (N.J.S.A. 19:37-1.1)
Ridgewood NJ, On Friday July 10th , the Ridgewood Guild mixed its weekly summer program, Music In the Night, with the first ever Art in the Park. The Art was located in and around Van Neste Square Memorial Park. Visual artists will be present with their work on display and for sale.
The musical feature at the park was Take 4, a trio fronted by James Mabli and around town, the following musical artists participated in front of Village restaurants:
Mike Flanagan – It’s Greek to Me
Emily Ertle – Ridgewood Coffee Company
Brielle Liebman – Due / LaTour / Malee
Dom Boresta – Mediterraneo / Sant. Egidio
Deirdre Morgan – Kilwin’s
Jake Thistle – Ben and Jerry’s
Johnny Horizon – Daily Treat
Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, E. Ridgewood Ave. at Van Neste Square
PERFORMANCES: Jul 19
Sunday @ 1PM in Van Neste Park, Ridgewood
Directed by Ryan Pifher
Starring PLP’s Summer Interns
A special thank you to our show sponsor: Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce
Shakespeare’s classic love story gets a modern update with PLP’s latest adaptation starring our summer interns. Check out this dynamic performance in Van Neste park in Ridgewood and visit Porch Light’s table for discounts and info on our upcoming season.
For more details, please call us at 201-445-2600 or email info@ridgewoodchamber.com www.experienceridgewood.com
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday, July 11th, Ridgewood Parks & Recreation, in cooperation with Jacobsen Landscape Design and Construction Inc. of Midland Park, hosted the Great Ridgewood Duck Derby at Graydon Pool. Residents came out and embraced the national “Come Alive Outside” campaign and joined in for an afternoon of fun family activity.
This event featured an array of different types of entertainment. There was a number of different kinds of activities throughout the day such as beach games, a sand sculpture contest, duck decorating, face painting, and ultimately concluding with an exciting rubber duck race down the Ho Ho Kus Brook.
Review: Harper Lee’s ‘Go Set a Watchman’ Gives Atticus Finch a Dark Side
By MICHIKO KAKUTANI
We remember Atticus Finch inHarper Lee’s 1960 classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” as that novel’s moral conscience: kind, wise, honorable, an avatar of integrity who used his gifts as a lawyer to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman in a small Alabama town filled with prejudice and hatred in the 1930s. As indelibly played by Gregory Peck in the 1962 movie, he was the perfect man — the ideal father and a principled idealist, an enlightened, almost saintly believer in justice and fairness. In real life, people named their children after Atticus. People went to law school and became lawyers because of Atticus.
Lisa Mayisoglu of Lisa’s Mediterranean Cuisine Introduces Personal Training and Healthy Meal Services
(RIDGEWOOD, NJ, July 9, 2015 — Lisa Mayisoglu, Chef/Owner of Lisa’s Mediterranean Cuisine, is pleased to announce an exciting new business venture, Mediterranean Zone, which combines her two greatest passions, food and fitness.
Mayisoglu, a certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Consultant, is now offering personal in-home training sessions, group fitness classes and balanced, healthy meals for clients.Mayisoglu, an avid fitness enthusiast and marathon runner, has acquired advanced training in fitness, wellness, nutrition and weight management for all ages. Said Mayisoglu, “Life is too short; I believe everyone should do what makes them happy. Fitness and food are huge parts of my life and with Mediterranean Zone, I have created a business that combines both. People lead such busy lifestyles and often don’t have time to take care of themselves properly. By offering exercise instruction and healthy, portion controlled meals, I’d like to help people lead healthier, more active lifestyles.”
In-home personal training sessions begin with an initial complimentary baseline fitness assessment, followed by exercise routines which are customized for each client based on levels and goals. Each program focuses on cardiovascular exercise, strength and agility building, balance and flexibility. By
using a mix of kettle bells, resistance bands, weights, Pilates/Bousu/medicine balls and more, Mediterranean Zones’ always-varying routines keep clients motivated and enthusiastic. Individual 55 minute sessions are $100, or ten sessions can be purchased for $900.
Mediterranean Zone also ofers group classes for those who want to team up with others on a fitness journey. Fat Burning, Energy Zone, Strength and Cardio classes include a total body workout in a group setting to boost motivation. Sessions are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings 8:00am, 9:30am and 10:30am now through October at the Ridgewood Duck Pond (1100 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood). Individual 55 minute sessions are $25, ten sessions $200. Reservations are suggested Tel. 201.978.5384.
To complement Mediterranean Zone’s fitness instruction, nutritional support is available for a complete lifestyle change. Mediterranean Zone meals, which are prepared at Lisa’s Mediterranean Cuisine and exclusive to fitness clients, can be picked up at the restaurant or delivered during in-
home sessions. The menu includes several deliciously, healthy appetizers, salads, main dishes and sides, each with calorie content and portion size noted. Highlights include:
Added Mayisoglu, “Fad diets come and go. The Mediterranean diet has been around for ages andproven to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Mediterranean Zone’s menu includes heart-healthy foods that taste great and will naturally promote weight loss. Most diets aren’t successful
because they leave people feeling hungry; that simply isn’t the case here. This isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle with real food. You won’t find any shakes on our menu.”
Mediterranean Zone is located at 28 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. For more information, clients can call 201.978.5384, or visit https://www.facebook.com/MediterraneanZone, or Instagram at Mediterranean_Zone.
Fallen Ridgewood Tree Limb takes out Power Hawthorne
July 11,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On 7/10/2015: Police and fire department personnel in two (2) neighboring municipalities responded to separate reports of fallen tree limbs that blocked roadways and disrupted electric service late Friday afternoon.
Ridgewood public safety teams were dispatched to a home on Oak Street, where a Village owned tree limb had fallen on the front lawn, knocking out electric, phone, and cable TV services. In neighboring Hawthorne, police and fire units converged on Minerva Avenue, where a limb from a privately owned tree had crashed to the ground, destroying a back yard shed and taking down several wires. No injuries were reported in either incident.
Reader says Village should offer an alligator amnesty program for residents who wish to get rid of these illegal, exotic pets?
Ridgewood NJ, Village and Wildlife officials in Bergen County believe an alligator found swimming in the Passaic River Wednesday may have been someone’s pet that was released into the wild.
The alligator discovery is now raising concerns about how the owners obtained it in the first place and where it will go.
In New Jersey alligators are classified as a “potentially dangerous species,” which means only highly trained expert should be handling them . A source at the Village Hall said , “keeping Graydon gator free is a top Village priority “.
Ridgewood NJ, Come enjoy beautiful music and art in downtown Ridgewood, NJ tomorrow, July 10, 2015. The Ridgewood Guild is coupling its weekly summer program, Music In the Night, with the first ever Art in the Park.This will be located in Van Neste Square Memorial Park. Visual artists will be present with their work on display and for sale.
The musical feature at the park will be Take 4, a trio fronted by James Mabli.
Around town, you can catch the following musical artists at these fine restaurants:
Mike Flanagan – It’s Greek to Me Emily Ertle – Ridgewood Coffee Company Brielle Liebman – Due / LaTour / Malee Dom Boresta – Mediterraneo / Sant. Egidio Deirdre Morgan – Kilwin’s Jake Thistle – Ben and Jerry’s Johnny Horizon – Daily Treat
Village of Ridgewood – E-Notice – Thursday, 09 July 2015
Dear E-Notice Residents,
Early this week we had a burglary on the west side of town – last week we had one as well. I wanted to drop everyone a note as a reminder as to how we best protect ourselves; the economic demographics of Ridgewood make this a highly attractive town for burglaries but there are many things that we can do together to deter this.
First and foremost if you see anything or anyone suspicious please call our Police Department. Look out for your neighbors. Also, try to make your home look like it’s occupied – for example, take your newspapers in, try not to leave dry cleaning on your front door, leave a car in the driveway, and put your lights, tv and/or radio on timers so they are on during the proper times. Also, please make sure that your doors are locked. If you have two sets of doors, i.e. a storm/screen door and a regular entry door insure both are locked – locking just the screen door (which tends to be easier to force open) is not sufficient. Close and lock your garage door; one of our burglaries recently was the theft of a bicycle out of a garage. In fact we have had a significant number of bike thefts so putting bicycles away is a good idea as well. When you are leaving your home for an extended period of time, you can call our Police Department and let them know. Also, if you leave your car outside, please make sure that nothing of value is visible within the car and that it is locked – entering a car and stealing is common and can largely be avoided.
I am by no means minimizing the level of burglaries in Ridgewood this year but the metrics indicate that this is similar to last year. We have had 9 residential burglaries and 3 attempts this year versus 10 last year during the same time frame. We remain a very safe community with a top notch law enforcement capability.
In the last two weeks the two west side burglaries were in the Old Country Club area, and last fall we saw a number of burglaries on the east side of our Village. We see this concentration of activity in a particular area for a time and then it seems to shift to another section of town or other municipalities. The Police Department is actively investigating these crimes and they are a priority.
Have a safe, relaxing and wonderful summer, Roberta
JULY 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015, 3:09 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The results of a parking study performed by the New York-based firm Walker Parking Consultants are in, and the choice was simple for village officials – a traditional self-park deck is the way to go at Hudson Street.
While an automated garage would have provided more parking spaces, the gain would have been negated by its higher price tag.
The cost of a traditional deck was reported to be approximately $11 million to $12 million, while building an automated garage is estimated at $17 million to $24 million.
These numbers are dependent upon the amount of spaces built, among other factors that are typically handled during the request for proposal (RFP) and subsequent design phase.
Officials also cited some disadvantages that come with the technology used in automated garages, particularly at a site where commuters and rail passengers are often moving in and out of the area and would prefer to get to their cars quickly.
In the report, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said a traditional deck could yield a net gain of as much as 318 spaces over what already exists at Hudson Street, while one of the automated garage scenarios would only give the village an additional 322, but would cost several million dollars more.
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_riaIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 165
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_inhaIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 166
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_mastodonIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 177
