Finally – A parking solution that makes sense
September 11,2014
Boyd A. Loving
2:18 PM
Our prayers have been answered – Hallelujah!
Village Manager Roberta Sonnenfeld announced on Wednesday, 09/10/2014 the Village’s intent to lease a portion of the former Ken Smith Motors property, on Franklin Avenue near North Broad Street, for purposes of providing parking for the employees of businesses operating in Ridgewood’s Central Business District (CBD). It is believed that the proposed private/public partnership endeavor will free up many parking spaces on streets in the CBD for shoppers and restaurant goers.
No formal agreement had been reached as of Ms. Sonnenfeld’s announcement, but was revealed that Village parking enforcement agents will patrol the lot for violators, and that the Village will receive 10% of gross revenues. More details are expected to be released once a formal contract is signed. No word on the Village’s contribution, if any, to expenses such as building demolition, line striping, etc.
The announcement came with this advisory – the solution will not be long term in nature because the property owner wishes to develop it at a later date.
Having worked in Ridgewood for over 25 years I can say that the parking problem has been increased due to the number of commuters who park in the lots. This forces the employees onto the street and now we have a bigger parking problem. The solution is to leave the lots for employees so customers may park on the streets.
#1…so residents should give way to businesses? what planet do you live on? this town is the residents’ town, not the businesses’…
Well #2, at the end of the day, everyone needs a spot. If there are fewer parking spots due to more people working here is that a bad thing? Sounds like jobs may be coming to town. Do you care whether you park on the street or in a lot?
That said, I’d like to understand the economics of this deal. 10% for the town seems a little light, especially if we have to pay for enforcement. Who’s getting the rest?
This is a great solution and should be expanded to provide parking for employees working on the east end of the CBD.
The following underutilized private lots should be considered:
Zabriskie Lot
Connect One Bank Lot
Gilsenan Building Lot on Dayton Street
Verizon Lot
Bagged meters in Cottage Place Lot for BOE should be stopped and BOE employees moved to one of the lots above.
And where should the commuters park?
#3 i don’t know for sure but i’d imagine the balance goes to the property owner which i (#2) have no issue with…there just seems to be this idea from the CBD that somehow the town (residents) owe them something…
Why can’t NJ. Transit provide more parking for the commuters???
#7 if the CBD thinks parking will be so good for their business then why don’t they invest in it themselves? Any reasonable business owner would invest in any undertaking they thought would benefit/grow their business.
To many lots have been turned in to commuter lots already and considering that a fair amount of commuters live in Ridgewood maybe they should attempt to walk to the train station.
jjj who are you to decide how many spaces should be dedicated to residents that pay the majority of taxes in this town so that they can go make the money each day that brings said taxes back to ridgewood?? the argument that residents of this town somehow owe something to businesses is tired and economically has no merit.
Never had a problem finding a parking spot in downtown.
$41,000,000 to renovate the train station and how much of it was spent on addressing the parking problem?
non , NTJ wanted to build a monster garage on the Ken Smith Property , witch like the one on 17 in Ramsey would have sat empty most of the time and brought in a lot of commuter traffic with no up side for the Village
Just lease the lot. 4 hour parking. Some cities still chalk the tires. Better yet, install a paystation.
How can the lot be reserved for business? If I work 16 hours a week in a restaurant do I get a spot? Can I use it any time I want? How will the Village know if I am working or not?