PRESENTATION — FENCING FOR HUDSON STREET PARKING GARAGE – Village Council Work Session, May 26, 2021
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council has been asked by the Village Manager to consider placing safety fencing along the top level of the Hudson Street Parking Garage. An estimated price tag of $300K+ was mentioned. No detailed Village Council discussion regarding this Manager’s request has taken place as of yet. However, here are the meeting minutes from the last time a Village Council discussed the same issue:
PRESENTATION — FENCING FOR HUDSON STREET PARKING GARAGE – Village Council Work Session, May 26, 2021
Ms. Mailander stated that Mike Tartaglia from EPIC, and Mike App from Tim Haahs Architects have presented a few different schemes at different price points.
Mike Tartaglia stated that this was in response to a request by the Village to look at some opportunities to provide better security at the top level of the parking deck. There are three options that Mike App came up with.
Mike App stated that they are considering this an enhanced fall protection type of strategy, and displayed a few of the wall sections around the garage at the top level. They are proposing that there would be some type of barrier that would extend up from the current wall height which is 3′ 10″ at the lowest points and extend up 4′ to 5′ to match the taller wall sections. He added that normally they don’ t find this type of barrier necessary for this type of garage, but there are special circumstances. He described the barrier, how it would be mounted, and potential locations.
Mr. App stated that they calculated the linear footage of that fence with a cost per linear foot
so that they can start to estimate. He added that while they want to provide a barrier for a safe condition for people that are on the garage but also people down on the street. As an architect, he is also trying to balance the look of the garage with something almost see through. Mr. Tartaglia added that a see through feature would help limit wind loads that were never part of the original design.
Mr. App described three different fencing options, adding that they can continue to work with the Village Council regarding the design that they think is appropriate at an appropriate cost.
Councilwoman Reynolds asked if they normally recommend a fence for a four level garage. Mr. App stated that they don’ t normally, and there are some other strategies that they talk about in a lot of cases. If the garage is five or more floors they consider it, but it is not a code requirement.
Councilwoman Reynolds asked if they had any four level garages that had fences on the top. Mr. App stated that he couldn’ t think of any at the moment, but certain clients will expect this. Some of the other strategies that they sometimes employ are landscaping at the bottom. He added that they often recommend that clients start with things like signage, but he added that he thinks the Village has a bit of a different problem, so the barrier here might be for people that are messing around.
Councilwoman Reynolds stated that she feels with any of these three possibilities, if somebody wants to throw something over, they can easily do it.
Mayor Knudsen asked about the fencing height, adding that if someone wants to throw something over they can easily do that. The horsing around issue is the concern, and people are sitting on the wall. She suggested going between the higher panels. Mr. App stated that the step from one to the next is a 1. 5 foot difference, so they were thinking of providing a barrier that goes up to
7 feet. To address the point of people sitting, it is a pretty high wall for people to sit on.
There are other ways to mitigate this, such as bird spikes. Mayor Knudsen stated that they are concerned about people throwing things off, but she doesn’ t think that a 7 foot barrier would deter that as its changing behavior.
Councilwoman Walsh stated that her bigger concern after they spent all this money on the garage are the unintended consequences of a sail effect, and she asked if it would void any warranty. She asks, if the State is saying that it is built to code, are they going to damage the building. What is the best way to protect it and keep people from sitting on the wall. The bird spikes may be the answer.
Mayor Knudsen stated that the fencing was probably too much and didn’ t resolve the issue. When more cars are parked up there it may be enough. Ordinances were adopted to say that
people shouldn’ t be up there but it is difficult to enforce.
Mr. App stated that the way the garage is designed now, it is efficient in how it addresses weatherproofing, structural spans, capacity, the more opaque you make the barrier the more
likely it is to put loads where it wasn’ t originally designed. Any hole you put in a parapet is a weakness that would be the first location for failure. From his standpoint, the bird spikes
are relatively inexpensive, don’ t cause a lot of damage, and might be worth trying. Mr. Tartaglia added that bird spikes sound brutal to him. He thinks that trying another possibility in the lowest section like a railing that makes it uncomfortable to sit on would be a better option.
Mayor Knudsen stated that if the biggest issue is that they are sitting on the wall and they prevent anyone from being injured, and that may be a simpler solution.
Councilwoman Perron stated that she was concerned about people getting injured, and was less concerned about food, but it may change as there is more patronage at the garage. She asked for cost on the railing and the bird spikes. They are also talking about cameras, which she doesn’ t think will prevent anybody’ s rowdy behavior in the first instance.
Deputy Mayor Sedon stated that he was interested in seeing prices for the smaller railing and the bird spikes, as he has seen the bird spikes in different garages and no one is going to sit on those. Mayor Knudsen stated that the cameras would be discussed. Mr. App agreed they could provide the prices, and added that the cameras aren’ t a preventative type of strategy but everyone is aware that once you have someone’ s face on video you can find them and that could be effective.
Ms. Mailander stated that there were proposed enhancements to the security cameras at the parking garage and asked if the Village Council was in favor of it. Councilwoman Perron asked about the existing cameras in the parking garage. Ms. Mailander stated they were looking to add additional cameras. There was a decision to discuss this in closed session next week.
Chief Jacqueline Luthcke stated that it is a matter of adding and changing a couple of the cameras to give them some better visibility in some spaces that may be lacking or some things that need to get fine turned due to the safety and security issues.
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whats the matter kids peeing off the roof again?
I’m not a “big government” type of guy, but create an ordinance limiting pedestrians to car occupants going to or from car. That would cost almost no money, except for some signage. Then you just need to charge some of the little dummies and the shenanigans would stop.
Sure, I’m sure the group of 17 year olds will see those signs and turn around and look for another rooftop.
There is a fourth option: do nothing – and save $300,000.
Many of the comments here by Council people and others suggest that we need a new election, electing good folks with common sense to lead us in the future. Just my opinion, but the truth. OMG
Fourth option: do nothing. There is nothing to fix. OMG
How much are we up to now 20 million invested into this parking garage? Is it ever going to stop. Such a great investment good goal everyone
24 hour cameras and arrest anyone on the top level who does not belong there
simple it shouldn’t be place of children to hang out period
remind parents put up signs stating this area use is only to park or retrieve your car
simple enforce the law
And who’s watching the cameras 24 seven come on. The same person who’s watching the cameras in the transit tunnel,😭👀🤔
I think just putting in cameras and sings would deter enough
I gotta tell you the shit that goes on in Ridgewood is it such a joke. You can’t make this shit up. The money they waste, how about you? Tell all the taxpayers how much money the village is in debt. What do they owe 75 million now. Just keep on spending don’t worry why don’t you tell the employees there’s gonna be a big furlough? I love that they raised the value of everyone’s home ridiculous that little Cape cod are going for 800,000 ridiculous look what you paying in taxes for what. There’s plenty other towns right around us that are just as good if not better. And cheaper taxes I told you many years ago what’s gonna happen. And this shit sitting in the fan isn’t it. Look at my buddy. He sells his house just on the 800 grand on Glen Avenue in a flood zone. Come on the poor fools that bought that place. Enjoy the water.
Just brick up the entrances to the roof.
It’s not like we need the parking spaces.