I can add one point/question – why do all of our major choices about development projects in Ridgewood come down to a yes or no on something that is just too big? Valley – needs to modernize, not double in size. Sealfons, Ken Smith and Brogan sites – need to be developed but not at triple the current density. Schedler Property – can be improved to serve the people of the village that owns it but without cutting all the trees down. Parking – we need to improve the parking situation in town but not with a multi-story structure that will be as big as the churches across the street and around the corner.
It seems that both the Planning Board and Council have failed to “get it”. Valley has been shot down on multiple occasions. The apartments are on hold because an angry mob showed up to shout the Council down before they could vote on it. The neighborhood east of 17 is resolved to vote any Council person out of office as they come up for re-election. And now this parking behemoth comes before us.
Our Council bears a healthy dose of the blame for all of this. In each case they appear to have made up their minds far in advance of finishing any impact or financial studies and even farther in advance of weighing public opinion. In addition there always seems to be some cozy relationship between one or more Council members and the applicant. Our Mayor is sending out personal appeals to vote “Yes” on the parking structure just as the (less than complete) “studies” are released. I always feel like the Council is rushing to get things pushed through and approved before the public has a chance to digest what’s being decided.
It’s with a healthy dose of skepticism that I’ll vote NO on Garage-zilla. Back to the drawing board folks – please present us with some smaller options.
NO IS THE WAY TO GO. SOME THINGS ARE LIKE ROTTING TRASH. AND HAVE GO. VOTE NO ON MEGA GARAGE NOV 3 rd there is no need to rush anything on this Issue
Garage Mahal is a better description of this monstrosity
Garage Mahal is good, but we have to come up,with something better. The Taj Mahal is, after all, spectacularly beautiful, whereas this piece of crap is as hideous as it could be, in spite of Miss Gwennies concerns about aesthetics.
I like Garage Zilla.
I too am voting NO. Looking at drawings of this proposed facility in that tiny space on Hudson Street highlights how in appropriate it is for site. Boyd is right. This project will be upwards of 20 million before it is completed and will not serve the best interests of the village. The parking has to be spread out through the CBD with the use of second tiers at various locations. Less expensive, easier to manage and more user friendly.
Former Mayor Pat Mancuso proposed multiple garages in the CBD however it turned out to be FAR MORE COSTLY than a single structure of larger size. Think about it, with multiple sites there would be additional site development costs, environmental remediation costs,,the need for additional footings and foundations, additional costs for multiple lobby entrances, elevators, stairs, emergency back-up systems, on-site fee collection systems, etc, etc the list goes on and on. Whoever thinks multiple garages would cost less is dead WRONG !!
VOTE HELL NO! Afterwards, we can gather up all of Mayor Arohnson’s lawn signs (saying vote yes) and dump them on his front lawn as a parting gift!
Yes, Linda, Boyd is right. And yet of course they decided to start berating him publicly rather than addressing his valid concerns. They old deflect the blame game.
@1:57 I would love to see the numbers you are referring to. I personally favor another level on our existing lots. Even if you are correct, spreading the parking throughout town would be more helpful to shoppers while one massive lot near the train/bus would seem to benefit commuters. There will be another garage built by the soon to be built assisted living facility so that is number 2 anyway.
I will vote no and hope that the next council provides a plan I can vote yes to.
Since it Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix it,who The hell really benefits and who Losses ( yes it’s the TaxPayers Who WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR DECADES..WILL COST ANOTHER 20 mill to tear it DOWN IN 20 years a an EYESORE AND BLIGHT INITIATOR IN THE SLUM SECTION OF
RISGEWOOD CBD
JUST VOTE NO.CASE AND RISK CLOSED
I can think of better ways to spend $15-20 million in taxpayer money. For example, we could turf over three council members.
“There will be another garage built by the soon to be built assisted living facility so that is number 2 anyway” It will be used the that facility employees and visitors. No gain there but more traffic 3:03
@5:50, I was under the impression that there would be a public lot also built by the developers for that property. Part of the deal to get the units approved…
At 5:50, one of the conditions to allow that facility was that it provides a net of 100 parking spots for the CBD.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/two-developers-present-proposals-for-ridgewood-lot-1.1284186
6:12 and 6:22 and how do we tell if those 100 spots are being will be only used for the public and not doctors staff and relatives. I sorry but with all thats I have seen going on with the Council majority and developers I have become jaded.
One only has to observes Van Dykes Nursing Home expanded parking lot during the day to see how many vehicles are parked there. If its to good to be true then it isn’t.