Civility has its place, yet I am not sure the Mayor’s call for “civility” is a proper response to what is going on the Village. And, it is just a bit difficult to be civil when you have worked hard all your life to buy and live in a nice home in Ridgewood, something you plan to retire in and serve as your nest egg once the mortgage is paid off, and you see that crumbling before you. Overdevelopment will surely destroy the quality of life along with all of our home values. And, I don’t say overdevelopment “threatens” our way of life, I say it will surely destroy our way of life.
There are some who feel the overdevelopment can be managed and controlled, but all i hear from them are pipe dreams that bear no relation to the development plans under consideration: Won’t it be nice to have housing for empty nesters and seniors who want to downsize? Won’t it be nice to have diversity? Won’t it be nice to attract more people to spend money downtown? Won’t it be nice to have a modern, up to date hospital?
Yet, I have never heard anyone explain how the present over expansion plans will achieve these purported goals. Nor do I believe these are the goals of the developers — I suspect they are in business to make money (and rightfully so.) But, perhaps the larger point is, are we not already where we want to be as a Village? We have nice range of housing stock for different income brackets. We have nice apartment complexes and more than enough, it seems, to accommodate residents who want to downsize or one would not see “for rent” signs on any of the existing complexes. Our schools are good, if overcrowded. Our population will continue to diversify and no one has explained why or how greater diversity is achieved through minimizing housing standards (and, frankly, that suggestion is a bit odious). The notion that we need more people to “save” the downtown is equally obnoxious — a downtown exists to serve the community, and a community should not be expanded in the vain attempt to keep a downtown’s status quo. Finally, face it, Valley Hospital is a gold mine for its doctors and administrators. The reality is Valley is not going anywhere if the expansion plans are denied and it will stay a top notch facility.
We are sticking our heads in the sand about some things that are obvious. The never ending hospital expansion will drag down housing prices on the East side. That in turn will drag down the West side. The downtown apartment projects will lower the value of the Heights, the Prospect street homes and the homes around Graydon. That will again affect the entire Village. And, as schools become more overcrowded, streets become overburdened with traffic and the quality of life lessens, our nest eggs will further dissipate.
So, although I hear a call for “civility” and open debate, not once have I heard our Council really dive into the concerns facing existing Villagers. The debate seems to be framed by Valley and the Developers, what they want to achieve for themselves. Valley speaks in terms of the need to stay modern so it can continue to be “the” hospital serving the Northeast. The Developers put out propaganda about the need to accommodate more people in town. Yet, are these reasons to change our existing Master Plan? Are these goals for which we should sacrifice the hard work of those who have and are paying taxes? Are the profit motives of the Expansionists and Developers more important than the financial security of our current homeowners?
Yes, Mayor, we should all be civil. But we shouldn’t allow what we have achieved to be taken away. If you really want to prove your mettle, stand up now for Ridgewood’s taxpayers. Use your pulpit to put an end to the overdevelopment. Be bold enough to take a stand against the destruction of the Village. Express the frustrations that are boiling over into civil unrest. Here’s an idea: Let’s bring the current meetings to an end with a “no” vote. Make your vote the first, and the others will follow. Then, we can move on to more pressing civil matters.
What are the alternatives for the eyesores of the Town Garage, Brogan Cadillac, Ken Smith Chevrolet, and the old auto dealers along North Maple in to Ho Ho Kus ? We can’t forever be stuck with those blighted remnants of the past if we want Ridgewood to remain awesome for future generations. How about a Performing Arts Center (with extra parking), a hockey arena (again with parking, will save time for all of the families who currently drive to Paramus), and more park land (with parking !) ? There have to be some suggestions for the owners of those properties on how best to redevelop them in a way that makes sense for both current and future residents. We can’t just remain forever static and say that’s what’s best for residents – progress isn’t always negative !
#! — the current master plan allows building — but at something like 10 to 20 % of what the developers want to do. I think the Ken Smith site, for instnace would allow something like 12 new single family homes and a dozen apartments.
It could also be developed for office space.
So, there are alternatives — a lot of alternatives to building another500 apartments in town. But those alternatives don’t mean as quick and easy or as great a profit for the developers. And so we hear a lot of propaganda about the need for a change to our master plan.
Hundreds of new apartments aren’t the answer unless they are limited to 55 and over.
We must maintain properties on the tax rolls and improvements=ratables.
As far as the suggestion by #1 above. Are you serious about spending valuable tax dollars (and removing property from tax rolls ) in order to meet your wish of ‘saving time for families who currently drive to Paramus’? As a long time taxpayer I am offended by that sort of expectation to benefit a small group.
Civility like development has contextual meaning. Gross exaggeration with out provable facts gives way to angry talk. Opinions are protected speech. Not extending due process to a fellow property owner is uncivilized even in your sky is falling world.
The property owners of those so called “eyesore” sites are not going to do anything until they at least try to get their density limits raised. Right now each of those properties is worth X on the open market. Raise the densities from 12 to 50 units an acre and each of those properties is worth at least 3X. That is precisely why they sit there vacant. DO not be fooled into thinking these properties are sitting vacant because there is nothing that can be done on them. There is plenty that can be done, they are just waiting for the mother ship to arrive.
Sound like Big Al the Developers Friend or one his buddies are posting ( #1)
#4 — you’ve hit the nail part way on the head. The developers have grossly exagerated and have fed false stories about attracting empty nesters and young working couples who won’t have cars or children and who won’t take up any resources what so ever.
The developer / property owners bought subject to the master plan, just like we all did. Now they want to change the master plan to suit their own profit goals. There is nothing uncivil or angry about simply saying no, the “fellow property owner (developer)” should within the existing rules and should not ask the rest of us to take financial risks or lower our standard of living simply to ensure your hoped for profit margin.
There’s a planning board meeting this week and I certainly hope folks get out and be heard.
I just don’t think those unused properties add much to property values in Ridgewood. What’s your suggestion for the owners of those properties #3 ? Would you prefer they sit vacant ? I have nothing to do with property development, I just want to see more parking, more reasons for families to visit the CBD, and capital & infrastructure improvements that will add value to the entire village.
Thanks #2 and #5/#7, so there are alternatives. But the property owners want higher density limits to add potential value to their properties. Seems like a fair subject for serious debate and consideration with valid arguments on both sides. I am amazed by the nastiness.