file photo by Boyd Loving
NOTICE: PSE&G ELECTRIC UPGRADE IN RIDGEWOOD CBD – APRIL 14
April 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G has notified the Village that they will begin the electric upgrade project this week – starting at Highwood and South Broad, working their way northward. This is to alert you to potential traffic issues.
With a record number of New Jersey residents holding jobs, Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday announced the state will be able to offer $200 million in tax relief to businesses by cutting their contributions to unemployment insurance. Claude Brodesser-Akner, NJ.com, Read more
“Thank you so much to everybody who supported our petition. Total signatures: 1,227. The BCIA ordinance has been rescinded. It is our understanding that the local bond is now suspended until the council takes further action on our petition. One level down, shovels in the ground. Power to the people!”
Saurabh Dani,Dana Glazer,Ellen Mcnamara,Lorraine Reynolds,Melanie McWilliams
April 12,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The League of Women Voters will sponsor a Candidates’ Night for those running for Village Council . The Candidates’ Night will take place in the Village Hall Court Room, Wednesday, April 20th from 7:30PM to 9:30PM. All are invited to attend to learn positions on local issues.
Reader says the election is less than a month away and I don’t know where any of the candidates stand on important issues.
Do they have websites? Is there any campaign material? If the Ridgewood News were truely an unbiased local paper they would send questions to the candidates for answers and publish all responses.
I know that the League of Women Voters will have a forum but I expected more. What if the forum does not adress my questions?
What do you think the village should do about parking in the CBD? Do you think that we even have a parking problem?
Do you think that the housing density should be 25 units per acre? Do you think that it should be higher or lower?
How many high density projects can the congested downtown absorb?
Will you challenge the latest Valley Hospital Plan and ask for more concessions?
What can be done to end the cycle of empty-nesters fleeing the town because of high taxes? Do you think that there is a benefit to offer a tax break to stabilize the demographics and prevent an overflow of students in our schools?
Will you ask that all council and committee members disclose all conflicts of interest – perhaps without being asked by an angry and skeptical public?
file photo by Boyd Loving
April 12,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld explaining what the Village spent $295,000.00 on for designs that were not approved yet…followed quick by a change order for $120,000.00 to switch to Design D. Enjoy. Thank Charlie Nowinski for bringing this up at the Village Council meeting.
https://www.tubechop.com/watch/7840960
The full page ad from the Garage Cabal was an insult. It had Roberta’s exasperated catch phrase “enough is enough”. Well, I am fed up to, but I am fed up with our local government. Look at the list of signers in the ad. I recognize many of the names of business owners and residents who make their living working for these businesses (architect, PR guy). We also have some Financial Advisory Committee and Historic Preservation members. And then there are the hangers-on Don, Tim and Rurick. They did not make the list alphabetical because you would be able to see that entire families signed the petition just to make it look like a ground swell of supporters.
We are on the cusp of overdevelopment and everyone is grabbing for what they can get. The businesses care only about themselves. If business was not profitable they would have moved on to another town. They stay because they make a buck – good for them. I did not move to Ridgewood 27 years ago for the restaurants and banking opportunities. I moved because I liked the community as a whole.
Build the right-sized garage in downtown Ridgewood and limit high density housing. Thankfully we will soon have a new council and I hope that they can slow things down. I am not against change. Planned development can be a good thing. We are a community first, not a shopping center.
Look carefully at those running for a seat on the council. Two are FAC members (we need a separate thread just about this group – what exactly is their function?) who supported the garage in its original form. A third person seems to have nothing to do with the garage/development issue (The Manchurian Candidate). He is bff with Vaggianos and would like to help out his friend on the development side.
That leaves us with three other candidates. They have posted things on this site and social media. They are explaining their positions. I am listening carefully. We don’t want Englewood and Montclair as our models for a downtown. We have something unique here and we have to be careful not to destroy it.
This petition seeks to put the financing associated with Design D on hold
until a REAL COMPROMISE is reached, or until the taxpayers of Ridgewood vote on it
as a BINDING referendum question.
Aesthetically, a lower profile will be more fitting in our Historic Downtown.
A 3-story/4 level garage will more than triple the capacity of the current lot,
and allow for added creative solutions in other parts of the Central Business District.
SIGN THE PETITION
FOR MORE INFORMATION
GO TO WWW.ITS2BIG.COM, OR EMAIL [email protected]
PICTURES USED ARE FROM VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD WEBSITE
*A – https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2015simdeck.pdf
*D -https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/images/Ridgewood/Projects/HudsonStParkingDeck/View_2_-_Looking_North_on_South_Broad_Street_copy.jpg
file photo Boyd Loving
March 31,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Reader say it is a well know fact in Village Hall circles that Ms Green and the Library Board has been looking at the Elks property for some years. If you recall a post here that the L:library Board have been talking about plans for a Performing Arts center in our around the Library. Im sure you could go to the Library Board past minutes and fine that .
Its just to much of a coincidence that this comes up with everything going on in town.I don’t trust these three. Also check current and past board member you will see that 2 Council people were on the board and our mayor was the representive from the Council to the Library. Then there in one of the developers that also was a former member of the board along with one or two of the finical board members. Check it out you will surprised who is involved
Ridgewood Elks assessed value was cut in half in 2014.Their assessed value went from $1,169,300 in 2014 to $584,600 in 2015.
As someone near retirement and looking to cut fixed costs I would like to have that deal. What other taxpayers had their property taxes cut in half? What brought this change about?
Just when you thought you’d heard it all the fly has learned that . . .In Uncategorized on March 1, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Library Board members have proposed buying the Ridgewood Elks Lodge building at 111 North Maple Avenue for library expansion purposes (additional parking and building expansion). Just what we need; another property taken off the tax rolls.
A Graydon Pool Improvements Committee has been formed. Reportedly, one plan under consideration by committee members is converting the existing facility into a year round “mini country club” and imposing significant fees for membership. Can you say “exclusively elite” 10 times fast? Hold onto your wallets tightly ladies & gentlemen!
North Jersey .com July 2015 : A couple of library board trustees said they want to move ahead with the original plan, which called only for the renovation of the library, and add in the construction of a performing arts center next to the library and village hall. This would turn the library and its surrounding area into the cultural hub the members are seeking.
From the Mayors web site : Approximately 40 Ridgewood residents, members of the business community and arts enthusiasts met with Aronsohn and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli two Saturdays ago to gauge interest in establishing a new performing arts center and the feasibility of turning the idea into a reality. The former bank site was mentioned several times during that meeting.
From the Ridgewood Blog : Also the wife of Glenn F.Jorgensen, founding president of the library board has been appoint chairwoman of the new tiger team ( Financial Advisory Committee ) Looks like the library is set for awhile.
And don’t forget PETITION SIGNING LOCATIONS ELKS CLUB
(111 Maple Ave-next to library-across from Kings)
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH
11:00AM-4:00PM
Board of Trustees 2016 ( round up the usual suspects )
Associate Directors
· Glenn Jorgensen, Founding President
· Harlan Coben
· Daniel Cumming
· Tony Damiano *
· Elia Desruisseau
· Thomas Dougherty
· Paul Goldberg
· Joshua Grunat
· Jacques Harlow
· Gwenn Hauck *
· Phyllis Heilborn
· Teresa Hutchins
· Jeffrey Karpf
· Michelle Lenhard
· William Meakem
· Barbara Moreira
· Joan Popkin
· Deborah Primiano
· Albert Pucciarelli *
· Ellen Quinn
· Catherine Redlich
· Fred Strype
The Members of the 2012 Financial Advisory Committee (alphabetically)
Rich Barclay
Bayard DeI\/Iallie
Ed Feldsott
Nancy Johansen *
Charlie Kime
John Maxwell
Jim McCarthy
David Sabath
Jim Schimmei
Fran Shovlìn
Roberta Sonenfeld *
Bob Zeller
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood is not the only town have both concerns and difficulties with the both the placement and quantity of court mandated affordable housing in the Village. The ongoing battle over how much court-ordered housing should be built in each municipality has grown particularly contentious in Bergen County, where the main issue is: Where does it go ?
While housing advocates, developers and even some local officials like our council majority in Ridgewood have what they think is an answer ; sites of all those aged, often vacant storefronts and corporate buildings that didn’t make it. Developers often call these “stranded assets”.
The answer in Ridgewood is derelict sites in the Central Business District that can hold multi purpose development . This site the old “Town Garage” , Brogan and Ken smith as well as 599 South Maple offer developers and opportunity to meet affordable housing requirements along with other development needs .
While hundreds of municipalities are in court fighting proposed housing quotas which officials claim ignore the realities of the housing market and the pressing lack of vacant land as well as the quality of life and character of the town effected.
By SHIVANI VORA
MARCH 25, 2016
A pool of creamy mozzarella spilled out of the grilled zucchini wrapped around the thick round of cheese. With every pleasurable bite, I had to remind myself that I was in Ridgewood and not Campania, Italy.
The restaurant, From Scratch, has that kind of transporting affect. The dishes are simple but use the highest quality ingredients, including local vegetables and seafood. Oils, cheeses and cured meats arrive weekly from the motherland (the mozzarella had indeed traveled from Campania to Ridgewood just days before I savored it). And, as the name suggests, everything — from the pastas and breads to the sauces and desserts — is prepared from scratch.
If you’d rather see:
design D with 3 stories, 4 levels, approx 37ft building height & 52ft towers- approx 260 spaces- then you should sign the petition
If you are happy with the current design D of 4 stories, 5 levels, 46ft 8in building height & 60ft 10in towers- 325 spaces- then you should not sign the petition
You must be a registered voter residing in the Village of Ridgewood to sign the petition.
EMAIL [email protected] CALL or text 201-264-8151 Visit: https://goo.gl/forms/KpPtDY2We9 |
Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood will begin enforcement of Chapter 190-122 of the Code of the Village of Ridgewood on April 1, 2016. This ordinance regulates the construction, installation or display of signs within the Village. Please ensure that any non-conforming signs (ie. A-frames, banners, temporary signs, neon, etc…) are removed prior to April 1, 2016. Failure to comply with the ordinance may result in the issuance of a municipal court summons. Periodic monitoring will be occurring on a regular basis.
We understand the signs may be an integral part of advertising your business, but those that are not permitted by ordinance must be removed. This effort is being made to coincide with the enforcement of the Sidewalk Café ordinance with the ultimate focus on public safety.
For your convenience, the Village ordinances may be viewed by visiting the Village website atwww.ridgewoodnj.net. Please click on the “General Code” link on the right side of the homepage. This will link you to ECode 360 at which time you can search for the applicable ordinance.
Should you require further clarification on this matter or any other property maintenance issue; please do not hesitate to contact Tracy Jeffery, Code Enforcement Official at 201-670-5500, ext. 214. Our unified efforts will result in a safer environment for all.
This is not the end!!
To all our Ridgewood customers, we are sad to announce that on April 2nd we will be closing our doors to the Ridgewood location. Due to circumstances out of our control with the development of the town we have been forced to close the store. But as the say, “when one door closes another one opens”, which is exactly what we are doing!!! We are currently in the process of building our flagship store in downtown Newark. We hope to have this is open by April 30th. Its 1500 sqft space located on Halsey St.
We would like to thank each & everyone of you that has supported the store and the scene for the past 3 years, you guys have been great and will truly be missed. We know that a great shop relies on its community and we thank you for being part of it.
We will continue to serve the community in the area and at Ridgewood Skate Park and we will still have the Nutley store and online store www.undergroundskateshop.com where you can still continue to support us.
We will keep you all updated via social media on the progress of the Newark store and as soon as we have a set date we will inform you all of the grand opening
Once again, we thank you for your support.
Mark & Clint
Underground Skate Shop #2
Change? As in making a city? No. Let’s be real here…. No one, I mean no one…. will move to Ridgewood without the idea of having children. People move here fore the schools. Dont believe me? Go see a Travell school directory and see the amount of kids from the Oak St. area. that live in apartments.
3000k a month for a luxury apartment for a commuting husband and wife? Why? We have nothing to offer that other closer more stable cities have. 3000k a month with children sounds like a better idea.
We are NOT hoboken, we are NOT montclair, we are NOT morristown. We have few similarities at best as in a train station and some nice shops but thats it.
Your schools class sizes are about to get a shock of their life, your nice class sizes are about to get big. No one seems to remember when Hawes and Sommerville had trailers as classrooms because of over-crowding, I remember because I was taught in them and it takes years for infrastructure to catch up to over building. If you have young children entering the schools you should be the most concerned.
Sewer, water, police, fire and DPW services all have to be increased to support additional population. We ALL pay for that. Don’t want to pay for it? Enjoy more county involvement.
