Tag: CBD

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Ridgewood Mayor Aronsohn : not “whether” to build a parking deck or even “where” to build it; rather, the questions are “what size” and at “what cost.”

parking cbd

“see those empty spaces  thats where the  new Parking Garage is going to go ,bigger is better”

Time to build a parking deck

NOVEMBER 27, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

‘Time to build a parking deck’

To the Editor:

On Nov. 3, Ridgewood residents voted in support of the financing and construction of a parking deck on the Hudson Street lot. Although the referendum was “non-binding,” the message from the 3,236 residents who voted in favor of the parking deck – a full 65 percent of the vote — was loud and clear: After decades of discussion, it is time to act. It is time to build a parking deck.

Therefore, the questions now before the Village Council are not “whether” to build a parking deck or even “where” to build it; rather, the questions are “what size” and at “what cost.”

So, on Dec. 2, the Village Council will take up these two questions and decide on “what size” and at “what cost.” Then, a week later, on Dec. 9, I plan to introduce a bond ordinance that corresponds with those decisions and moves this process forward.

To facilitate these decisions, our design team has put together three options – at different sizes and at different costs — and although the referendum allowed “up to $15 million in public funds” to be expended, each of the options comes with a considerably lower price tag. (Please visit the Village Hall lobby and Village website for pictures and relevant information.)

Our design team will be on hand at the Dec. 2 meeting to outline the three options – pros and cons – and take questions from the council. We are also making special arrangements to allow members of the public to ask questions of the design team, too.

I encourage all residents to let us know their thoughts about “size” and “cost” – either by email or by showing up at the Dec. 2 meeting. We are at a critical, albeit exciting juncture in this process, and we want all residents to be a part of it.

Thank you.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn

Village of Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-time-to-build-a-parking-deck-1.1463522

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Planned garage a plus for Ridgewood

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Planned garage a plus for Ridgewood

A big round of applause for Ridgewood Council members Gwenn Hauck and Albert Pucciarelli and Mayor Paul Aronsohn for successfully stewarding the parking garage project for downtown, culminating in voter approval earlier this month. Decades of no progress on this topic finally have been broken.

There are many positives to this project, with the most important being to strengthen our central business district by addressing the No. 1 challenge: parking. As the mayor recently pointed out, the “only real negative aspect was the disinformation campaign that sought to confuse and undermine the public conversation – a disinformation campaign represented in part by an anonymous mailer.”

The mayor noted that “no one was willing to take responsibility for the mailer, [but] the language was strikingly similar to that used by some of the parking deck’s most vocal detractors.”

The next challenge for the parking deck is to secure financing. In order to bond, four of five council members are needed to vote yes. Will those who did not support the project vote no? That would be in direct opposition to the overwhelming voter support for the project.

Don Delzio

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/the-record-letters-sunday-nov-29-1.1464278?page=3

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Ridgewood Guild Winter Festival Carriage Ride Reveals Many Empty Parking Spots

parking CBD
November 28,2015

by Anne LaGrange Loving

Ridgewood NJ, This afternoon around 1 PM we were on the horse-drawn carriage, part of the Ridgewood Guild Winter Festival, which was an absolutely wonderful event. As the carriage headed west on Hudson toward Broad, lo and behold there were many empty parking spots in the Hudson Street lot. Yes, indeed, on a holiday weekend, less than a month until Christmas, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with a big event occurring in the park, with people going out to eat because they are sick of turkey……all of that, and still plenty of spaces.

IMG 9964

Moreover, as we headed north on Broad and looked back, we saw the beautiful spires of Mt. Carmel and United Methodist churches……these will no longer be visible, not even close to visible, if the gigantic garage is built on that corner. Food for thought.

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BFJ Planning May Provide Urban Planning Studies Ridgewood Needs

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog
November 29,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, BFJ Planning is a consulting firm providing professional expertise in planning, urban design, environmental analysis, real estate and transportation since its establishment in 1980. Led by founding partners, Paul Buckhurst, Frank Fish, and Georges Jacquemart, BFJ serves public, private and non-profit clients throughout the country and overseas. The firm’s philosophy is one of integrated planning and hands-on, senior-level leadership.

BFJ has successfully completed more than 1,000 projects in the U.S., East Asia, Europe, and South America. Our range of services allows us to bring a project from the initial feasibility stage, through planning and approvals, to site design and implementation. Principals and staff provide expertise in a range of areas, bringing together informed, innovative thinking from different professional points of view necessary to the success of complex planning and development projects. This inclusive approach ensures that BFJ’s planning and design recommendations are realistic and achievable within project constraints.

In all the work we do, from master plans through environmental reviews and resiliency planning, BFJ is committed to participatory planning. We have a depth of experience in consensus building, public participation and community liaison programs and understand that early and consistent public involvement in the planning process is crucial to the development of plans that will be supported by the community and can be effectively implemented.

BFJ is supported by its affiliate, Urbanomics, which provides public- and private-sector clients with an array of economic development planning services, including market studies, tax policy analyses, program evaluations and economic and demographic forecasts.

BFJ Planning is a consulting firm providing professional expertise in planning, urban design, environmental analysis, real estate and transportation since its establishment in 1980. Led by founding partners, Paul Buckhurst, Frank Fish, and Georges Jacquemart, BFJ serves public, private and non-profit clients throughout the country and overseas. The firm’s philosophy is one of integrated planning and hands-on, senior-level leadership.

BFJ has successfully completed more than 1,000 projects in the U.S., East Asia, Europe, and South America. Our range of services allows us to bring a project from the initial feasibility stage, through planning and approvals, to site design and implementation. Principals and staff provide expertise in a range of areas, bringing together informed, innovative thinking from different professional points of view necessary to the success of complex planning and development projects. This inclusive approach ensures that BFJ’s planning and design recommendations are realistic and achievable within project constraints.

https://www.bfjplanning.com/planning
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Ridgewood Guild Kicks off Small Business Saturday with 2015 Winterfest

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On Saturday, November 28, 2015 The Ridgewood Guild will sponsor its fifth annual Winterfest, to coincide with Small Business Saturday!

Memorial Park at Van Neste Square will set the stage with special holiday performances by The Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus and Declan Power!

The park will be decorated, there will be ice sculptures,  horse drawn hayrides around town, cookies, candy canes, complimentary hot chocolate a trackless train ride and more!

So, come downtown to enjoy the festivities, welcome in the holiday season and support your local businesses! Learn more about what Ridgewood Businesses are doing for Small Business Saturday!

Join us for Small Business Saturday!

Shop Small Ridgewood!
November 28, 2015

Win 1 of 5 Ridgewood Guild $100 Gift Certificates to use at any participating business (listed below)

All you need to do is:

1. Follow @ridgewoodguildnj on Instagram
2. Like the Ridgewood Guild on Facebook
3. Post a selfie tagging @ridgewoodguildnj and #shopsmallridgewood

You will automatically be entered into the random drawing! Have fun shopping small (and local) this year!

Participating Ridgewood Businesses:

Mango Jam
Chestnut Deli and Catering
Markosian Fine Art Jewelry
Wostbrock Home and Floors
Backyard Living
Kate Spade
Gardiner and Co.
Jekyll and Hide
Coco Curtain Studio
Suite 201
Social by Suite 201
Vintage 61
Pangea Coins and Jewelry
Rossi’s of Ridgewood
Ridgewood Cycle
Goffle Brook Farms and Garden Center
Savvy Chic Consignment Boutique
Village Eyewear
Red Velvet Luxe
Beer’s Flower Shop
The Quilt Spot
Kilwin’s
Park West Tavern
Ben & Jerry’s
The Green Olive Branch
Bazaar Star Beadery
Pinot’s Palette
Greenwich Nails
Karma Organic Spa
Araya Rebirth
Carlo’s Bakery
La Tour
Due
Ridgewood Culinary Studio
Super Juice Nation
A Mano
Italia di Gusto
Best of Everything
Fish Urban Dining
Greenbaum Interiors
Memoire
The Daily Treat
Cupcakes by Carousel
Flackman, Goodman, and Potter
Raymond’s
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Natalie’s

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Ridgewood officials delay vote on allowing denser housing downtown

village council meeting

file photo by Boyd Loving

NOVEMBER 25, 2015, 3:28 PM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015, 8:58 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — Votes by village officials on zoning changes that would clear the path for high-density, multifamily housing downtown will likely be delayed until January while officials gather more information about the controversy-raising proposal’s potential impacts.

Also, Mayor Paul Aronsohn said Monday. the public will be allowed additional sessions to comment on the five introduced zoning ordinances at the council’s Dec. 9 public meeting. The changes would increase the number of allowable housing units per acre from 12 to 35 in four zones in the central business district.

The Village Council, however, won’t vote on them that night. It will await results of a yet-to-be-commissioned financial impact study, which Aronsohn has called the “missing piece of the puzzle.” The study “won’t answer every question, and it may leave a lot of questions unanswered that we need to address,” he told the council at a meeting this month. But at least the questions would be raised, he said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-officials-delay-vote-on-allowing-denser-housing-downtown-1.1462468

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Vote “Yes” For Parking signs in CBD paved the way for others

thanksgiving run

Photo credit:   Boyd A. Loving
Vote “Yes” For Parking signs in CBD paved the way for others
November 24,2015
Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewood NJ, Now that everyone knows it’s perfectly legal to place non-commercial signs basically any place you want to in Ridgewood, they’ll be popping up everywhere as evidenced by this “Ridgewood Thanksgiving Day Run” sign, one of several placed in flower pots within the Central Business District.

Thanks Paul A. and Paul V. for starting the unsightly trend.

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Ridgewood Residents Get Their Chance to Speak out on the CBD Parking Garage Design

parking garage cbd

November 24,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, According to Village Hall residents will have an opportunity to chime in on the parking garage design on December 2nd. The three designs presented included the original structure, as depicted on Villlage of Ridgewood (VOR) site, with 405 spaces (130,000sq ft), a modified version with 355 stalls (120,000sq ft) and the lowest profile version with 305 stalls (109,000 sq ft). The cost per stall decreases for each added level:

405 stalls @ $28,000 = 11.5 mil

355 stalls @ $29,300 = 10.4 mil

305 stalls @ $31,000 = 9.5 mil

You can see the higher you go the more efficient the project becomes IF, of course, those spaces are utilized.

As far as the design, it is exactly as shown at the informal meetings. The 355 version indicates a lower profile along Hudson St but retains the same height along Broad. The 305 version includes the lower profile on both Broad and Hudson. For some reason I didn’t include the heights in my notes but will ask Roberta for those details. Each version includes cantilevering over the entire Hudson St sidewalk with an additional 20″ cantilever extending over the street. The cantilevers were depicted in the original design and, I believe cannot be eliminated due to the lot width.

Also Mayor Aronsohn sent an email (personal email) to residents regarding the three garage designs and process moving forward. His letter indicates surprise ,surprise higher cost for each version likely based on factoring in the original $500,000 bond.

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Public is ready to weigh in on Ridgewood parking garage designs

Hudson Garage

file photo by Boyd Loving

NOVEMBER 23, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015, 1:56 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

With the November election and the affirmative results of the non-binding referendum in the rearview mirror, the next steps for the village include further discussions on specifics for a garage on Hudson Street and the presentation of a few different design options for the public.

Earlier this month, voters approved a non-binding referendum question asking residents if they were in favor of bonding up to $15 million in public money for the construction of a parking garage, which is expected to be paid for principally, if not entirely, with parking utility revenues. The measure passed with 65 percent of the vote.

In the subsequent weeks, the village appears to have settled on three different designs for a parking deck, which vary in terms of overall size, height, cost and the number of cars it can house. Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld provided The Ridgewood News with specifics on each of the options.

Option “A” is the design that has been most prominently featured at public meetings with a capacity of 405 cars, which would provide a net gain of 305 spaces. The 136,650 square foot building is 49 feet, two inches, to the top of the highest parapet with the tower extending to 68 feet. The approximate construction cost per space is approximately $29,630 and the village would plan to bond $12 million.

A second rendering, known as Option “B,” brings the height of the building along Hudson Street down to 37 feet, four inches, but the highest parapet on South Broad would remain at the 49 foot mark and the corner tower would also remain the same height. This garage will hold 355 cars for a net gain of 255. The village would plan to bond about $11 million for this 119,800 square foot proposal.

Option “C” scales down the building even further with the tower now lowered to 56 feet, eight inches, and both the Hudson and Broad parapets down to 37 feet. This design can house 306 cars for a net gain to the village of 206. Ridgewood would plan to bond $10.1 million for the 109,350 square foot structure.

In a letter sent from his village email account, Mayor Paul Aronsohn invited residents to come to the Village Council’s meeting on Dec. 2 to weigh in on their preferred design. Renderings will be made available on the village website and in the first floor lobby in Village Hall, the mayor said.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/public-to-weigh-in-on-garage-designs-1.1461204

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Parking Garage : What does “we have confirmed the economics . . . ” (from PDF attachment) truly mean?

parking_enforcement_theridgewoodblog

 

November 23,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in the PDF on the Village website called “Hudson Street Parking Deck – Message from the Village Manager” . The Village manager makes the bold pronouncement that the “We have already confirmed the economics by commissioning an independent consulting firm whose work was studied and endorsed by the Financial Advisory Committee. ” . Sounds a bit bold given that the final garage decisions have not been made . The three garage options listed would involve different economic assumptions .

The three designs presented included the original structure, as depicted on VOR site,  with 405 spaces (130,000sq ft), a modified version with 355 stalls (120,000sq ft) and the lowest profile version with 305 stalls (109,000 sq ft). The cost per stall decreases for each added level:

405 stalls @ $28,000 = 11.5 mil

355 stalls @ $29,300 = 10.4 mil

305 stalls @ $31,000 = 9.5 mil

You can see the higher you go the more efficient the project becomes IF, of course,  those spaces  are utilized.

While we have gotten many assurances that the garage will pay for it self ,Several funding options had been presented to the Council.  Have decisions been reached on increasing parking rates, increasing hours of meter operation, adjusting rates for non-resident parking passes, and increasing enforcement times?  Until such decisions have been made and trialed, how could we possibly have “confirmed the economics?”  As they stand now, these are just assumptions made on paper by the consultant. Lets face it does anyone really know how much money the parking authority really takes in ? And what happens to all the money being currently used from the parking authority to subsidize other Village activities ?

Before we commit to spending millions of dollars based payback from projected revenue streams, let’s check some of the assumptions out in the field.
Hudson Street Parking Deck – Message from the Village Manager

Click Here

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Meet New Jersey Native David Rossi And Sample Four Of His Outstanding Sonoma Wines

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November 21,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, David Rossi started making small lots of wine in his basement in New Jersey. In 2005, with a shelf full of national amateur winemaking awards, he founded Fulcrum Wines in the heart of California wine country. He has emerged as one of California’s most exciting Pinot Noir makers and one of its best-kept secrets. Vintage after vintage, Fulcrum’s wines are among the finest from their appellations and the accolades are too numerous to list.

This Saturday the 21st, meet David Rossi and sample several of his Pinot Noirs at The Wine Seller between 5 and 8 PM. His outstanding wines are perfectly suited to a Thanksgiving feast and are discounted 15% to 23% for this ‘can’t miss’ event.

David Will Be Here 5 to 8 On Saturday To Talk About His Wines.
Can’t Make It Saturday? Taste David’s Wines this Friday 4 & 8PM.

Cloisonne, 2014 Pinot Noir, Carneros, CA
This affordable, medium-bodied Pinot Noir displays subtle toast aromas from 15 months in French oak barrels (15% new). With enough time in the glass, this wine runs the gamut of distinctive varietal flavors, with plum evolving into ultra-ripe cranberry, black cherry and eventually turning to delicate strawberry and spice in the finish. The fruit remains cloaked in a translucent veil of toasty oak that compliments rather than overpowers the fruit.
Regularly $18.99, Special Tasting Price, $15.99

On Point, 2013 Pinot Noir Christina’s Cuvee, Anderson Valley, CA
This lushly textured Pinot Noir displays restrained nuances of mocha in the nose and palette, followed by rich flavors of dark chocolate covered cherries, cassis, earth and spice. Wispy hints of wood smoke appear in the lengthy finish.
Regularly $32.99, Special Tasting Price, $26.99

Fulcrum, 2013 Pinot Noir, Brosseau Vineyard, Chalone AVA, CA
The nose displays a little of that wild, smoky, earthy Pinot Noir funkiness that Pinotphiles adore. This is a medium to full-bodied red featuring dark, spicy berry flavors folded into a bed of stony minerals. The substantial finish reveals understated notes of earth and mocha.
Regularly $51.99, Special Tasting Price, $39.99

Fulcrum, 2013 Pinot Noir, Landy Vineyard, Russian River Valley, CA
Rich, earthy aromas are reminiscent of vanillin cookie dough and dark fruits. This is a full-bodied Pinot Noir with ripe plum, black cherry and cassis fruit flavors presented with a soft, luscious mouthfeel. When given some time to breathe some strawberry and sweet spice characteristics emerge on the eternal finish.
Regularly $51.99, Special Tasting Price, $39.99

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to taste wines with native NJ winemaker David Rossi this weekend at the Wine Seller. The special tasting prices are good through Sunday the 22nd, so stop by the Wine Seller or reply to this email to reserve your Thanksgiving wine at these prices.

the Wine Seller
6 W Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood, New Jersey
(201) 444-3300

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Information before Ridgewood Parking Garage referendum vote was confusing

parking garage cbd

Information before referendum vote was confusing

NOVEMBER 20, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015, 12:31 AM

THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Details on garage were ‘confusing’

To the Editor:

When the village manager and council asked residents to vote on a non-binding resolution to build a parking garage, it did not tell voters what they voted on had little bearing on reality. We were told to look at the village website for a description of the garage, financial plans, the Walker study, etc. for facts before voting. The words “draft” was on the rendering and “preliminary” on the financials, so voters really didn’t know what they were voting on, yet the ballot was specific. On the basis of the wording on the ballot, residents by a 2-1 margin voted yes. The town was very careful to use the words “non-binding,” but I doubt many understood the ramifications, that nothing on the website, in the plans, in the financials was definite. Yet we were told just the opposite.

All the money spent on the plans and financials was only for an “idea” of what was planned. All the details, the explanations, the reasoning taxpayers would not be responsible because of the very detailed financial plan, were not accurate.

Residents were told time and again to look at the website for details before they voted. There was nothing “non-binding” about that. The picture on the “Vote Yes” signs for the garage was a partial rendering of the presentation to the public. Yet in a statement made on Facebook, both the manager and a council member said the vote was just to give an “idea” and in fact there was no decision about size, cost, etc. I don’t think voters knew when they voted. If there was no decision, why spend time, money and signs for this. The goal was to gauge public opinion, but the time, the signs, the letters urging the vote, was time better spent working with neighborhoods on more urgent matters.

It appears we have a council more dedicated to public relations than to good government. This is discouraging to say the least.

Mayor Aronsohn, in his recent Ridgewood News column, excoriated the author(s) of a flyer for what he characterized as inaccurate information. On the other hand, he sent a robo-call to residents urging them to vote yes, stating he was doing this at his own expense as a private citizen. So it was all right for him to do this, albeit he wasn’t anonymous (to his credit) with inaccurate information, but it was not all right for an anonymous flyer to be sent with accurate information? “Non-binding” usually refers to the number of votes pro and con, not on votes based on inaccurate information entirely. The council has turned this on end.

This is a further example of confusing information, vague ideas stated as facts, backpedaling, decisions made without public input. This is not transparency or good government. We deserve better.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all the unsatisfied neighborhoods got together to figure out a way to make our council and manager more transparent?

Ellie Gruber

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-information-before-referendum-vote-was-confusing-1.1459327

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Ridgewood Residents feel input ignored on Garage Discussions

Hudson Garage

file photo by Boyd LOving
November 20,2015
th staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood is pushing three options for the parking garage design . Village manager Roberta Sonenfeld claims in a recent email to Village Residents that ,”We have already confirmed the economics by commissioning an independent consulting firm whose work was studied and endorsed by the Financial Advisory Committee.”

Sonenfeld went on , “The Council selected an architectural/engineering firm to work with us in designing the deck and putting together the construction bid documents. We are currently in the design phase of building the deck, and have held numerous meetings where input from the community has been received and incorporated into the design. We continue to seek input from you regarding the design, particularly as it relates to the size and height. Below you will find three options for you to peruse and comment upon. Each has pros and cons.”  https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/hudson/20151119-PDwPV1.pdf

Many residents however see things differently , “Since the vote, there has been no council meeting with an agenda to discuss the parking garage. The discussion should be at a council meeting. Put it on the record and for all the public to hear. As I said below, it appears that things are being done backwards and in private yet again. You say you want public input. You say you want communication. You say you want transparency. You said, “vote yes to parking, and then negotiate the size and design.” I see none of that.”, Lorraine Reynolds

Ellen McNamara said , “I attended the second of 2 informal forums and I was the only person not on a committee, who had had prior opportunity to review the garage plans at length. I did not have an opportunity to speak publicly, ask questions on the record, or be heard by anyone other than Gwen Hauck, Fire Chief Jim VanGoor, the architect (forgetting his name at the moment), and Nancy Johannsen from the financial committee – only in private conversations initiated by me. I did not feel as though my input was “gathered.” In fact, I was lead to believe the design and size of the garage were still being worked out, and many of my questions had been asked and answered already, so not to worry. I have worried every second since casting my vote for the garage referendum.”

The Village Manager has once again assured everyone that on the December 2nd meeting residents will have an opportunity to ask questions