MAY 1, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
An application to redevelop a Franklin Avenue property into a full-service bank with a drive-through facility has been brought before the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Testimony from the developer’s professionals began on Tuesday.
Ivy Realty, LLC is proposing a modified version of what already exists on the property, located at 121 Franklin Ave. between Oak Street and North Maple Avenue, which is the former home of Atlantic Stewardship Bank. Most of the building will be demolished, except for the free-standing sign at the front of the building.
The lot is located in the B-2 zone in between two other banks – Valley National Bank and TD Bank.
The current existing structure at the site is a 450-square-foot building with three drive-through lanes for banking-related business and a fourth lane serving as a bypass to exit the property. The applicant proposes a 2,600-square-foot, one story building without a basement, featuring one banking lane and one bypass lane. There is no tenant currently lined up to inhabit the new development, and it is not being built with any architectural features specific to a certain bank.
Chef Elie Kahlon of Novo puts the finishing touch on a salmon dish.
April 29, 2015
By Curt Schleier
Diners at Novo, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, likely appreciate the spices, imported from the Middle East, that accent their meals. Some might even be aware that their food was cooked on an open-flame oven called a taboon or that a special Arabic steamer was used to prepare the couscous.
But will they get that every dish comes with a heavy dollop of memory, forged in the Israeli-born chef’s upbringing? Hard to say. But the chef in question, Elie Kahlon, certainly hopes so.
But for the Middle Eastern music that’s piped into the dining room at Novo, the restaurant/s look and feel seem less Mediterranean than American contemporary, with modern fixtures lighting chic wooden tables. Yet it all works quite well, thank you.
In fact, the Record, the local paper, recently called Novo “arguably North Jersey’s best new restaurant.” It had been In business less than half a year when it earned 3½ out of 4 stars from the paper’s restaurant critic last January.
APRIL 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015, 9:24 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Proposed changes to the master plan amendment were presented to the Planning Board by Village Planner Blais Brancheau in an attempt to address some concerns discussed by board members at a previous meeting.
Ridgewood Planner Blais Brancheau discusses proposed changes to a master plan amendment that would allow multifamily housing in the Central Business District.
The new amendment features zoning changes as well as a reduction in density, lowering the total number of possible units to less than 300 if the zones contained in the master plan amendment were built out to maximum capacity.
Changes in the maximum height, floor area ratios and additional language to require recreation and social amenities as part of any housing project were also presented.
The board voted unanimously to formally prepare the changes for a public hearing at its next meeting on May 5, where both the public and board members will be able to comment and ask additional questions.
Key zoning changes include three properties in the area of West Bergen Mental Healthcare building being excluded from the C-R zone, moving the Ken Smith property and the area at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Chestnut Street into the B-3-R zone.
APRIL 26, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015, 4:24
BY KATHLEEN LYNN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
In Montvale, land is being cleared for a new town house development near the New York State line. In Wood-Ridge, new town houses are rising on an old industrial site. And 150 new town houses are under construction in Allendale.
As the economy and housing market continue to recover in New Jersey and nationwide, these and other projects suggest a renewed interest in the attached, two-story homes. The construction of town houses and other for-sale homes still lags behind the much healthier pace of rental construction in the state, as tough lending standards and memories of the housing crash weigh on many households.
But builders see town houses as a more affordable alternative to single-family homes. Town houses also are more suited than detached homes to the type of development that is dominating North Jersey. Instead of the sprawling, single-family subdivisions of an earlier era, builders now are focusing on so-called infill construction, in walkable, transit-friendly areas closer to New York City.
APRIL 26, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015, 10:17 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — A final vote on a proposed amendment to the master plan that would clear the way for the development of high-density, multifamily housing downtown is approaching.
After five years of consideration, Ridgewood’s Planning Board could move to decide the long-simmering matter at a public hearing that has been set for May 5.
At the board’s meeting last week, village planner Blais Brancheau outlined several recent changes he had made to the master plan amendment’s draft language — modifications prompted by ideas from board members and the public.
In the revised amendment, Brancheau lowered the permitted height of high-density, multifamily housing complexes to 50 feet from 55. He also decreased the number of units allowed by acre, dropping it to 30 to 35, from 40 to 50.
Brancheau tweaked the sizes of some of the four zones, reducing the total acreage that would be affected by the proposed master plan changes by a fifth, thus reducing the maximum build-out for those four zones to 253, from 326.
Alex and Ani will be hosting a launch party for two new collections that they have in the store from 10 – 8 on Sat. April 25. They will be setting up a table of lite bites and refreshments from surrounding Ridgewood businesses and will be showing all of these new products!
HEATHER VOTOR
STORE MANAGER
201.857.0911
134 EAST RIDGEWOOD AVENUE
RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
WWW.ALEXANDANI.COM
Ed Lucas & Bill Pennington Sunday, April 26th @ 2:00pm
Emmy Winning Blind Broadcaster, Ed Lucas, and Award-winning New York Times Sports Columnist, Bill Pennington will DISCUSS and sign their books: Seeing Home & Billy Martin
Books available April 21st
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
The two Planning Board members (Thurston and Abdallah) in favor of the project,as is, are both involved in commercIAL real estate and development. Interesting…very interesting.
We are not sure industry experience automatically implies a conflict , but …
There’s a real conflict if he is voting on things or even commenting on things that could affect his clients or potential clients. He can add his comments from the podium along with the rest of us. Did the council know he was actively involved in real estate projects in Ridgewood when they appointed him? What the hell were they thinking????
Even if he currently does not do business with these firms he may hope to work with them in the future.
He should enter the discussions because of his experience but he should not vote.
Thurston is not afraid of developers . . . he IS a developer.
Mr. Thurston has been active as a Real Estate Professional for over 30 years. After graduating from Law School in 1982, Mr. Thurston spent two years in Dallas, Texas practicing real estate law. He then moved back east and spent the next four years practicing real estate law in Philadelphia and Manhattan at the law firms of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Shea and Gould. In 1987 he left legal practice and joined The Binswanger Company headquartered in Philadelphia where he managed the National Industrial Brokerage Group for four years and then the International Group for the next five years. He then joined NAI in New Jersey and managed the Corporate Services Group for two years. He was recruited to start up and manage the National Office Sales force at Equis Corporation. He moved to Marcus & Millichap in 1999 to manage the New Jersey office. He is a Director in the Company’s National Office and Industrial Properties Group and in it’s Net Lease Properties Group and specializes in the sale of Retail, Office, and Industrial Properties in New York, New Jersey, Northern New Jersey and Bergen County and in Single Tenant Properties Nationwide.
David Thurston’s background certainly gives him an interesting perspective in all of this. Since he is involved in the sale of commercial real estate in Ridgewood, should he recuse himself from these discussions? Is there potential conflict of interest” Or does he bring years of valuable experience to the table? Interesting.
“Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale The Lincoln Building, an office property at 45 N. Broad St. in Ridgewood. The 24,000-square-foot multi-tenant property sold for $3.9 million. David Thurston of Marcus & Millichap’s New Jersey office represented the seller, a partnership, and secured the buyer, a local limited liability company.”
“Mr. Thurston has been active as a Real Estate Professional for over 30 years. After graduating from Law School in 1982, Mr. Thurston spent two years in Dallas, Texas practicing real estate law. He then moved back east and spent the next four years practicing real estate law in Philadelphia and Manhattan at the law firms of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Shea and Gould. In 1987 he left legal practice and joined The Binswanger Company headquartered in Philadelphia where he managed the National Industrial Brokerage Group for four years and then the International Group for the next five years. He then joined NAI in New Jersey and managed the Corporate Services Group for two years. He was recruited to start up and manage the National Office Sales force at Equis Corporation. He moved to Marcus & Millichap in 1999 to manage the New Jersey office. He is a Director in the Company’s National Office and Industrial Properties Group and in it’s Net Lease Properties Group and specializes in the sale of Retail, Office, and Industrial Properties in New York, New Jersey, Northern New Jersey and Bergen County and in Single Tenant Properties Nationwide.”
Baseball’s Jim Kaat Thursday, April 23rd @ 7:00pm
Former Major League Pitcher & Broadcaster for the New York Yankees, Jim Kaat, will sign his new book: If These Walls Could Talk
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
If Thurston or any of the others are afraid of the developers, then they have no place on the Board. The future of the Village is not a game of chicken, its either build appropriately or not at all. I would hate to see his vision of Ridgewood if we spend the next 40 years giving in to developers.
I have heard this chicken stuff from our council members as well — everyone is scared to death of the developers. If our officials can’t stand up to bullies, they have no place in the Village. Elected officials should have backbone or they should step down and let others take their place who will put the interests of Villagers first and profiteers second.
Shame on those who would abdicate their duties because it is too difficult to do the job properly.
Ridgewood NJ, In Ridgewood ,there seemed to be far less accidents involving pedestrians and automobiles this past year? I do not know the numbers .
So we asked Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward if we did have decrease what in your mind was particularly effective in mitigating pedestrian incidents. If we had an increase what policy can the Village , the Schools or the Ridgewood PD do to increase awareness of public safety and make our streets safer ?
The Chief took time out to respond , “We did have a decrease in pedestrian related accidents in 2014. I can say we have experienced a significant decrease in the level of injury to pedestrians. That being said in December (2014) we did have several but again still well below last year. As far as why, I can say we have increased our efforts in the areas of education and enforcement as well as the efforts in the area of engineering to enhance safety. As you know there are too many variables to attribute a causal nexus between our efforts and the reductions in pedestrian crashes , but one could argue that there appears to be a correlation.
While according to the Record there has been an increase state wide , the Chiefs efforts in Village suggest that simply “awareness ” from both drivers , walkers and cyclist may be the key .
N.J. pedestrian deaths rise; police look for reasons
APRIL 21, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015, 6:47 AM
BY JOHN CICHOWSKI
RECORD COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD
Sad to say, each time you read your favorite newspaper, there’s a good chance you’ll learn about someone like Anila Lluka or Lisa Borsellino or Donna Marie Wine, whose lives were cut short at the rate of one every other day in New Jersey — twice a month in Bergen County.
These deaths happen so routinely that we often barely recognize their significance because the victims were doing something as common as crossing River Street in Hackensack, where Borsellino was struck down last October, or Paramus Road in Paramus, where Lluka was killed last November.
Tragically, such passings have become much more frequent lately, according to updated figures recently released by the New Jersey State Police fatal accident unit.
Pedestrian deaths totaled 169 statewide last year, including that of Ms. Wine, a beautician who was standing with others on Grand Avenue at an outdoor market in Hawthorne last August when a truck plowed into her. In Bergen, walking deaths peaked at 24 last year. Victims included Stephen Petruzzello, a 22-year-old Cliffside Park police officer who was run down crossing Walker Street two days after Christmas while on the job with his partner.
With Bergen now accounting for more pedestrian fatalities by far than any other county in the state, traffic cops in many of its 70 municipalities have begun digging into their files to find better ways to prevent such deaths.
APRIL 15, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015, 7:17 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Village officials have authorized the signing of a contract with an armored car service to provide transportation and counting services for coins collected by the village from parking meters.
With a resolution adopted earlier this month, Ridgewood entered into an agreement with Trenton-based Eastern Armored Services for the secure transport, counting and subsequent depositing of coinage from the Parking Utility.
The measure is another step to prevent theft in the wake of the $460,000 in coins that were stolen by former Public Works employee Thomas Rica between 2010 and 2013 and the subsequent 2015 audit, which posits that an additional $377,000 in coins had been swindled during that time.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said this agreement would relieve the village of its duty to count coins, handing off the job to an outside company, which would then deposit the collected coins in the bank.
Repeal Pfund’s Folly, i.e. Ordinance 3066 !!! In the very least repeal the Chapter § 190-143 ( here https://ecode360.com/6694062 ) that allow for applications to amend the Master Plan. Application to Village Council or Planning Board.Any interested party may request that an amendment or amendments be made to the Village Master Plan or development regulations. The request(s) shall be made to the Village Council and/or the Village Planning Board.
Ridgewood NJ, The Village has announced that starting Thursday, April 16th the new regulated hours for parking at the Cottage Place Lot will be from 10AM to 6PM; Monday through Saturday at a cost of .75 cents per hour. Payment for parking can be made using coins at the meter (nickels, dimes, quarters) or by purchasing a CBD Monthly Pass.
As in the past, the programs for RPP’s for Non Residents and Residents and the Monthly CBD Permits are still in effect.
The Parkmobile App will be available for use in all lots the week of May 4th.
APRIL 8, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
Vaughn Crenshaw
Pearl Restaurant, Ridgewood
When he was 13, Vaughn Crenshaw was living out of a car in the streets of Paterson. Today, the 29-year-old is executive chef at Pearl Restaurant in Ridgewood.
Crenshaw has an associate’s degree in culinary arts and a bachelor’s in food service management, both from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. He has cooked at the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, the Brick House Inn in Wyckoff, Jacksonville in Paterson, Mocha Bleu in Teaneck, and Fort Lee’s Khloe Bistrot before arriving at Pearl in January 2013.
The Hackensack resident also appeared on the Food Network show “Chopped” in 2012; he made it to the entrée round before he was “chopped.”
Here, he tells how he evaluates a restaurant, and the strangest customer request ever.
How I evaluate a restaurant: I evaluate them on a 1-10 scale that has to do with the greeting, the curb appeal and the setting in the dining room; that’s what’s going to tell me if I’m going into another typical old-world restaurant where there’s no lively, electric energy. I also evaluate it by the clientele — the clients become a reflection of ownership.
