Tag: CBD

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Chestnut Street Parking Lot Goes Parkmobile App

123park3

May 1,2015
Chestnut Street Parking Lot – Changes May 11th

Ridgewood NJ, Starting May 11th the Multi-space meter in the Chestnut Street Parking Lot will be deactivated. The new method of payment for up to 3 hours of parking at .50 cents per hour will be by phone using the Parkmobile App.

The display of the Ridgewood Parking Pass (RPP) will enable users to park from 6AM to 2AM without any further payment.

Parkmobile provides a new and better way to pay for parking using your cell phone. With Parkmobile’s mobile app, starting your parking transaction takes just a few seconds. If you’re driving a different car than the one you registered, you can quickly change the license number and activate your parking session. You can “opt-in” to receive one text message reminder 15 minutes prior to your parking expiring.

We provide secure online access to your parking data so you can track your parking expenses, change your account settings or print a report. You can also easily export information for expense reimbursements.

You’ll find Parkmobile in private and public parking lots, on city streets, at airports, stadiums and just about anywhere you park. Millions of people have signed up. Registering with us is free and you’re under no obligation to use Parkmobile. It takes less than two minutes to join.

Parkmobile takes the stress out of parking. No more searching for coins. No worries about a dysfunctional parking meter. We offer flexible solutions designed to make your day a little easier.

You can register multiple vehicles to one cell phone number and multiple cell phones may be registered to one vehicle. Find out more about Parkmobile by visiting our website.

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Independent Bookstore Day goes national May 2

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By Ron Charles April 30

A brutal recession can change the economic landscape, but not always in the way people assumed it would. Six years ago, independent bookstores seemed destined to follow travel agents into the remainder bin. In 2009, the American Booksellers Association dipped down to 1,401 members. Borders shuttered hundreds of stores across the country, and Barnes & Noble started to teeter. If those big guys couldn’t survive, the conventional wisdom went, what chance did Mom & Pop Bookseller have?

It turns out, better than most of us expected. Despite the nation’s lackluster recovery, the number of indie bookstores has increased by more than a 25 percent since those dark days of 2009.

What accounts for this burst of literary entrepreneurialism?

Instead of heralding the industry’s doom, the death of Borders may have helped clear away competition. Other observers point to new interest in farmers markets and all things local. And maybe, like the prospect of hanging, the possibility of bankruptcy concentrated the minds of bookstore owners and inspired them to smarter, more creative merchandising.

However we got to this happy state, it’s worth celebrating, which is exactly the point of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, May 2. This new nationwide holiday stems from a program started last year by California indie bookstores. Now, more than 400 stores from Alaska to Maine are preparing for a full day of programs, entertainment and food to highlight their value.

But couldn’t you get everything online? No.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/04/30/independent-bookstore-day-goes-national-may-2/

BOOKENDS 
East Ridgewood Avenue Center, 211 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
(201) 445-0726

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Many questions still unanswered regarding Ridgewood downtown housing

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MAY 1, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Print

Many downtown housing questions still unanswered

To the Editor:

Having attended virtually all the Planning Board meetings on the proposed high-density housing master plan amendment for the past several years, and being as directly involved in the process as a concerned resident can be, I am left with one overarching question: Why? This notion of “Why?” relates to so many questions in this process that have yet to be answered, but need to be for the Planning Board, mayor and council to make the real right decision for the residents of Ridgewood. Here are some variants of “Why?” as related to this bizarre master plan amendment process:

Why did the original amendment contain the massive density number of 50 apartments per acre requested by the developers, when our current zoning only calls for 12 and the village average is 18-22?

Why hasn’t the board or the planner ever explained why 50 units per acre was used (except to note that it was requested by the developers and puzzlingly, as suggested by one board member, is necessary to incentivize the developers to build and profit)?

Why, as with so many important changes to Ridgewood, was the public not fully informed and educated in a proactive, openly invited manner and asked for opinion at the outset of the process years ago?

Why has the Planning Board failed to conduct and provide its residents with a comprehensive and necessary master plan review – that looks at all village-wide planning needs and impacts – prior to implementing such a monumental change to our village (and is actually required to be performed in 2016 anyway)?

Why do some members of the Planning Board appear to believe that the board’s and the village planner’s reactionary reviews of data provided by the developers constitute a thorough and responsible review?

Why are the opinions of so-called “experts,” hired by developers to sell the board on the benefits of this overwhelming change, given more respect than those of concerned residents, who will forever have to live with these changes?

Why is the Village Council separately looking at an additional large-scale assisted living complex development on the corner of Franklin and Walnut, without openly and clearly combining the master planning review with the high-density housing?

Why was the most recent amendment revision not provided to the public at last week’s Planning Board meeting, along with the revised zoning map?

Why does the Village Planner believe that the newly proposed density of 30-35 units per acre is now the correct number across the board, in all areas of the Central Business District?

Why can’t we go with what we know works in Ridgewood, 18-24 units per acre, which is still double the current zoning allowance?

Why isn’t the board more concerned with potential impacts on schools, parking, open space and village services?

Why can’t we keep Ridgewood as a village?

As a resident of Ridgewood who truly loves this town, I look forward to real answers to these “Why’s?”

David Slomin

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-to-the-editor-many-questions-still-unanswered-regarding-ridgewood-downtown-housing-1.1323121

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Citizens for a Better Ridgewood group responds to master plan amendment

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MAY 1, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Stop planning for profit

To the Editor:

Ridgewood is facing significant zoning changes that will forever change the character of our village. An amendment to the master plan that would significantly increase permitted housing density in downtown Ridgewood seems imminent. Public hearings have continued for more than two years, and more than 100 residents have gone on record to advocate for a cautious approach and to express concern about the size, scale and density of the proposed housing developments.

However, it was obvious at the last meeting on April 21 that the Planning Board is proceeding without any regard to public opinion and is tailoring our master plan to suit the needs of the developers. We expected Village Planner Blais Brancheau to come to the meeting with answers to questions and options for moving forward. Instead, Mr. Brancheau sat with his back to the residents, provided no handouts or visuals to help the public follow along and presented a revised amendment that appears to be a gift to the developers.

The revised amendment once again offers a “one size fits all” approach to housing that defies principles of sound planning and haphazardly groups parcels of land together in order to push through high-density housing. Mr. Brancheau has yet to provide any analysis or evidence as to why we need to increase the density from the 18 to 24 units per acre average that currently exists in our downtown. As far as we can see, the new amendment increases the number of units allowed per acre to 30 to 35 (still almost tripling what is currently permitted), realigns the zones (combining the Ken Smith property with the Sealfons building) and removes three properties on Chestnut Street from consideration as a means to cap development.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn said that the revised amendment “strikes that balance between everything we have been talking about.” There is something very wrong with this picture. The amendment is looking more and more like spot zoning and our Planning Board is forging ahead.

Why must density be the same for every zone? What exactly are the unique qualities of a property that would warrant residential versus commercial use? Why combine two very different properties? Why remove properties from consideration? Where is the guarantee that other property owners in town won’t argue for these same zoning benefits? Who is driving this process?

It is unconscionable that residents who deserve responsible planning have spent over $100,000 in legal representation and still have no voice in the process. Ridgewood deserves the best solution, and we are hoping wise minds prevail. We urge the Planning Board to please stop planning for profit and start planning for the people.

Please join us at the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5 at Village Hall as we seek answers to the many questions regarding the changes to the amendment.

Carol Bicknese

Amy Bourque

Jennifer DiTommaso

Lori Weil

Trustees, Citizens for a Better Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-to-the-editor-ridgewood-grassroots-group-responds-to-master-plan-amendment-1.1323134

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Applicant seeks approval to modify bank in Ridgewood

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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.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/modified-bank-proposed-1.1323113

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Haute Middle Eastern Cuisine Arrives in New Jersey

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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.

https://forward.com/food/307041/middle-eastern-flavor-arrives-in-new-jersey/

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Ridgewood planner proposes zoning, density changes to master plan amendment

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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.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-planner-proposes-density-decrease-1.1319562

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As home construction recovers, town houses pop up

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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.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/town-homes-rise-in-north-jersey-1.1319095

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Vote nears on Ridgewood housing

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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.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/vote-nears-on-ridgewood-housing-1.1319042

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Alex and Ani Launch Party 10- 8pm Today

alexandAni_theridgewoodblog

Alex and Ani Launch Party – April 25

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

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Emmy Winning Blind Broadcaster, Ed Lucas and Columnist, Bill Pennington talk Baseball at Bookends

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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

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Readers Concerned over Planning Board Members Connection to Commercial Development

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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.”

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Baseball’s Jim Kaat at Bookends Tonight 7:00pm

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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

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Reader says if any members of the Planning Board are afraid of the developers, then they have no place on the Board

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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.

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N.J. pedestrian deaths rise , but the Village Seems a Safer Place to Walk

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file photo Boyd Loving

April 21,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Road Warrior Reported in 2014  reported safer on the road but deadlier on foot

https://www.northjersey.com/news/road-warrior-2014-safer-on-the-road-but-deadlier-on-foot-1.1191509?page=all

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.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/pedestrian-deaths-rise-police-look-for-reasons-1.1313666