The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, A2 Enterprises is proposing to redevelop the corner property, of 697 Paramus Road and 143 W. Ridgewood Avenue which is currently a garden center that has occupied the space for ages into a 3,500-square-foot bank and drive-thru, and a 14,255-square-foot CVS drugstore and drive-thru.
Continue reading Redevelopment Planned of Paramus Road Garden Center
answer to who are the developers …..
“Bruce,
Father and Son have the same name, your link is not for the homeowner but for the son.
If you researched or had lived here for more than 5 years, you would know that the Bloods are an outstanding family who have given so much to Ridgewood and its residents over that last 40+ years.
You won’t find their names plastered on buildings, instead they have helped individuals in quiet ways, often providing for individuals whose own families would no longer help them.
Continue reading Reader Calls Out the Reality of High Property Taxes in Ridgewood
Parking 31 %
Unelected Special Interests 6.9 %
Urbanization 11 %
Taxes 33.1 %
CBD 2 %
Development 7.3 %
Cost of Living 8.7 %
September 16,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the long running Ridgewood blog poll gave us an interesting take on what residents feel are the biggest issues in the Village . As expected taxes garnered 33.1 % of the vote , trailed by a close second Parking with 31% .Urbanization came in a distant 3rd with 11% followed by cost of living 8.7% , surprisingly development at 7.3% ,unelected special interests 6.9% and last the Central Business District (CBD) with a mere 2%. The CBD number may be more of a parking issue and a cost of living or Urbanization issue but despite all the hub bub from certain sectors ,no one seems to think its an issue .
While our crack staff concluded that even if you combined Urbanization and development it still only came in with 18.3% , which was still a distant 3rd . Adding unelected special interests ie developers and out side political interference that would still leave it in 3rd place with a 25.2%.The conclusion being that most residents do not object to development but perhaps its the size and scale that seem to raise the ire .
Taxes as expected is the number one issue in town and in New Jersey and its also the number one reason for people leaving the state , the assumption being residents vote with their feet and see no evidence that taxes will even stabilize anytime soon. Feeding the say yes to everything because your moving out on graduation day and most likely meaning that all the “Age Friendly” Ridgewood stuff is just a complete waste of time.
We don’t think the polls told us anything different that we expected , but given all the talk from local officials about trees, ball fields , schools , the CBD, quality of life issues , most readers seem ready to park their cars in a new state as soon as soon as the graduation pronouncement is made.
August 30,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Waldwick NJ, Wanamaker Avenue, a middle-class neighborhood that according to residents has recently become infested with rats. After finding them all over their property some Waldwick residents say rats are taking over their neighborhood.
According to neighbors the first signs of the rats was in the spring, since then, the issue has begun to tailspin, with more and more neighbors reporting sightings of the animals, both dead and alive. Some have even set traps.
Residents claim the sudden invasion started with nearby construction of Waldwick Station a Russo Development and Terminal Construction Corporation project that began building an 111-unit apartment complex on Zazzetti Street, along the NJ Transit rail, last summer .
James M. O’Neill , NorthJerseyPublished 1:42 p.m. ET May 8, 2017 | Updated 18 hours ago
Residents in parts of New Jersey use tens of millions of gallons more water a day than their watersheds can safely supply – and other areas of the state could soon be in similar stress according to a state report.
Demand in much of Salem and Cumberland counties outstrips local supply by 70 million gallons a day. In Atlantic County, the deficit is 25 million gallons daily.
Well our town desperately needs a Master Plan of what it wants to be in the next 10, 20 years and how we will get there. Where will the open space be? how does multi-family housing intersect with garage parking and maintaining a safe “walking village”? What streets could have more parking quickly and cheaply (tree streets) and why don’t we try it first? More parking at a garage is one solution but until you lay out where everything will be it is foolish to throw in one monster garage and think problem solved.
The stores in Ridgewood that have a compelling business proposition do great and even expand: Rita’s, Hot Jewelry Box, Fox’s, Alex and Ani, Learning Express are a few examples. If you are a me too store, a la the GAP or Gymboree I can find you in the mall. There are a few business I will go to if I can find a spot out front (Dunkin, nail salons etc) but if there is not a close spot, I will visit Midland Park as it is just as close to my house. I will not park in the garage for those businesses. On a special Saturday night out in town, I can park by NY sports on the street for free or drive farther from the restaurants and always parking. I am of the opinion that the garage will not be that impactful for businesses, more so for commuters. If the businesses really had a push NOW for their employees to park elsewhere (graydon in winter, school in summer) and did some sort of COC busing for them that might help the store front parking.
Now a business such as Roots failing because of parking is NOT OUR PROBLEM. While it is a beautiful space, it is way too large and the owners were mistaken to think the client base in Ridgewood is the same as Summit. And I really hope the new council gets rid of that gift of a zillion spots to valet outside…Why doesn’t every business – regardless of what type of business – get the same valet treatment? Would be much more fair to have the small commuter lot set up as a valet depot for all businesses…could even add a second level on Hudson or Cottage for that purpose and be done with it. Again, if we had proper planning not patchwork planning.
file photo of “Jim” McGreevey’s Xanadu
Rutherford industrial tract getting 2 hotels, 500 apartments, retail space
OCTOBER 7, 2014, 7:26 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2014, 10:46 PM
BY LINDA MOSS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
North Jersey’s Meadowlands, once home mainly to warehouses and industrial sites, will be getting a new mixed-use redevelopment with two hotels, 500 apartments and retail space in Rutherford.
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission has approved amendments that Lincoln Equities Group LLC sought to the roughly decade-old redevelopment plan for its Highland Cross project.
Lincoln Equities is ready to proceed with the project, set for 26 acres near the intersection of Routes 17 and 3, said Joel Bergstein, president of the East Rutherford-based real estate firm. The property, a former “brownfield” site, fronts on Veterans Boulevard and is behind the Meadows office complex on Route 17.
Construction is likely to start in about 18 months, Bergstein said.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/rutherford-industrial-tract-getting-2-hotels-500-apartments-retail-space-1.1104204#sthash.utuenaVg.dpuf
file photo by Boyd Loving
Mayor Aronsohn Pushes a Development Agenda in Latest Mayor’s Corner
Ridgewood Mayor’s Corner: Setting up for September
September 5, 2014 Last updated: Friday, September 5, 2014, 9:45 AM
Welcome to the September edition of the Mayor’s Corner – my monthly Ridgewood News column that seeks to make village government more accessible, more transparent, more user-friendly.
Council agenda: The council will meet two more times this month – Sept. 10 and 17. On the agenda will be downtown parking, public holiday displays, Planning Board-related issues and a host of other important topics.
All of our meetings are open to the public. Residents are encouraged to attend and participate. Please visit our website – ridgewoodnj.net – for more information or to watch the meetings online.
Parking, Parking, Parking: If there is one issue that most of us agree on, it is the need for more parking spaces in the Central Business District (CBD).
With the busiest train station on NJ Transit’s “Main Line” – over 1,500 passengers per day – and with one of the busiest downtowns in all of New Jersey, Ridgewood’s need for additional parking spaces has probably never been greater. For that reason, the council has been exploring and implementing changes to our parking situation … and there is much more to come.
With respect to short-term fixes, we recently adopted two ordinances that should increase the number of available parking spots during the day and evening hours. First, we made “surface parking” a primary use in the C Zone, thus allowing more cars to park daily in places like the former Ken Smith lot. Second, we made valet parking a reality, thus providing relief for many restaurant customers as well as those who will benefit from more on-street parking at night.
Neighbors in Ho-Ho-Kus join Schedler property discussion in Ridgewood
Tuesday February 11, 2014, 10:27 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Ridgewood Council has yet to resume public discussions on the future of the Schedler property, but a handful of residents continue to keep the topic fresh on the governing body’s mind.
Council members last rang in on the potential development of the site in December, when members of the Ridgewood Eastside Development organization presented a series of facts and findings.
Jane Shinozuka, who lives on Ridgewood’s east side, was the most recent resident to broach the topic, when she suggested last week that development might result in a spike in crime. Others, during a January council meeting, stressed the importance of basic winter maintenance to the historic house that currently stands on the 7-acre tract of land sandwiched between Route 17 north and West Saddle River Road.
Planning Board Special Public Meeting – February 4 at RHS Student Center
Special Public Meeting: Tuesday, February 4, 2014
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014, in the RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CENTER, 627 E. RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning at 8:00 p.m.
The Board may take official action during this Special Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Land Use Plan Element of the Master Plan which would recommend changes in zone district classifications and boundaries within the Central Business District and surrounding area including AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts. The Board anticipates that the order of presentation to the extent known as of this date will consist of the following:
a) Commencement of expert testimony – professional planning (direct and cross examination of planners on behalf of any interested party – opportunity to ask questions after the conclusion of each witness’ testimony)
b) Announcement of next hearing date and other Planning Board business per the agenda.
The proposed master plan amendment and related exhibits are at the office of the Secretary of the Ridgewood Planning Board on the third floor of Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey and are available for public inspection Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The amendment and exhibits are also posted as a courtesy on the Village’s website at www.ridgewoodnj.net.
All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
Ridgewood planning board hears engineer on Valley Hospital expansion
Thursday January 30, 2014, 8:01 AM
BY BARBARA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD – There were no surprises Wednesday night at a hearing for The Valley Hospitals plan to expand to nearly 1 million square feet. An engineer hired by the Planning Board told residents that there are no impediments to allowing the project to go forward.
Several of the audience members said they had been expecting M. Golam Kabir, from Converse Consultants in Whippany, to agree with testimony already presented by Valleys experts. Theyve been told for nearly a year that excavating 170,000 cubic yards of soil and rock and pulling out up to 300,000 gallons of water per day wont cause lasting damage to the neighborhood surrounding the hospital.
“Based on the review of the documents, it did not disclose any geotechnical impediments that could preclude the proposed construction,” Kabir said in his report to the board.
His testimony concurred with information presented by Valleys engineer, Moustafa Gouda, director of Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Services at Maser Consulting in Red Bank.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/Ridgewood_planning_board_hears_engineer_on_Valley_Hospital_expansion.html#sthash.ZYzAYzi8.dpuf
Reader worries about Valley Over Expansion
Valley has their existing building in Ridgewood where they are planning their “Renewel.” They own the 128,000 sq ft building in Paramus mentioned in the article. They just payed $28ish Million for the “Duck Pond” building on E. Ridgewood Ave, they own the entire strip on Maple Ave which consists of the old Ford dealership down to the Corset Shop. They have also allegedly purchased the Ken Smith site in downtown Ridgewood which is why the developer pulled the development plans.
Ever wonder why your health care costs continue to rise? Nice to be a non-profit with no competition huh? Can just raise prices and raise prices and raise prices. Tough to negotiate prices when your life is on the line. Not much leverage when you are gasping for air.
Planning Board Special Public Meeting – January 29 & 30, 2014 – GW Middle School
PLANNING BOARD
AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
Special Public Meetings: January 29, 2014 and January 30, 2014
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled special public meetings for WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 and THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014 in the GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 155 WASHINGTON PLACE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The Board may take official action during this Work and Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the Public Hearing on the Proposed H-Hospital Zone Amendment to the Master Plan.
All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
Reader : The notion that the 500-1,000 new residents would live in their little downtown ghetto and never venture out in a car is ridiculous
The notion that the 500-1,000 new residents would live in their little downtown ghetto and never venture out in a car is ridiculous. The notion that we need to cram more people into less breathing space is beyond stupid.
And the underlying notion that you need to change zoning laws to save the downtown is completely misplaced. A downtown exists to serve the surrounding community — not the other way around. Why are people espousing this idea that to “save” the downtown we need to put the rest of the town at risk?? Let market forces work and the downtown will stabilize. But, that’s not going to happen as long as people buy into the propaganda that we need to cram more people into town in order to help the downtown property owners. Let them lower their rents. Let them improve their properties. Let them change uses within the existing master plan to meet changing needs. Why should the rest of the town bailout the downtown property owners at our expense? Why should we fund or guarantee their profits??
Developers bought downtown properties hoping to make a profit. And now they are trying to convince the uninformed and the ignorant that somehow world peace will be achieved if only they are able to change existing laws and cram more people into the downtown.
Resistance to change harming village
Friday, January 24, 2014
The Ridgewood News
Resistance to change harming village
Tracey Highfill
To the editor:
In my entire life I have never sided with developers, going so far as having a one-person painting exhibit deploring the loss of open space. However, the housing proposals on the table are different. They are not cutting down shady, wooded lots or digging up beautiful hay fields; the apartments replace uninspired, underutilized parcels of ugliness with much needed alternative living options.
When you live in town, you walk around. Increased foot traffic is good for business. Decreased car traffic is good for pedestrians.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/241770341_Letter__Resistance_to_change_harming_village.html#sthash.vlJ4NT9P.dpuf