Tag: HPC

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Readers Say Current Ridgewood Historic Preservation Committee is Very Lenient Compared to Past Committees

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The 5-6 parking spaces are being deleted because of the sidewalk? No, They are being removed because the new building deleted the old sidewalk.

Storeowners are behind the parking. The HPC member who is a storeowner and former Chamber of Commerce president should not be voting. It is a conflict of interest. Someone in a different post siggested that another HPC member owned the building next to the garage. Is that true and was he allowed to vote? It How do so many people with conflicts get on the HPC?

I did a renovation more than ten years ago needed a variance, the architect suggested that we get planning HPC approval even though we are not in a designated historic area. The HPC agonized about how the addition would fit in with our neighborhood of old homes.

The current committee is very lenient. They do not seem to care about the historic district and what the impact will be on the neighborhood. the garage overwhelms the neighborhood. I am shocked that the HPC cannot see this.

Mr Damiano, you had to use your real name. It would have been hard to defend your mailed-in decision if you posted anonymously. We would have figured it out. It does not matter that the reason that you gave in your letter was wrong, you were still voting yes.

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Tony Damiano of the Historical Preservation Committee Calls Posters Cowards

hudson parking garage ridgewood

photo by Saurabh Dani

Dear All,
I never comment on this blog, but I feel the need to clarify a couple of comments being made. I did not approve the plan because it fits on the lot. I approved the plan because this plan works from a design standpoint. To err is human. I was asked to write the letter to the HPC since I could not make the meeting. I made the mistake of saying the 4th plan fit the footprint. More importantly, the sidewalk is 10′ from the building to the curb. The 5-6 parking spaces that will be deleted, are being deleted to accommodate the 5′ extension of the sidewalk.
In defense of Mr. Parrillo, he simply stated that a liaison is not authorized to vote. In recollection, when I was president of the Chamber of Commerce, our liaison also was not permitted to vote. They simply were a conduit to the council.
Thank you…

Tony Damiano
P.S. Notice I signed my name, not like the cowards who make comments, mail distorted post cards, etc

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Historic Preservation Commission Meeting : Yet another example of the misinformation regarding the presentation of the Hudson Street Parking garage For Ridgewood

hudson parking garage ridgewood

photo by Saurabh Dani

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Last night I videotaped the Historic Preservation Commission meeting and the full recording of everything I shot can be viewed here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOCBptQJMcs

My camera angle had an obstructed point of view of the drawings presented, but they can be viewed here:

https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/p…/423-hudson-street-parking-deck

Last night was unfortunately yet another example of how our local government is conducting business. The misinformation regarding the presentation of this parking garage is in glaring view.

For such a massive project that is going to cost us millions of dollars, why can’t we get a proper view of how this proposed garage is really going to look? Why isn’t there a 3D rendering, both virtual as well as a physical model built of the garage as well as the other buildings, so that we can truly understand what is being proposed? Why is the proposed garage still not residing inside of the municipal lot footprint? Why does the “Plan D” proposal that the Village Council voted in favor of on January 27th now have only one lane of vehicular travel, when for that vote there were two driving lanes?

Lastly, the treatment of Councilwoman Knudsen by other members of our government as well as the architectural firm was beyond reproach. Her concerns were dismissed by Commissioner Parillo – as was her vote. This is not how we treat a Councilwoman or anyone for that matter.

Once again, we as residents are faced with difficult choices. Many of us want a garage, but this is not how to do it.

On March 23rd, the Village Council will be voting on this proposed garage as well as the high density housing issue. I strongly encourage you to mark your calendars for that evening and to share your concerns with our Village Council and members of the Historic Preservation Commission in the meantime.

There is so much that can be done with improving our wonderful village, but let’s do it right and with care.

Thanks for listening.

Dana Glazer
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So who does control the content on Village Website ?

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file photo by Boyd Loving

November 1,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , “So am I to infer from your email that you are the one in charge of what does and does not get posted on the VOR website; is this correct?  And, if so, is it within your purview to directly disregard the request of one of our elected officials regarding a posting on the VOR website?” Resident Anne LaGrange Loving .

This is a good question proposed by the Village manager , does she work for the town , the Bergen Democrats or does she work for the mayor? Can a Village Manager so openly disregard a request from a council person ? Whats the harm in pointed out an issue to the public?

Does this implies once again the Village government has no credibility with its residents ? Do people not understand after one fiasco after the other , the Village Hall, Valley Expansion, the golden toilets , firehouse in a flood zone , turf in a flood zone , traffic easement , Graydon ramp  and the hits just keep coming .

Until we get a little more truth in government these controversy’s will continue to hurt the village , the merchants  and the taxpayers .

 

Ridgewood News Letter: Be informed before you vote

October 30, 2015

THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

To the editor:

Last Friday, readers of this newspaper may have been surprised to read a letter to the editor (“HPC supports parking garage”) from the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission stating that the HPC had endorsed a plan for a Hudson Street parking garage. Their instincts were correct: it’s not true.

In the letter, Vincent Parrillo asserted that the HPC “supports approval of the parking garage and encourages all residents to vote ‘yes’ for the Nov. 3 referendum.” Not so; in fact, Mr. Parrillo introduced the Oct. 8 HPC meeting (not Oct. 15, as the letter stated) as a “courtesy review” of garage drawings, stating the HPC does not vote on such approvals. I was there as council liaison.

The architectural firm selected by the council to prepare drawings showed components of a proposed design to HPC members, who asked questions and made suggestions. The meeting was entirely informational. HPC members did not approve the garage. At no time did the Village HPC discuss approval.

The letter, on official letterhead, has since been posted on the Village website. It was also published by The Ridgewood News in print and online. It’s been highlighted in the mayor’s communications, signed and sent by him through his personal email account, pressing voters to approve the garage.

Obtaining voter approval is the only reason for next Tuesday’s nonbinding referendum. Voters should therefore consider the following.

The proposed garage would occupy the entire 100-by-300-foot corner of Hudson Street, becoming the largest building in the Central Business District. At 50 to 66 feet high, it would tower over adjacent 25-foot buildings, meeting or exceeding the height of proposed multifamily housing that has been publicly repudiated as out of place in our historic downtown.

All existing on-street parking on Hudson would be eliminated, as would some spaces on South Broad. Traffic patterns on Hudson and nearby roads would be reversed. The garage would be cantilevered over 300 feet of the Hudson Street sidewalk with an additional two feet extending over the street. An additional 300-plus vehicles will be added to the already congested intersection.

To subsidize the project, the Village would increase meter rates throughout town and extend meter hours to 9 p.m. where they now end at 6 p.m. If Parking Utility revenues fell short, Ridgewood taxpayers would be held responsible for the bond and be sole guarantors of the principal and interest.

Voting “yes” would mean: “We 26,000 residents agree to pay lots more for parking, $15 million for a garage plus likely cost overruns, and maintenance and repairs forever.”

Voters harboring doubts about the wisdom of this project should consider carefully how they vote on Nov. 3. This is not a vote “for parking” but a choice about the height and mass of the proposed structure and whether Ridgewood taxpayers accept responsibility for being sole guarantors of a $15 million bond.

Be informed and vote.

Councilwoman Susan Knudsen

Village of Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-be-informed-before-you-vote-1.1444805
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Controversy over Historic Preservation Commission Letter on Village Website Grows

parking garage cbd

October 23, 2015 

At its monthly meeting on October 15th, the Historic Preservation Commission met with representatives from Desman Associates regarding the proposed parking garage on Hudson Street and Broad Avenue. Many people realize Ridgewood’s need for such a facility as part of our infrastructure. 
However, the commissioners were, and remain, primarily concerned with the visual impact of this multi-story structure on the streetscape. For example, a strictly functional, concrete construction—such as the new parking garage in Hackensack—would not only present a modern, monolithic contrast to the small-scale, older-style buildings on those streets, but also would create a visual barrier from the opposite street sides. 
What is needed here is an architectural design that acts as a seam, harmoniously joining together the sides of both streets, and thus maintains the character of the district. Happily, one architectural design—the one we endorse—offers an excellent complement to the streetscape. Its brick façade, varied surface dimensions and upper sightlines; the streetlevel, arched pedestrian walkways; and corner tower combine to produce an edifice that works. It incorporates elements of what already exists in nearby buildings, thereby complementing what is there, while cleverly muting the reality that it is a parking garage. 
Also, the design team has agreed to return to an HPC meeting for its review of the final plans to enable us to ensure the compatibility of the garage with its neighborhood. 
Taking all of this into consideration, the Historic Preservation Commission supports approval of the parking garage and encourages all residents to vote “yes” for the November 3rd referendum. 
Vincent N. Parrillo, 
Chair Ridgewood Historic Preservation Commission

 

 

Dear Roberta,
Please immediately  remove the Historic Preservation Commission letter, dated 10/23/15, from the Village website. (reference: https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2015HPCPGLStatement.pdf)

The letter does not accurately reflect the Historic Preservation Commission meeting held on October 8, 2015.  Minutes and audio are available from Michael Cafarelli or I can send a direct link to access.

Thank you,
Susan

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Dear Susan,

As you know from the email we received today at 2:57 PM, Vince Parrillo stands by the letter and has affirmed through polling all of the HPC members today (one could not be reached) that they all agree that the letter truly reflects the HPC position.

Thanks, Roberta

Best regards,

Roberta

Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203

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The Ridgewood Council honored Wrubel with a proclamation that thanked him for his lengthy service as a member of the village’s Historic Preservation Commission

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The Ridgewood Council honored Wrubel with a proclamation that thanked him for his lengthy service as a member of the village’s Historic Preservation Commission

Ridgewood ‘gem’ lays foundation for the future

MAY 16, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER

To refer to Arthur Wrubel as a notable Ridgewood resident would be a vast understatement; after all, much of the village’s overall appearance today and in the future can and will be traced to his concepts and handy work.The Ridgewood Council honored Wrubel with a proclamation that thanked him for his lengthy service as a member of the village’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) while acknowledging his long list of architectural and planning projects here and throughout the world.

Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh said the village has “a gem” in Wrubel.

Walsh recalled her early years in elected office, when she served as the council liaison to the HPC, which was tasked with receiving and reviewing an array of applications for any exterior building changes. She recalled that Wrubel “would segue into the history of the property,” which Walsh said she found fascinating.

“I was the student listening to Art at those meetings,” she said. “I’m so happy I can call you a friend now.”

Councilman Tom Riche said he worked with Wrubel while serving on the HPC as the liaison from the Planning Board. During that time, Riche observed Wrubel’s “historical knowledge and love for preserving architecture,” characteristics that “served as the inspiration for the group.”

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/village-gem-lays-foundation-for-future-1.1017569