Clean up and re- stripe and pave the current lots; get rid of valet parking using spots that residents want to use –let their employees drive further, not potential customers of competing businesses; make property owners repair their property (the Town Garage was hurriedly bought by speculators who had heard the village wanted it for a garage. They bought it to flip it quickly at a huge profit, not to maintain it. If the village won’t buy at their price, they plan to leave it an eyesore until the Village caves at the ugliness and finally buys it.) Last of all, do the repairs on the current lots first (while banning valet parking from using them) and see if we really need a garage more than a few nights a week. If we do, I doubt it, make the owners of these stores and restaurants pay at least half and sign the mortgage. If they need it so badly, they can help pay for it. If the builders of all these new condos need the parking to make their locations legal, let them join with the other owners to build a garage. Ridgewood residents don’t owe those owners anything and certainly not a garage built for their convenience.
Ridgewood NJ, As previously reported by the staff of The Ridgewood Blog ; Earlier this year, the Village’s CFO, Robert G. Rooney, became aware that a portion of the Village’s Parking Utility revenues associated with use of the Parkmobile smart phone application at Village owned and operated parking facilities (said to be 21 cents of every 1 dollar), were being withheld from the Village by Parkmobile USA, Inc.
Upon further investigation, Mr. Rooney determined that a 2-year contract, with an option for a 2 year renewal, signed by former Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld entitled Parkmobile USA, Inc. to retain this revenue. The total amount of Parking Utility revenue withheld from the Village by Parkmobile USA, Inc. since the contract’s inception is reported to be over $200K.
Following discussions with Mr. Rooney and Village Manager Heather Mailander, Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen requested a review of all Village Council meeting minutes and Village Council approved Resolutions associated with discussions and approval of the Village’s relationship with Parkmobile USA, Inc.
During the aforementioned review process, it was determined that at no time had a public discussion taken place concerning any monetary obligations on the Village’s part in connection with integration of Parkmobile USA, Inc.’s smart phone application into the Village’s Parking Utility system.
Furthermore, Resolution #15-52, approved unanimously by Village Council members on February 11, 2015 specifically states: “. . . there is no additional service or contract fee for the Village of Ridgewood; and WHEREAS, Parkmobile USA , Inc. will provide this service at no cost to the Village of Ridgewood, and shall not charge the Village of Ridgewood any costs for the integration of its system(s) or for the management of the project and services;.”
At a public meeting of the Village Council held on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, Village Council members directed Village Manager Heather Mailander to formally notify Parkmobile USA, Inc. that the Village would not be renewing its contract with them.
The staff of The Ridgewood Blog will keep you informed of any further developments in this matter as related information is made public.
Ridgewod NJ, at last nights council meet the Village of Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen revealed that the previous council never authorized payments to Parkmobile USA above the .35 cent user paid convenience fee .
The Village of Ridgewood now pays Parkmobile 21% of each parking transaction that involves the use of the Parkmobile APP . This was the direct result of a contract signed by an unnamed Village official .
Ridgewood NJ, In addition to the revenue drain associated with commissions being paid out by the Village’s Parking Utility to Parkmobile USA, the introduction of the mobile parking payment app has resulted in the hiring of additional Parking Enforcement Officers. This because none of Ridgewood’s police officers have been issued, or trained on, the software that is now required to issue parking tickets at any locations within the Village where Parkmobile is accepted for payment.
This may be a great way to make money (or even “to fund a garage”), but it does not address the reality that Ridgewood DOES NOT NEED A GARAGE, especially this particular garage in this particular location.
Also, it would seem that this solution (while great for private investments) involves Ridgewood selling public property to private individuals.
Besides, if this is so lucrative, why doesn’t the village just retain ownership and rent out the spaces long term (daily, monthly, annually) like they do art the train station rather than the current garage plan to rent out the spaces short term (hourly parking fees)?
Finally, IF the rationale is that Ridgewood needs a three story parking structure due to unmet demand for parking spaces (an untrue premise, but we will assume it is true for this exercise) then this condo/privatized parking plan totally fails to meet its objectives.
This plan would reduce the number of parking spaces by a) building the condominiums in part of the area previously dedicated to parking spaces and b) giving the remaining parking spaces to the condominium owners which they will likely use at a high percentage thus removing them from public availability and allowing individuals to set rates which will result in price uncertainty and inconsistency of available parking.
As an investment model it has certain merits, as a vehicle to address (the imaginary) need for additional parking, it is a failure.
Ridgewood NJ, So here’s a possible solution brought to our attention by a regular reader ;to funding the proposed parking garage in Ridgewood. Ridgewood Real-estate agents pay careful attention .Construct the garage either partially or entirely as a condominium. That is, offer the parking spaces for sale to individuals, businesses, and/or investors. Those who choose not to use the space(s) they purchased can rent them out.
As investors, Buying individual parking spaces is a little known but extremely appealing real estate play for small investors like Ms. Jones. The obvious selling points are comparatively low prices, steady income, next to no maintenance, and wear and tear limited to the odd oil stain on the cement. Moreover, a growing number of parking apps is making it easier to rent out these spaces on a yearly, monthly, daily and even hourly basis https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/realestate/parking-spaces-that-could-make-you-rich.html
The spaces could be rented like airbnb , no noisy neighbors to worry about . SpotHero, an app that helps car owners locate spaces in the United States and Canada, lists mostly excess vacancies in hotel garages. But Larry Kiss, a founder of the company, said he has noticed more independent listers offering spaces on the site, whether it’s an extra space in their home garage or driveway or a space they have purchased. Another app listing an increasing number of one-off parking spaces, as well as storage space, is Spacer. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/realestate/parking-spaces-that-could-make-you-rich.html
we have to be careful though , Parking investors do face an uncertain future, though. If more people start driving electric cars, spaces without charging stations will be less desirable. Ride hailing apps and self-driving car services could also dampen demand.https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/realestate/parking-spaces-that-could-make-you-rich.html .
I live in a neighboring town and often come to Ridgewood for dinner and shopping. The parking is always a problem but we never really mind walking a little further to get to the restaurant or store we are going to as it gives us a chance to window shop and smell the variety of foods being prepared so we can pick the next restaurant we try. I do not mind feeding a meter, but I am annoyed and offended that some of the more expensive restaurants are taking up public street parking for their Valet service. Must I eat at Roots ? Why not save some prime spots for Wild Ginger? Now I hear the town is implementing a large scale valet service for a fee. I personally like walking up and down Ridgewood Avenue. For me, the draw of your town is to have that open air experience which increases your appetite before you dine and helps you digest the sweet dessert you just consumed. Never mind that walking is GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH! I foresee Valet drivers rushing back and forth to park cars which poses its own danger. I think street and other public parking should be readily available for all those who intend on spending their hard earned money in your town.
Re: “How is it that Glen Rock has free on-street parking and free parking for 3 hours in the shoppers’ parking lot, while Ridgewood now wants to increase the price of parking yet again?”
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Because Glen Rock is a great town.
If the rates go up, no one will come. Since I can’t park near a business I want to go to, I’m sure not going to pay $1.00 an hour extra for a cup of coffee. The Daily Treat will be among the first ones to suffer. That free parking for customers lot will soon be out lawed. Since the VC seems to be surprised by how much they have to pay so that Ridgewood customers can pay extra to park, what boondoggles will they not be prepared for next? Since they seem to expect that all the new housing will make a profit for the town, maybe that is all we should turn to for raising money? (of course that assumes that water will suddenly leap out of the ground, people will only want to walk so no traffic lights or changes, etc. etc.) Has anyone actually asked any business owner if they would be willing to pay an extra $5.00 per table to earn money at their site? The village just assumes they will be eager to provide free parking so more people will come. Their budgets are squeezed as tightly as they can be, and that’s a big chunk of ever reducing profits. maybe a crystal ball would be more accurate!
We are repeating history. Having the meters in service later into the evening did not work before and would not work now. As has been pointed out over and over, restaurant owners themselves–and whom else are we supposedly doing all this for?–said that customers were complaining. The end time of the meters once again dropped to 6 PM, where it should stay. (This applies also to the Short Line lot on Route 17, where parking to go into the city for the day costs enough already, and a 12-hour meter limit might not even be long enough to cover someone going for the day and evening.) Raising parking meter fees and increasing hours would just make people go elsewhere. Thus the claimed parking shortage might be mitigated by having nobody wish to go downtown. If that’s the goal, we seem to be heading for it.
Ridgewood NJ according to Village Chief Finance Officer Bob Rooney the Walker Report will suggest Ridgewood needs an increase in parking fees and extend parking hours to cover the cost of a down payment for a parking garage on Hudson Street .
The Ridgewood parking utility , if you are a real old timer you may remember the meters were originally installed to provide funding for a garage back in the late 1960’s .
At Wednesdays Village Council meeting the council heard Village Chief Finance Officer Bob Rooney offer some cold hard facts regarding alternative revenue sources to offset the expected $11 million bond, including a $550,000 down payment, needed to cover garage construction costs.
Increased parking rates come as no surprise for most residents , because since 2007 the Village has conceded that in order to build a garage. The Village last raise rates in 2015 at the urging of the defunct FAC or Financial Advisory Committee . The previous administration led by Mayor Aronsohn had parking rate increases as one of the cardinal feature of building their, “Garagezilla”.
According to Rooney ,the parking utility will only break even this year do to the excessive use of the parkmobile app with takes a 30 percent transaction fee on all transactions , fortunately the contract is up early next year in February and the Village will be bidding out looking for a far more satisfactory deal. The current deal was negotiated by the previous Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld . Since May 2015 the village has paid parkmobile $143,000 in fees.
Assuming a cost of 11,000,000 for the garage ,the Village would need $550,000 as a down payment .
Rooney also suggested that a financial feasibility study being done by Walker Parking Consultants is expected to advise higher meter rates and longer hours. Without that, Rooney warned, an increase in the utility budget ie a tax increase would be needed to finance the garage downpayment.
The new new Walker study is expected to advise meter rates of $1 per hour between Broad and Walnut streets downtown, and 75 cents elsewhere. Parking is now free after 6 p.m., but the study is expected to suggests pushing that 8 or 9 p.m.
Rooney also added that a new parking Kiosk will be in operation shortly before thanksgiving witch can except credit cards and while there are trans action fees they are far less than parkmobile .
The law of diminishing returns suggest that the Village maybe quickly nearing a tipping point with parking fees , where higher parking fees will cut into demand for parking in the Central Business District . The Village maybe betting that increased space for commuters and spill over parking from the four new high density projects in the Village will fill the parking spaces , but that once again leaves the merchants with no net gain .
Drove past the Town Garage with more boarded up broken windows.; realized it’s a sign of a town in decline , Put a Witch and a Ghost placard on it and it’s ready for Halloween fifty two weeks a year,
We care and are all concerned about the focus on Valet and other Parking issues while the roads and abandoned structures continue to go to Seed.
There is one set of parking spots that is always unfilled – unfortunately, those reliably empty spots are all in the designated employee parking section of the Cottage lot.
Walk by and look for yourself. Often the majority of the employee spots are empty. The Village needs to act on this, reducing the employee spots to more closely reflect actual usage by employees. A close examination will reveal that some of those spots are being used by non-employees willing to risk the ticket given the difficulty of finding parking spaces during certain times.
Is it possible that the Village has intentionally maintained the excess employee capacity for the purpose of increased revenue from tickets, since the income from a ticket for one spot greatly exceeds the income from quarters for parking in the same spot?
I now visit downtown Ridgewood less than any time in the past 25 years, based on the unreliable availability of parking. Glen Rock, Wyckoff, Waldwick, Washington Township and Ho-Ho-kus now receive more of my business even though I still live in Ridgewood. I suspect that I am not the only resident to decrease usage of the CBD based on parking issues. The planned addition of high density housing will not make that situation any better, to say the least.
In my 25 years in the Village, Ridgewood has wasted money on repeated studies on how to fix the parking situation without acting on the recommendations in any effective way.
Ridgewood’s CBD has long been a selling point for living in Ridgewood, but the attraction has been decreasing lately.
Parking is NEVER an issue. Gorgeous Saturday night. Just came from town. Restaurants are jumping. People eating in and eating out. Plenty of people strolling. And the Cottage lot is almost empty. Park and walk a couple of blocks folks. If Jerry could walk then so can you.
Ridgewood NJ, Jeff Voigt is spitting toxic nails from his mouth on Facebook, desperately sticking to his published LIES. There is NO GARAGE SUBCOMMITTEE, Jeff. None. Do you think if you state this lie enough times it will somehow become true? He claims that the Mayor is on the committee and one other council member. NOT TRUE, there is no subcommittee. He states that the mayor should step off the committee. How can she step off a committee that does not exist? In the person of Jeffrey Voigt have an elected official who lies openly, publicly, frequently and viciously. This is not what our Village deserves. This is not what people voted for when they were duped into thinking he was a straight shooter.
