Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council has scheduled public hearings on five (5) ordinances which, if approved, would permit the development and construction of high density multi-family housing in Ridgewood’s Central Business District.
The Ordinance #’s are: 3489, 3490, 3491, 3492, and 3493. Full text of each ordinance is available via these links:
Take Notice: Removal of Change Machine at the Train Station
NOTICE : Effective September 21, 2015, this change machine will no longer be in operation. If coins are needed, please make other arrangements or use Park Mobile.
Ridgewood Chamber Board of Directors Meeting August 12, 2015 @ 8:00am – Chamber Office for more details call 201-445-2600 [email protected]
PARKING GARAGE –
We are so excited -88 years the Chamber has been working on getting a parking garage for the Village of Ridgewood.
We are hopeful that this will happen soon!
Thursday, August 20 at 8:30am-Chamber office
The Ridgewood Chamber now invites you to a
“call to action” meeting to put the facts on paper why this garage will not:
cost the residents more taxes,
why it will save their “downtown town”.
All businesses have a vested interest in
this parking garage.
Ridgewood NEEDS to bring the infrastructure of its business district up-to-date –
NOW IS THE TIME.
Ridgewood Parking Garage Facts
Yes No
Parking Garage Needed X
Developer Interest X
Land Study X
Zero Cost to tax payer X
Vote X
First “call to action” meeting…
Please call 201-445-2600,
if you are attending.
Price tag for Bergen County DPW facility grows by a Staggering $5 million
This has “Ridgewood parking garage” written all over it
AUGUST 5, 2015, 9:39 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015, 7:36 AM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The new Bergen County public works maintenance facility in Paramus will cost at least $5 million more to build than originally estimated, County Executive James Tedesco told the freeholders Wednesday.
The project, which had been estimated to cost $16 million, has cost $21 million thus far, Tedesco said.
He also said the project, scheduled to open on Oct. 1, is about seven months behind schedule from it’s originated projected completion date in March.
Related: Cost of Bergen County Justice Center expected to grow by $1.3M
Tedesco has been saying for months that the facility was “underfunded.” But Wednesday marked the first time he specified how much more money it would cost.
The DPW facility is part of a larger multi-project $147-million bond issue that also includes a new Justice Center and parking deck and another DPW garage in Hackensack. Taken together, the work is the largest public works project in the county’s history.
Tedesco said the Justice Center and parking garage are close to coming in on budget. The five-story parking garage is set to open later this summer and the adjacent six-story Justice Center is about six weeks behind schedule, he said. The Hackensack DPW garage is completed.
The Paramus DPW facility, though, has undergone several changes in the last seven months that have added to the cost of that project, he said. For example, one building at the site was designed as a cold-storage garage, to store vehicles without providing any heat. But to allow for diesel-powered vehicles to be stored there, the county has added electric heating blocks to thaw them out in winter, Tedesco said.
He said the original design also did not call for the concrete in the maintenance garage to be sealed with epoxy. That change has added to the expense and the time required to install it, he said.
DPW Director Raymond Dressler said another change was related to how the current administration, which took over in January, plans to use the building. Dressler said one garage bay is getting a lift capable of raising large trucks, so that the county can offer heavy-equipment maintenance as a shared service to municipalities and fire departments. He said plans call for at least two shifts daily to work out of the building, rather than just one, which required reconfiguring the space.
.Apps on phone are the most vulnerable to hackers. This is according recent to PBS newshour segment So why would I want a parking App and only make myself more vulnerable to hackers and also pay more for parking
What Roberta is not saying: Teaneck is contemplating going from free parking to metered parking with parking meters. If parking meters are becoming obsolete why would Teaneck be considering them.
The GREAT ALL KNOWING Roberta is either wrong about parking meters becoming obsolete or she is purposely not telling us the truth and pretending to us that they are becoming obsolete when in fact they are not. Witness all the towns across the U.S. that use them.
If Ridgewood is so great on community why can’t Roberta and town staff find someone honest to collect quarters. I don’t believe that honest people don’t exist, they do.
What doesn’t exist are smart managers who know how to hire honest people. Roberta, are you reading this?
the staff of the Ridgewood blogRidgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has spent the last couple of months talking to merchants, residents, readers, and insiders in order to get to get a full picture of the parking problems the Village faces. We boiled down the responses to the simplest terms.
Employee parking : At 930 am Chestnut street is full of parked cars , none of the stores are open so one can only assume employees are parking in all the spots,
Ken Smith Employee parking : Most feel $80 bucks a month seems a bit stiff for restaurant and retain workers .
Meter parking enforcement hours : Merchants felt their customers were paying for parking while restaurant guests were not . Some suggested longer meter hours , say till 9 pm with a reduction in parking rates as a way to better spread out the pain.
Valet Parking :Many merchants felt about all the Valet parking only added to the parking problems taking even more spots away from potential customers as well as the general disrespectful attitude or the employees or the Valet Parking companies.
Parking App: Many felt the over 55 set would be resistant , and almost everyone felt it eliminated the quick in and out shoppers by making parking to much work as well as the App made parking even more expensive.
Garage Location : While many merchants liked the idea of a garage they also voiced concerns about the location and the anticipated traffic tie ups when parkers enter and exit.
Garage : NJT Commuters from other towns would take the spots and add nothing to the local economy except more congestion.
Taxpayers : Almost everyone asked why aren’t developers , NJT, merchants and restaurants contributing to paying for parking , they are ones benefiting.
Parking fees : Many felt Ridgewood was pricing itself out ,with fees being to high .
Request for Proposals – Design of a Multi-level Traditional Self-Parking Structure – Hudson St.
Click Here for Proposal Document
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) will be received by the Village of Ridgewood, in the Level 5 Village Manager’s office, at the Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., prevailing time, then publicly opened and read aloud for:
“Request for Proposals
For
Professional Architectural/Engineering Services
For the
Design of a Multi-level Traditional Self-Parking Structure at the Hudson
Street Parking Lot, Lots 12 and 13, Block 3809”
The Village of Ridgewood is seeking proposals for professional architectural/engineering services to prepare plans and specifications for the construction of a multi-level traditional self-parking structure on the Hudson Street Parking Lot, a.k.a. Lots 12 and 13 of Block 3809 of the Village Tax Map.
The RFP package may be obtained from the Engineering Division Offices, Level 3, Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, (201) 670-5500, extension No. 238. Proposal packages may be examined or picked up in person between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, Monday through Friday. Prospective respondents requesting proposal documents be mailed to them shall be responsible for providing their own postage/delivery service remuneration. No proposal forms shall be given out after 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2015.
All prices quoted in the proposal must be net and exclusive of all Federal, State and Local Sales and Excise Taxes. Proposals may be submitted in person or by mail prior to the proposal opening, addressed to the Office of the Village Clerk. The Village assumes no responsibility for loss or non-delivery of any proposal sent to it prior to the date and time stated for receipt of proposals.
Each proposal must be enclosed in a sealed envelope with the name of the respondent thereon and endorsed,
“Request for Proposals
For
Professional Architectural/Engineering Services
For the
Design of a Multi-level Traditional Self-Parking Structure at the Hudson Street Parking Lot,
Lots 12 and 13, Block 3809”.
All respondents shall present satisfactory evidence of being authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey. All respondents shall also provide a copy of their New Jersey Business Registration Certificate with their proposal. All respondents shall adhere to the requirements presented in the “Request for Proposals”. The Village of Ridgewood reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any informality or to accept a proposal, which in its judgment best serves the interest of the Village.
” BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27). A complete statement as to these requirements is included in the Request for Proposals.
JULY 31, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Who will benefit from high-density housing plans?
To the Editor:
My family moved to Ridgewood in the early 1950s, living first on Lincoln Avenue then buying our family home in 1957. I was born here and went through the public schools, for which my father worked most of his adult life. So if anyone has seen “change” in this town, I have.
Some change has been for the better; for instance, the ethnic and racial mix is a bit more diverse. Some has not. While superficially we are more varied, with a wider range of skin tones and ancestry than in my youth, Ridgewood is increasingly homogenized economically. Growing up, I knew families from all socioeconomic levels. Now, blue-collar and other regular working folks — people who made things — are crowded out, and only investment bankers, hedge fund managers, and others who “make” only money dominate. With that comes a certain mindset, one which, to borrow Oscar Wilde’s quip, knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Of that group, some may have come for good schools or even because they like it here. Others may have moved here for the cachet of a “golden zip code” or snob appeal, or as a rung on the ladder toward someplace more exclusive, say Alpine or Short Hills, or with the hope of making some money in a town where housing values have held steady even in downturns, due to the precise thing that high-density housing would destroy, namely, Ridgewood’s small-town ambiance.
It’s no mystery why the advocates of high-density housing would want it: this being Ridgewood, it will be high-priced, and there will be lots of money to be made in the short run. Unfortunately, when Ridgewood loses the character that made it desirable in the first place and becomes just Fort Lee with a longer commute, values will drop; but by that time, they will have pocketed their profits and have no reason to care.
To discuss in detail all the reasons high-density housing is wrong for Ridgewood would expand this letter to un-publishable length. I will simply end by quoting two Latin maxims: “cui bono?” (Who benefits?) and “res ipsa loquitur” (the thing speaks for itself).
JULY 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015, 9:11 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Finding a parking spot at the Village Hall lot has been tough sledding lately for some visitors to the municipal complex.
The arrival of summer means that many outdoor events are taking place at Veterans Field. The added hustle and bustle, along with regular events at the Ridgewood Public Library and day-to-day business at Village Hall, often causes the 153-space main lot to be full at various points during both the day and evening.
Earlier this month, discussion began on how the auxiliary lots on Linwood Avenue, one of which is at the other end of Veterans Field, could be better utilized in handling the parking needs of patrons attending overlapping events.
For example, on the evening of Tuesday, July 7, there was a Warren Grim tribute concert at Kasschau Shell, a baseball game, a Planning Board meeting at Village Hall and the library was hosting its knitting group, Mahjongg group and bicycle club.
Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, who was present at the municipal complex that evening as a Planning Board member, characterized the parking situation as “dangerous.” She said some motorists were bottlenecking as they drove around waiting for a spot. Other cars were sitting idle while parallel to parking spaces, blocking in other cars.
Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli noted it was possible for a person to park in those spaces and then go anywhere in town, or perhaps even walk to the train station and travel to New York City. The only parking limits placed on the Village Hall lot is the presence of 36 yellow-striped spaces reserved for village employees, which expires at 4:30 p.m. each day. There are also 17 spaces reserved for staff members of the Ridgewood Library.
Currently, 89 spaces in the main lot and another 17 on North Maple Avenue are available for visitors to Village Hall and the Ridgewood Library.
PARKING GARAGE -We are so excited -the Parking Garage got the needed 4 Votes.
Thank you so much!
The Ridgewood Chamber now invites you to a”call to action” meeting to put the facts on paper why this garage will not:
cost the residents more taxes,why it will save their “downtown town”.All businesses have a vested interest in this parking garage.
Ridgewood NEEDS to bring the infrastructure of its business district up-to-date -NOW IS THE TIME.
This topic has been talked about for over 88 years -NOW IS THE TIME.
Ridgewood Parking Garage Facts
Yes No
Parking Garage Needed X
Developer Interest X
Land Study X
Zero Cost to tax payer X
Vote X
First “call to action” meeting…
Thursday, July 30, 2015 9am – Chamber office.
many more meetings to follow.
Please call 201-445-2600,
if you are attending.
3480 – Bond Ordinance – Pre-construction Funding for Hudson Street Parking Garage ($500,000)
Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council approved the $500K “preliminary” expense by a 4-1 vote with Knudsen being the only “no.”
Wording for the “bogus” non-binding referendum passed unanimously. Expect property taxes to jump as a result. There is no way in the world parking utility revenues will ever be able to completely pay off the principal and interest on a $15 million bond.
Ridgewood NJ, normally we do not publish theses comments , because they lack even the most rudimentary understanding of basic economics and are an attempt to lie and mislead the public, but from time to time we find it necessary to publish these types of comments to show how the powers that be attempt to manipulate
the local taxpayers.
“Ridgewood is being groomed for cash cow status by a handful of entrepreneurs who have invested in the old BoA building, the Old Post Office, Park West among others. They’ve spent a considerable amount of money to open establishments in the CBD, and now want to increase the foot traffic needed to make them profitable. Notice that Kidville has no parking? If the clientele is all based in CBD apartments, no parking will be needed.
I find it fascinating that the readers of this “Laissez-faire” blog have a problem with any of this. This is business at work, and the Master Plan is the only thing in the way. Or are we all NIMBY Libertarians here? Regulation is bad, unless it preserves something near and dear to our hearts? You can’t have it both ways.
Property values, especially those within walking distance of the CBD, will only go up as dining an recreation options multiply.
My only problems with the whole agenda is that it relies on New Jersey Transit’s deteriorating service to transport all the new residents to work in NYC. That, and the schools will suffer. I’m already making a backup plan for my daughter if the High School goes the way I think it will between now an when she is in 9th grade.”
This gave everyone and exceptional laugh .There is so much wrong with this comment showing the level of dishonesty that some are willing to go in an attempt to “get over”
first a definition :
lais·sez-faire ˌlesā ˈfer/ noun
a policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering. synonyms:noninterventionist, noninterventional, noninterfering; More
ECONOMICS abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market. “laissez-faire capitalism” synonyms:free enterprise, free trade, nonintervention, free-market capitalism,market forces “an agenda that embraces the concept of laissez-faire”
Humm no where in the definition of lais·sez-faire does it say taxpayers will finance , and bear the risk for ill conceived business ventures ,in exchange for campaign donations due to changes in existing laws making these ventures possible ie the change in the master plan .
Private enterprise works because it rewards and punishes risk takes .
What you have hear is better known as Crony Capitalism
Crony capitalism is a term describing an economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, or other forms of state interventionism.
Which the above comment carefully avoided saying and we corrected : “you missed the Hudson county democrat machine which our mayor represents and is here to milk this town for all its got , the only business people getting deals down town are those contributing”
Our suggestion for the above poster is to move back to Hoboken , its a far better fit for the kind of place you want to live .
For those looking to enlighten themselves on basic economic theory we recommend :
Economics in One Lesson: 50th Anniversary Edition Paperback – September 25, 2008
by Henry Hazlitt (Author), Steve Forbes (Foreword)
Village of Ridgewood Council Meeting Wednesday July 15, 2015- 7:30pm, Court Room The Village of Ridgewood Council will be voting for the future of a parking garage in Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce looks to rally the troops tonight to push through the parking garage readers say not so fast .
“Where will the shopper/diners/employees park during construction? A net loss of 80 spots at any given time for three years. Let me remind you $.50/hour per meter. 80 spaces x $.50/space = $40/hour. $40 x 12 hour day = $480/day. $480/day x 465 days x 3 years = $525,600 revenue loss during construction. About the same amount that could pay for the parking study commissioned by the 3 Horsemen of the Apocalypse.”
Skimmed the linked (Walker)report and my heart sank at the photos. This is not suitable. Walk down Hudson St. with a building sticking out over our heads? How is this appropriate? The noise, the traffic, the smells, people rushing around at rush hour–forget sitting on the sidewalk at Sook or Natalie’s, or probably even inside. Who wants to listen to/look at/smell that thing? The mayor and deputy mayor are so proud to be pushing for this? Burn in hell, guys.”
“How can we even consider something that costs this much money? We will never get it back in any way. Let NJ Transit and CBD building owners pay for it. The turf was bad enough.”
“Of course the wording is misleading. They have every intention of misleading the public on this. They are trying to shove this parking garage down our throats and they want to be able to say that we all approved it.”
“As sure as you’re born, a parking garage erected by Ridgewood’s village government will be co-opted for use by out-of-town commuters in accordance with the preferences of those seeking to dismantle New Jersey’s deeply ingrained “home rule” tradition and replace it with a new oligarchical style of regional government. Imagine a regional, multicounty board of overseers populated by Gwen Hauck-type cloned hand-puppets easily manipulated by namelesss, faceless third-party wealthy power brokers. That’s what many forward-thinking progressive statists see in their dreams. They don’t give a whit about mere business owners and their parking concerns…”
“My questions:
1. What happens if parking revenues fall short of expectations?
2. What is the proposed parking fee structure for the new garage?
These are very important questions and I will explain why. For the first one, the answer is pretty obvious. The Village taxpayers will be on the hook for it as the construction bond cannot be reneged on just because you hoped there would be enough revenue. The second one will absolutely dictate the success or failure of the entire project. Any fee structure that is more than street parking will completely disincentivize most people from using the garage. They will circle the blocks until a street space frees up, or they will go somewhere else to eat/shop. As I’ve stated before, this garage will represent the parking location of absolute last resort, and I predict it will be viewed in years to come as one of those “what were they thinking” buildings.”
From the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce :
PARKING GARAGE
We invite everyone to attend next weeks Village of Ridgewood Council Meeting
Wednesday July 15, 2015- 7:30pm, Court Room
The Village of Ridgewood Council will be voting for the future of a parking garage in Ridgewood…
we encourage everyone who knows that the future of Ridgewood’s business district depends on this very important vote- **needed are 4 yes’s from the Council members**
Please attend the meeting,voice your concerns at the public form and show your support for a parking garage. It’s been 88 years since Ridgewood’s needed a parking garage…NOW IS THE TIME! pu Save our “downtown”! see you there.
