file photo Boyd Loving
DECEMBER 4, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Council this week weighed in on a proposed parking garage to be built at the existing Hudson Street lot, and each member offered reasons why they supported one of the three options over the others.
Three members of the council supported option A, a notion that most of the public commenters agreed with, while the other two were in favor of option C.
Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck, who was in favor of the largest-sized and most-expensive option available (option A), explained that her decision was based upon three different factors: finances, aesthetics and intangibles.
“Economically, if you bought into the idea of the garage at all, option A is the one that makes sense; that provides the service that everyone has been clamoring for,” she said, noting that while the first two levels of the garage will cost $10 million to build, the next two will only cost a total of $2 million, allowing the village to save some money while meeting greater demand.
Hauck also explained that current interest rates are favorable, and that taking advantage of a 3 percent rate is the smart thing to do. A bigger garage, she said, means more rentable spots, which will allow the town to pay off the garage faster.
Addressing aesthetics, Hauck said she wanted the garage to be “an experience.”
“I think any substantial detailing that we can have to improve the look and strengthen it, we should have,” she said.
In terms of intangibles, Hauck explained that any large project involves a lot of risk, but that the risk is necessary for the reward.
https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/council-reviews-design-options-1.1467285
