Does The garage allows developers to count the parking spaces there as required parking for the new developments? Since we are screwed by former council approvals the only way to cover the added costs of these new units is to charge ongoing annual “impact fees” for every unit above the usual permitted density. If 50 units are built where 25 is the usual permissible then the additional should bee charged for each bedroom multiplied by the cost of annual student expenditure . So if It costs $20,000 per year per student in the BOE budget,, and a unit has 2 bedrooms,then an annual impact fee of $40,0000 plus assessed real estate taxes. So 25 extra units have 50 extra bedroom require $1,000,0000 annual fees to the village.
How does anyone that has half a brain think that we as Village tax payers should pay for a parking garage in order to prop up the various trinket stores or shops in this town? Online shopping is not going away and will only get bigger. The argument that we need a garage to accommodate shoppers is absolutely incredible. If shop owners in this town think that slumping sales are due to lack of parking near their stores and not due to Amazon and other related online outlets, they are in denial. We all need to come to the realization that the retail landscape is forever changed, by building a garage, we are not going to stop or slow the inevitable outcome. If stores have to close, as unfortunate as that is, it’s reality….hopefully, fixed costs such as rent going down etc will help alleviate the pain of slower sales, but don’t be fooled…there is less foot traffic for retail and it’s only getting worse. I’ve sat here and read all the arguments for a garage, all claiming that no ones coming to Ridgewood to shop because of lack of parking….really? Are we that gullible to believe that? Less people are coming to this village because they can sit at home, go online and get whatever they order in a day or two…FACT.
I watched this “show”.
The council seemed more focus on that dumb sycamore tree at Graydon that has no significance.
What an embarrassment watching the mayor talk about making available dainty bundles of twigs for those who miss the rotted tree.
Reader says , the Town should be sued for neglect of the Three Municipal surface Parking lots dangerous conditions in the commercial center of town. The trip and fall lawsuits must be stacking up in dark winters.
Add in the adjoining Town Garage privately owned and basically abandoned and you have an absolute mess of a town. A fire and other known hazards are there too. Used for Utility truck staging as if we were Paterson…
THESE ARE THE Facts. People riding through town are amazed as to how far we have fallen,
Sorry but I was in Glen Rock This morning .It was in fair to good shape on most fronts .Parking Lots fair to well maintained and Safe.
Ridgewood NJ, The RAI 38th Annual Regional Open Juried Show will only be on view one more week. Showcasing over 100 gorgeous pieces in a variety of mediums, it would be a shame to not see this beautiful show. As the Grand Finale of this event, we will be hosting an Oil Painting Demonstration Sunday, Feb.4th at 2PM by Gregory Mortenson. Please don’t miss this unique opportunity to observe the creative process at work. This free event is worthwhile to both artists and art enthusiasts, alike. All are welcome.
The Ridgewood Art Institute is a non profit organization providing the finest instruction in Classical Realism in a variety of mediums. Classes are offered on an open enrollment basis, and can be joined at anytime. Each student is taught in direct relation to their personal skill level. Our two unique north lit studios as well as our 3 galleries are just a part of what RAI offers. We also sponsor events and workshops throughout the year, that are of interest to artists and art enthusiasts alike.
Why wait? Come see why RAI has become a treasured haven to so many, for more than 70 years.
Oil Painting Demonstration by Gregory Mortenson at the Ridgewood Art institute Tomorrow at 2 PM – 4 PM Ridgewood Art Institute 12 E Glen Ave, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Ridgewood NJ, On Thursday, February 8, the Ridgewood High School Department of Fine and Applied Arts will present the third Maroon & White Music Recital and Art Exhibit for the 2017-18 school year. The third of five such events for this year, the concert will be held in the newly renovated RHS Learning Commons beginning at 3:45PM, followed immediately by a reception and gallery opening in the Carroll Art Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.
Ridgewood NJ, if you are new to the Ridgewood Public Library Sign up at https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/music-movies–tv to start streaming some of the finest films available. RPL card holders can choose from classic American cinema, international films, documentaries, Great Courses videos, and more. Films can be streamed from any computer, television, mobile device or platform by downloading the Kanopy app for iOS, Android, AppleTV, Chromecast or Roku. What will you watch first?
If we don’t get SOME form of parking garage, SOME housing on the vacant sites and help prop up the high street merchants you DO know what happens next, right? The main drag gets rezoned for mixed use, a la Bogota and Closter, and our commuter town (which it is, look at the town seal) has MORE rental units developed by OUTSIDERS and the usual mix of chain stores.. the combo of reasonable housing proposals and some form of business/commuter parking will give the town a boost. I think if the current housing proposals can be negotiated further, you get some desperately needed new blood in. And the tides lift everything up as well as down.
No one on the council was against A garage, they were against THE garage as originally planned. Many pro garage residents also turned against the first iteration, based on the size of the proposed structure. Now the issue is a higher cost and the cost of money is slowly rising. a hundred bucks per basis point increase per million soon adds up over the life of the financing bond. The deputy mayor presented plan b last year, which seemed palatable and fit in the footprint.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Public Library is hosting Reading Marathon Month at the Ridgewood Library . If you donate (even a dollar!) to the Friends of the Ridgewood Library, you could design your very own smiley face for our windows. Visit us at the library or online at www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/reading-marathon for more information.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a hit and run driver who struck a Ridgewood Police Officer on Van Emburgh Avenue at around 10:37 A.M. on Monday January 29th. The Ridgewood Police Officer was concluding a motor vehicle stop on Van Emburgh Avenue near the intersection of Cathleen Terrace (near the Washington Township Boarder), when a 2014 or newer dark colored Acura TLX sedan struck the officer causing minor injuries. The vehicle was traveling south on Van Emburgh Avenue and continued southbound toward East Glen Avenue after the collision. We are asking anyone with information to contact the Ridgewood Police Department at 201-670-5519 or email Detective Peter Youngberg at [email protected].
Ridgewood NJ, What happened in 1788? The US constitution was ratified, and this wonderful Sugar Maple was born. I brought an arborist to the site this morning, and we took measurements, used accepted norms, did some calculations, and turns out this tree is 229 years old! give or take a year at least. actually decades older than the house even. Might even be the oldest tree in Bergen County?
Ridgewood NJ, Because there have been a significant number of reported cases of the flu in the communities we serve, The Valley Hospital has chosen to restrict visitation at this time in order to protect our patients, staff and other visitors. The flu is easily and most often spread as a result of coughs, sneezes or simply talking.
Those who will not be allowed to visit include: Children under 14 and anyone who has signs of influenza (including fever, sore throat, cough and cold). Only immediate family members (over age 14) and clergy will be allowed to visit. Valley asks you please speak with your nurse if you have extenuating circumstances.
So let me get this straight. The Borough of Glen Rock sues the Village of Ridgewood over water rates and now the Village of Ridgewood is providing free fire protection services to the Borough of Glen Rock? Huh? Free fire protection services? Free as in paid for by taxpayers from the Village of Ridgewood?
Come on, people. Surely you’ve all heard of “Mutual Aid”? If it was one of our schools in danger, Glen Rock, and others, would be there. Hackensack is not our closest hospital but they have an ambulance standing by for “our” fireworks.
This goes above and beyond “mutual Aid.” It is regular daytime response to incidents at commercial/multi unit residential buildings.
Ridgewood taxpayers need to stay alert on this issue. Look what happened when Montclair made a deal to provide fire protection services to nearby Glen Ridge. Montclair’s taxpayers got screwed big time.
Ridgewood NJ, the Village received 4 proposals for the Hudson street garage project. At last Wednesdays council meeting Village Manager Heather Mailander made it clear that the Wednesday review was a quick once over with more in-depth review to follow.
Reader says , “Several months ago Councilman Hache publicly (during an open public meeting of the Village Council) voiced his strong opposition to the construction of any sized parking garage that would result in either increased parking fees, expanded metered parking hours (he cited both of the aforementioned as simply “another form of taxation), and/or an increased property tax burden for homeowners.
Now, all of a sudden, he’s Gung Ho on proceeding with the review of parking garage designs even prior to the financials being discussed. He went so far as to publicly chastise Mayor Knudsen for “stalling” when she suggested that financing arrangements should be discussed first.
WTF Ramon? What gives? Why the sudden about face?”
Many readers pointed out that Councilmen Ramon Hache seemed very focused on pushing the garage project forward for both design and financing . While we are not sure we would agree with that assessment .
The garage issue has be bandied about for the better part of 30 maybe 40 years although some would trace it back to the time when parking meters were first introduced to the Central Business District in Ridgewood making it more like 60 years .
Frankly we think the issues should be moved forward or finally put to rest once and for all .We now 4 proposals coupled with proposals for financing . Either the garage makes sense or it does not .
An anti garage reader summed it up , “Why are we still arguing every week about a garage we don’t need.It’s become the national pastime in Ridgewood. It’s been happening for over 20 years.At this rate it will happen for twenty more. We voted it down and it refuses to die.Politicians continue to ignore the voice of the people and make side deals with developers.There are much better uses of our tax dollars that can be made in our Village’s infrastructure.Is there anyone on the council with some real vision?”
