The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , during Wednesday nights council meeting councilman Evan Weitz smugly chimed in on the virtues of the Village “Engineer” Chris Rutishauser , claiming he had toured the Schedler House and was not impressed. Funny , but wasn’t the Village “Engineer” Chris Rutishauser in charge of the Shedler project ?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Schedler neighbors rally around efforts to preserve their neighborhood :
Continue reading Schedler Neighbors in Ridgewood Rally Around Efforts to Preserve their Neighborhood
Do you really think it is worth saving? Very little of it is original. Each add-on is either up a step or down a step. I know Isabella has told me that an historic house does not have to be handicapped accessible. If that is true, maybe it is savable but at what cost? And for what use? To restore it for the idea of restoring it is really of no use to anyone. And no one has ever seen that famous “Shedler bald eagle.” The property does have an occasional turkey buzzard, does it qualify for special treatment? If the town does put a smaller ball field and a park, it will have to put up barriers on the highway. That would be the only way they could safely use the field or park
I am really happy that the wooded area will stay but what is the legitimate historical significance of the house? Why not level it and let nature take its course (with some additional native plantings to help mother nature along)…1030 obviously hasn’t seen eagles scavenging on the property (not nesting as some people have claimed) or the turkey vultures having their sunday afternoon carrion brunch… those were impressive sights in themselves…. Once again, preservation of the woodlands is wonderful but I think money can be better spent than on renovating that house.
file photo by Boyd Loving
The attached terms posted are a proposal by the residents living in the vicinity of the Schedler property. These terms are a result of many meetings and discussions among the Schedler neighbors over the last 6 weeks. We have worked hard as a group to prepare this document which we believe considers the needs not just of the Schedler neighbors, but of the entire Ridgewood community. The terms demonstrate a park that we envision will significantly reduce the amount of trees to be removed, decrease the cost of the development and maintenance required of the proposed larger field and draw our fellow Ridgewood residents to visit and enjoy the east side of the Village. Charlie Nowinski
Outline of Proposed Terms for the Development of the Schedler Property
In order to provide the Village with much needed passive park and recreational space, the field shall be no larger than 60’.
Any design will include a sound wall to block out the sound of the highway for the entire length of the property. In addition, to a sound wall near the highway, the park will include a berm on West Saddle River Road to block off the sound and view of the park. The berm shall include several rows of regularly maintained evergreens in order to provide the neighborhood with a “green shield”.
All demolition, including removal of trees (downed, diseased or otherwise) will not occur until completion of a development plan and budget approved by the Village Council. Demolition shall occur in conjunction with the overall project in order to avoid a gap between demolition and construction.
The plan and design of the park will be developed by an independent civil engineer and landscape architect specializing in park design with input from representatives of the neighborhood and the Village.
The development plan and budget will be based off of independent, comprehensive studies which would include:
Addressing the issues already identified by environmental and wildlife impact studies
The noise study to be conducted on the property and the surrounding area
A third party traffic and safety study on West Saddle River Road and the surrounding side streets as recommended by the council committee. The traffic and safety study will include a determination of an adequate parking lot, as well as a review of potential ingress and egress into the parking lot from Rt. 17. In addition, the traffic and safety study will include a determination of appropriate parking restrictions on West Saddle River Road and, if practical, the surrounding streets off West Saddle River Road
Prohibition on the inclusion of (1) lights, both permanent and portable as required by the conservation easement, (2) a public address announcement system and (3) a concession stand.
The hours of the park will be from dawn to dusk.
Installation of police monitoring system to monitor any criminal activity.
Preserve the Schedler house by moving forward with registering the house with the historical society. The house will be used to benefit the entire community by, for example, providing meeting space for different community groups and providing restrooms for the park participants.
photos by Boyd Loving
November 8,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, News 12 showed up at Schedler but Sadly the News12 report where residents spoke was removed. It was replaced with Mayor’s statement, which happens to be untrue. Property bought with $2million of taxpayers money was promised to a baseball group without public notification. The Historic house is owned by the Village. Mr. Mayor: why does the public have to save a house owned by the Village? Destruction by abandonment? The roof needs repairs, you’ve ignored it 7 years ago. Transparency: Tell the whole story! The facts would tell a very different tale
Schedler Site Development Study – 460 W. Saddle River Road
Below are the Site Development Plans prepared by the Ridgewood Engineering Department.
Click Here for Part 1A
Click Here for part 2B
Click Here for Part 3 C, D, E
Schedler Park
Below are the Site Development Plans prepared by the Ridgewood Engineering Department.
Click Here for Part 1A
Click Here for part 2B
Click Here for Part 3 C, D, E
Maps – Revisions
Schedler Map Rev 8 – October 7, 2015
Info
Click Here for the Schedler Park and House Grant Timeline – as reported by the Village Manager at the September 16, 2015 Village Council Public Meeting.
Wednesday, August 12th the Village Council discussed the use of the Schedler property. They voted on the following resolutions:
Click Here for Schedler Property Resolution including House
Click Here for Resolution to apply for Schedler House Grant
August 6,2015
Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood NJ, During what could only be described as one of the most bizarre Village Council meetings I’ve attended in quite some time, Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck publicly accused the “Friends of the Schedler House” organization of turning down a $45k donation from an unnamed individual.
However, according to an officer of “Friends of the Schedler House,” no $45k donation was ever offered by the “unnamed individual.” What did happen was during a recent meeting between members of the organization and selected Village officials, Councilwoman Hauck merely suggested that a particular individual might be willing to donate the sum.
As you might expect, even though she was publicly corrected, Councilwoman Hauck offered no public apology for her erroneous accusation.
UPDATE: Village Council predicted to vote 3-2 on 8/12 to demolish Schedler House to facilitate construction of a 90 foot baseball field with concession stand.
Despite voting in support of spending up to $500k in “preliminary costs” for the design of a parking garage with a currently unknown shape, size, and final cost, Aronsohn and Hauck object to spending $45k to save the Schedler House. Pucciarelli is on his honeymoon, so he wasn’t there to make a fool of himself too.
So there you have it folks. The Three Stooges will have one of the most historic buildings in Northwest Bergen County demolished just to secure the Sports Council votes next year.
Landscaper helps clean Schedler house
OCTOBER 31, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Landscaper helps Schedler house
To the Editor:
One of our most community-spirited landscapers, Mike Tarleton of TLC Landscaping, spent many hours with a full crew to clear away the debris and trim the trees at the neglected Zabriskie-Schedler House last week. The house was covered with dying and overgrown shrubs and tree limbs that needed knowledgeable care. After almost two years of asking our village and thus overworked parks department, and worried about the decay of the house with winter coming on, we asked Mike for help. This was the only way to get the job done.
The Zabriskie-Shcedler house on West Saddle River Road is worth preserving. To let it decay from neglect is not worthy of our town or its leaders. We want to publicly thank the crew of TLC.
Ellie Gruber
Ridgewood
https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-landscaper-helps-clean-schedler-house-1.1123465
Ridgewood replaces tarp covering roof of Schedler house
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2014, 4:18 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The house on the former Schedler property has stood for nearly 200 years, but several Ridgewood preservationists believe this season’s snow and ice storms have put the building’s structural integrity at risk. And adding to the dilemma, those residents have claimed, is the fact that the village, for a few weeks this winter, was unable to effectively care for the home because of Mother Nature.
Acting Village Manager Heather Mailander, however, notified the public during Wednesday night’s council meeting that a new protective tarpaulin was finally placed atop the historic house on Tuesday. She also personally thanked members of Ridgewood’s signal and fire departments for their efforts, which required employees to physically work on top of the roof and assistance from a ladder truck.
The work completed this week seemingly calmed what had been a winter of worry for many residents in the Schedler neighborhood who are hoping to preserve the house. On Wednesday, Mailander said she spoke with some of the neighbors, who expressed their gratitude to the village.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/247624521_Ridgewood_replaces_tarp_covering_roof_of_Schedler_house.html#sthash.pbBxf6nF.dpuf
Unsecured tarp will damage Schedler House
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2014, 10:57 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Unsecured tarp will damage Schedler House
by Ellie Gruber
To the editor:I am very disappointed in the failed promise, at a public hearing, that the tarp would be reinforced on the roof of Schedler House, at the latest, Jan. 21. The tarp is leaking in one section and will cause rot to the otherwise sturdy house as water gets inside the beams. Reasons given for the repeated delays were height of the house, need to get a fire department vehicle with a longer ladder and danger due to ice and snow.I certainly understand that no employee should be placed in a dangerous situation. The employees of Ridgewood work very hard and deserve every protection. Any fault lies squarely on the shoulders of our ineffective council. If they acted when they were asked, repeatedly, during late summer and early fall, this would be a non-issue. When the council finally acted, winter was upon us.
When The Ridgewood News reported that the tarp was secured (“Neighbors join talk on property,” Feb. 7, page A1), the newspaper also took the word given.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/246539471_Letter__Unsecured_tarp_will_damage_Schedler_House.html#sthash.ODUeq8yo.dpuf
