Novemeber 1,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj , So the big vote is tomorrow and where as cynics would suggest residents will have the option to once again agree or disagree with a proposed project that will be jammed down their throats whether they like it or not . Not buying it ,take one look at Schedler Field ah Park or what every you call it .
A historic land slide loss for the RBSA backed candidate in the last Village Council election ,who’s sole purpose was to put a “turf field in every pot” has resulted in a you guessed a turf field for Schedler Field . So much for the electorate has spoken .
We decided to actually speak with some people in the Central Business District who actually make a living from their business in Ridgewood .
Several reminded us of promises past . That promise was that all the parking meter money would be used solely for the purpose of building a Village Parking facility . Yes this promise was made to justify the installation of parking meters in the Central Business District way back in the late 1960’s, yes we said 1960’s. Little did anyone know that change would leave the building mysteriously in 50 pound bags unnoticed by anyone . Too many old timers , the garage has been paid for over and over.
The next issue many brought up was and we have seen this with our own eyes , that the metered spaces are all ready filled before 10 am . Funny but not many businesses are open that early . Some merchants felt that spaces are taken by commuters, CBD employees and now the valet parking people . The valet parking is thought to provide parking for a select few while most merchants and their customers are left fighting over the few remaining spaces. The merchants we spoke with all felt the garage would go along way to alleviating those issues. Maybe the valet parking , or commuter parking can concentrate in the garage while shoppers use street parking.
Another old issue that popped up was the so called $13 summons lawsuit that lost the CBD over 90 spaces, that my friends is a tale for another time .
Merchants on Oak Street complained about the the multiple valet parking issues leaving their customers with no place to go but to out of town locations. While others felt the rents due to taxes and fees ,triple net leases , left little wiggle room and the loss of a couple of sales a month would be the difference making it or closing up when the lease expires.
Yes most would agree there would be more traffic , but again take that up with the “traffic easing specialist ” in Village hall .There are just too many choke points in the Downtown already but if you want a vital and unique business district you need traffic .
Most didn’t mind the extension of metered parking hours giving dinners a chance to share in costs while merchants feel their customers are currently subsidizing the whole, but extended hours does not mean anyone was a fan of higher parking fees .
We asked many about cost over runs , and the answer was vintage entrepreneur; create a community over site board of all those who oppose the garage idea and have then audit the construction process and make sure the quarters end up in the right hands .
Many of the merchants clearly understood the public’s reluctance to finance the garage and said the Village had lost all credibility since the Village Hall fiasco , pursuing one foolish folly after another and not being up front with taxpayers . We all know there is going to be more traffic , stop the lying and lets prepare for it. We all know Ridgewood water is woefully un prepared stop lying and lets fix it . We all know if we build in the CBD more kids will attend the schools stop the denials and lets deal with it . We all know Valley needs to update, time for a realistic plan not fantasy monstrosities. Leave tito’s alone , focus on building the business downtown not wrecking it. We got the feeling like most of the regular readers for this blog ,that some vision and leadership is sorely needed.
While we could not help feel a sense of doom hanging over the downtown , it seems for too long the Village has taken the CBD for granted and the Chamber of Commerce has played footsie with the Village council . New Jersey is not exactly a business friendly environment, so the Village needs to decide whether it wants a unique vital down town or not . The parking garage is not a panacea but in combination with proper vision and a little planning the downtown could play a significant roll in the Villages future.