The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photos courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the long-awaited demolition of the abandoned Town Garage on Franklin Avenue is officially underway, marking a significant milestone for the Village’s revitalization efforts. Village Manager Keith Kazmark announced the commencement of the demolition process, which aims to transform the property from an eyesore into an opportunity for redevelopment.
the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Keith Kazmark recently announced that demolition of the former Town Garage structure will take place within the next 2 to 3 weeks. The contractor involved in the project is now applying for demolition permits, which will be expedited by the Village’s Building Department. Portions of the Walnut Street municipal parking lot will be unavailable once demolition begins. More to follow from the Village Manager.
Continue reading Any Day Now: Demolition of Former Town Garage Structure in Ridgewood
photo courtesy of Village Manager Keith Kazmark
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the long-standing issue of the abandoned Town Garage on Franklin Avenue is finally seeing progress, as the Village prepares to clean up and redevelop the property. Village Manager Keith Kazmark previously emphasized the importance of the Village buying the property, saying, “The issue has lingered for many years. In the next month or so, this eyesore will be removed from Franklin Avenue, and the property will be well on its way to being remediated.”
file photo
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, on Wednesday, September 11th, the Ridgewood Village Council reached a final resolution in the long-standing eminent domain litigation concerning the Town Garage property at 120 Franklin Avenue. Village Manager Keith Kazmark confirmed that the council approved a form of final consent judgment, bringing years of negotiations and legal battles to a close. With this agreement, the Village officially takes ownership of the property.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in August 2021, the Ridgewood Village Council unveiled a proposal during a Public Work Session to acquire the former Town Garage property on Franklin Avenue via eminent domain. The council’s vision was to transform this site, located near South Walnut Street, into a pocket park—a green space for community enjoyment rather than a parking lot.
Continue reading Ridgewood Village’s New Park: A Troubling Tale of Eminent Domain and Unmet Promises
Continue reading Done Deal – Village of Ridgewood is new owner of former Town Garage Property
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, looks like the Village of Ridgewood is starting condemnation proceedings against the owner of former Town Garage property at 120 Franklin Avenue .
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
VILLAGE COUNCIL
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
AUGUST 11, 2021
8:00 P.M.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
STERLING FOREST NJ, according to a recent obituary Richard “Rick” M. Agnello, Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on 11/6/2018. Born in Paterson and raised in Glen Rock, Rick is a graduate of Glen Rock HS. Upon graduating, he served in the National Guard. Rick owned and operated Town Garage in Ridgewood with his father and brother. Rick had an immense passion for spending time with family/friends, music, cars, motorcycles, boats and spending time at Cape Cod and Greenwood Lake. Rick is survived by his loving children, Keri (Brendan), Eric (Angela), and Craig (Judi). He adored his two grandsons,Ash and Liam.
Continue reading Former Owner of the Town Garage in Ridgewood has Passed Away
The Franklin Street “Village Garage” lot was publicly targeted by the Village Council for condemnation as “blighted” as part of a redevelopment plan. The Village would rely on the decision in Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005), a case decided by the U. S. Supreme Court involving the use of eminent domain to transfer land from one private owner to another private owner to further economic development. Construction of a municipal parking garage would then follow. $15 million in bond money was raised for that purpose, but when Village residents objected to the heavy-handed use of the eminent domain power, the plan was dropped and the money spent on other priorities. The current owners bought the property at that time at a relatively low price expecting to make a tidy profit in the near future. Obviously that didn’t exactly pan out for them.
Drove past the Town Garage with more boarded up broken windows.; realized it’s a sign of a town in decline , Put a Witch and a Ghost placard on it and it’s ready for Halloween fifty two weeks a year,
We care and are all concerned about the focus on Valet and other Parking issues while the roads and abandoned structures continue to go to Seed.
Current owners have to pay for remediation – can’t stick the taxpayers with that tab! Why should the village pay for their speculation? Fine them for not keeping it properly maintained in the meantime! It is quite an eyesore.
The Village would presumably be stuck with 100% of the remediation costs if it decided to obtain the property at a depressed price by formally declaring the area “blighted” and invoking its power of eminent domain. On the other hand, the Village could just make a free market offer with a lowball number that takes into account the anticipated costs of remediation. One wonders, however, if the current owners would be motivated to sell in that circumstance. More likely, they would take such an offer as an invitation to negotiate. In that event the Village would need to have a (closely guarded secret) topmost number in mind and be ready to threaten to walk, and then actually walk away from the deal, Trump-style, if (when) the current owners get too greedy.
I cannot believe that Ridgewood would buy that property without remediation by the present owners. They rushed in to buy it before Ridgewood could finalize their decision to buy. They knew they would make a large profit on it as they knew Ridgewood would eventually buy it from them. They knew massive amounts of remediation were necessary but bought it anyway. If we let them get by with that–and the names of the purchasers should show very familiar names–they have succeeded in proving that Ridgewood can be suckered as they originally believed. Wake up Council! Make them clean it up, or reduce the price by the cost of cleaning. That would probably leave them in the hole on the purchase. The buyers knew what they were doing. Does Ridgewood?
