I disagree that parking is not a problem. There are 2 issues really:
1) Public perception–Restaurants and businesses are hurt by the perception that there is not enough parking. It is not that people do not find a spot, it is the unknown and the frustration of driving around looking for one. People do take business elsewhere simply because it can take 5-10 minutes to find a spot in Ridgewood. For instance, if I need to run to a drug store around 8pm on a Saturday, I do not try to find parking at Rite Aide I head to CVS in Fair Lawn or GR.
2) At about 8pm on Saturday night it is hard to find parking, even far away. There is no “bail out” lot where you can reliably find a spot and just walk a bit further. The lots on Broad and on Chestnut are usually full at that time as are the spots around VanNess. In those instances, it can be very frustrating to find a spot.
The proposed solutions help relieve the “frustration” factor because there would be a “bail out.” You look for a spot, can’t find one and then can valet or whatever. That change in perception could make all the difference for many people.
I’ve never seen the Cottage Place lot full at 8PM on a Saturday night. Maybe there are no spaces available right next to the street, but there are always spaces in the back by Feeney and the dance studio, or next to the BOE. So I don’t understand why you would not patronize Rite Aid on a Saturday night.
Totally agree; I have never had a problem parking, maybe not within 5 feet of the store, which seems to be a big problem with many. If they can’t park in front of the store, it appears to be a “problem”. Last Sat. busy busy time with restaurants, but still we found a space, not exactly next to the restaurant.
The store employees, in many cases, and I have observed feeding meters, still park in front of the stores.
If we had a garage, people would still want to be next to the store, and not walk even two extra blocks.
Someone said last night that the fact we have a parking problem is an indication our downtown is busy!
I think I disagree with #1 there. Friday and Saturday evenings the lots are packed with people going to dinner in town. Which is a good thing for business I suppose. I do think we should have added a reasonable looking parking deck in the lot next to Ben & Jerry’s long ago, but any additional parking would be good for the local business people. Also, we should do away with the parking meters altogether just to be consistent with Glen Rock and other towns. Some village worker might steal the coins anyway (oh wait, that already happened)
Parking is unquestionably a problem.
I’m #1 and all I wrote was that there are always plenty of empty parking spots in the Cottage Place lot on Saturday night. Parking closer to Chestnut Street is more difficult, but that could be mitigated if the Village were to partner with owners of underutilzed lots (e.g., Brogan, Columbia Bank, 106 Prospect Street, Methodist Church, etc.).
So for Friday and Saturday evening we should bond million of dollars at taxpayers expense. When these three leave office we will be stuck with paying for years to come. Just to satisfy their political ambition and most of all their egos. They will probably want a plaque on the parking with there names on it to satisfy their egos.
The main thing to remember is that adding hundreds of residents to our tiny, fully packed downtown would not in any way affect traffic or parking, because none of them would have cars (or children).
Can’t they come up with better lies? Or tell the truth: “We’re developers. We make money, piles of it, by developing properties that should be left alone, adding incrementally and catastrophically to overbuilding in your fair state. What can we do for you, greedy. selfish bureaucrats who can make this happen for us?”
“Parking is unquestionably a problem”
A good rule of thumb is to discount (if not totally ignore) anyone making absolute statements of unequivocal truth about an issue based on limited personal experience and opinion.
yea o k . well then how come I can not find parking on a thursday night. are you high.
It looks to me that some of our residents and dinner goers could use a little exercise. Walking to and from the restaurants could do some people good.
FYI, here are the current parking rates in Montclair:
https://www.montclairnjusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=843:new-parking-rates&catid=197:newsarticles&Itemid=497
Parking is a “problem” because everyone goes out to dinner.
Solutions such as valet parking, while helpful, really only help other restruant’s business by opening up space for the dinner crowd. If all resturants had valets, or a parking garage was built, then there would be spaces on the streets, but they would remain empty since there are no other stores (except for coffee and desert places) open after the dinner hour – what good are parking spaces when all of the stores are closed?
aren’t we picky #7
(obviously that is my opinion)
so here is my clarification for you = in my opinion parking is a problem and I also think most people I speak to in Ridgewood agree. Furthermore, I do not think there are always plenty of parking spaces in the Cottage place lot. I do agree that it could be mitigated if it was possible to use the underutilized lots (e.g., Brogan, Columbia Bank, 106 Prospect Street, Methodist Church, etc.). But I don’t know how realistic that is or if it is possible. All in all, I think the small business owners in town would benefit if parking was easier and more convenient and it makes me sad to see so many businesses fail and so many stores in town empty.
Yes #12 it make me sad also to see so many stores empty but let not blame it all on parking. How the failing economy. Bad business plan . Internet sales and greed of the landlords. Yes some of the same landlords that want more building. We the residents pay the majority of property taxes not the landlords. Its funny you see many stores empty but not many building for sale. Why is that?
it’s a big problem, if some one can not find parking, they say screw it go to some other town.
yes so true # 14 , it’s a very big problem and the top dog’s know.