I guess I’m in the minority, but buying Town Garage and building the parking garage makes perfect sense and I support the council on taking steps to improve the downtown area, finally taking a financially prudent approach to building a smaller parking garage and working to build up our town using a smart approach, not just sitting back and watching stores close and the town deteriorating. And I think they meant the lot would take 5 months of revenue collection to make up for lost property tax revenue, not the bond. Enough talking, enough procrastinating, it is time to get things done as a collective effort with an in depth parking plan. If we sit back and do nothing our property values will drop and Ridgewood will lose its character as a great downtown. It should also be noted the town would be buying property, something that is of value.
After all the money already spent on studies, surveys and plans for Hudson Street this is a waste of money to both purchase the lot and for cost involved in remediation. Not to mention patrons crossing the busy road, another opportunity for more pedestrian accidents. Very disappointed in the judgement of this council. You get what you pay for.
Yes Mayor, you are in the minority.
Buying Town Garage isn’t such a bad idea as long as it doesn’t become Son of Garagezilla. Pass on the Elks, sell Ridgewood Water, sell Shedler to Bergen County and let them save the house.
I do not understand the negativity here. The town should have bought all those properties. Do you want an enormous apartment building there? Remember the proposal to build assisted living with stores underneath?
So buy at any cost just to stop development 11:06 ?
Not “just” to stop it. An important factor. Revenue would be derived from parking.
I agree with post. Build a small garage and buy town garage. Disagree there’s only minority support for doing both. like the addition of parking in different parts of town business area.
Yes, totally agree with post – – that is where the garage should go – – much more central to a wider range of stores.
But, frankly, i don’t believe we need a parking garage at all – – just pave over that site and put in spaces.