I grew up in Ridgewood during the 40s, 50s, and early 60s. Ridgewood is an entirely different town now. I feel sad about the changes. When my generation passes on, no one will be left who remembers what it was like. Some of the comments replying to this post clearly reflect what Ridgewood has become.
I think that entire part of the country has been ruined both by developers and by the ever expanding levels of government required to manage the tangled mess they create and leave behind.. There is no going back to the standards and values of a bygone era. My Dad used to say we lived there at the last good time. From what I have seen firsthand and from what I have read on this blog, I think he was right.
Those who can do so are leaving New Jersey; it is not hard to see why. It is The Garden State no more.
Sadly, I agree with this comment and I go back even further than you – the celery farms in Paramus – the best soil anyone could wish for now covered with pavement.
So very true do you remember Midland having you from Paramus Road right to the hospital the father you can see celery from squar and Farms oh my God it was beautiful. Now look story of the store the same shit. What a mess Paramus became one big melting pot there a building on all the swamps By the cemeteries. Someone’s really getting paid off holy shit Batman.
Work hard,keep your mouth shut, save your money and get out of NJ as soon as you can…
Socialism = Destruction..
Its settled science.
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Ridgewood is no longer a Village – its a City
2:34 you are only partially correct. Ridgewood is becoming a total disaster and will soon join NJ state in receiving very low credit reports. All of this stuff bonded at one time will create bills that Ridgewood will be totally unable to pay. unfortunately, this council seems to think that they will be leaving a beautiful legacy behind, when all they will leave is a bankrupt city with absolutely no means to pay for all their money hungry Wants, definitely NOT necessities.! A wedding category staircase? who is going to use it? Etc Etc
Watching all the changes in Ridgewood makes me wonder about the idea of Peak Prosperity …. the theory that something becomes so big and so expensive it becomes unmanageable and unaffordable. Are we watching an example of this unfold before our eyes?
I see pictures of houses and neighborhoods I knew as a child. The houses are unrecognizable because they have been ‘expanded’. The property taxes on these homes have been expanded as well, ultimately driving the owners away. It seems that enough is never enough when nouveau riche values become the norm.
When we think about what is now considered vintage Ridgewood, people were content with less yet seemed to have a better quality of life .. at least that is my impression. The heart and soul of the town seems to be shrinking and dying. The same can be said of similar towns in the northeast. The energy and economy of the town is being fueled by banks and restaurants, expanding houses, expensive parking for more cars, vertical housing developments in the form of apartments (both low and high income which will generate more taxes), and of course, we can’t forget Valley Hospital which would have become a city itself if permitted to continue building and building, expanding and building, bringing thousands of cars into Ridgewood daily. Good luck. I’m glad I can watch from afar while remembering what was once a great place to live.
The entire county is changing and not for the better. Walk through Bergen Center Mall on any given night to see the cross section of people populating the region, one step shy of any third world country. Trying to find someone speaking English has become an Olympic sport. OHhh Santa at Garden State Plaza, come back, please.