file photo by Boyd Loving
the concept of a garage solving all our downtown problems was the narrow minded vision of those two buffoons Arohnson and Pucciarelli. They were totally out of touch with reality and where our society is heading.Unfortunately, their mantra of “we need a garage” caught hold of others. But, we don’t need a garage. We need downtown landlords and businesses that are willing to adapt to our foot print and the needs and wants of a citizenry that now lives in the 21st century. The so-called progressives who ran for council last time around on placards of “let’s build garages and blocks of apartments!” are simply out of touch with reality. Building a garage is not going to bring back Mayberry RFD nor is it going to turn us into Futureworld. Its only going to saddle us with an eyesore and make it harder to adapt to chaning circumstances and lifestyles while preserving our standard of living..
So, let’s preserve our Village and stand up to the developers and others who simply want to shake us down like an immmense piggy bank and watch our loose change fall into their pockets. Tell the council not to go forward with the garagemahal. Haven’t we already been saddled with enough unwanted building?
When is the Council vote and public discussion on the garagemahala? Or did it already take place?
Buffoons is putting it kindly. Kind of implies they were harmless clowns. Not at all. They were calculating, nasty evil leaders.
A garage is needed. I’m willing to accept that the size of such a facility is up to debate but in my opinion, as unpopular as it may be in this echo chamber, it is needed. It’s presence will not destroy the character of the town but will improve the quality our visits to downtown and the health of our businesses.There are plenty of other wealthier towns that have such a facility and their characters and/or home values have not be eviscerated.
As to the size of the proposed housing developments. I think there is room for good debate there as to whether the scope of the developments is appropriate for the downtown or whether they should have been allowed in the first place. I will say however that the empty lots that exist now are eyesores.
VAn Emburgh – – can you give examples of towns with garages that have not suffered – – e.g., towns with a similarly small downtown and a proposed garage to be stuck on a lot the size of the Hudson street lot and in such a densly populate portion of the downtown and with the same traffic and road logistics??
Also, the housing is no longer a debate – – the Arohsnon / Pucciarlelli projects are about to be built, so there will be hundreds of more cars coming to our downtown.
Yes, Summit, Englewood, Montclair , Westfield and Madison..
724 – – google map those towns. The downtowns of each of those towns are much, much larger than ridgewood. Ridgewood’s downtown footprint is much smaller. And, those towns have not shoved a garage into a space similar to the hudson street lot or the streets surrounding that lot. Those were the towns Arohnson and Pucciareli would tout in their misquided comparsions to our town, those towns and the Bruswicks as well.
949: there has not been a final decision on the garage. Email the VC now to tell them your thoughts. Next important garage meeting is 2/28 when the new financial analysis is put into the public record. The last financial analysis showed massive fare hikes and an extension of meter hours.
9:22 is right
that Garage will crush that Cafe and small rentals and Church district.
corners and visual clearances are far to narrow and dangerous..
would be lit like Giants stadium each evening.Polluting monolith.
STOP THIS GARAGE
As 9:22 so aptly stated, the towns listed as comparable or all much larger than Ridgewood–both in population and size of their central districts. The only thing that might be comparable–not in actual numbers but in the total effect–is the over crowding of their streets in the business districts. We already have that so why are we looking to make our traffic even denser!
Agreed all those town are much larger. That goes with out saying. Madison’s downtown I am not sure of but there is a college in that town, there is much more space there. Hudson street is just too tight. I would never use it in that location but I assume it is for commuters and the new apartment dwellers