file photo by Boyd Loving
October 4,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at last nights Planning Board meeting the Ridgewood Planning board cleared the way Village Council designate the Hudson Street Parking lot an “area in need of redevelopment.” .The vote is a major step toward stream lining the garage development process , lowering costs and giving the council members the ability to negotiate directly with a developer of their choosing, rather than putting a design out to bid.
This vote did not mean that the Ridgewood Planning Board approves a garage at Hudson Street , it merely designated the area a “blighted area” , giving the council the ability to more more effectively for tax payers.
The council has been eyeing a modular design, using precast parts, from Pike, a Rochester, New York, firm. The Pike proposal came in far cheaper , saving tax payer money and with a much shorter disruptive construction period. Pike’s more modest and cost effective proposal is far different than the “Garagezilla ” that the former mayor Paul Aronsohn and his collogues attempted to push through .
While many resident supported a garage , they rejected “Garagezilla” on both the choice of financing schemes , making no financial sense for the Village and because the gigantic garage did not fit the footprint of the current lot .
fix is in
fix the roads vc
Just pave it and move on.
Don’t piss away tax payers money on this folly.
Streamlining Process=Less Transparency
Specifically, what processes will be eliminated? Has the Council granted itself the authority to enter into a no-bid opportunity? Do others sense that this tactic undermines the public’s view into the cost, design and how the Village will pay for the garage?
I am afraid that it is more of the same as we all got fooled again. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Puking here.
Pave it. It looks ugly like many other unpaved areas around CBD. Just paving will do wonders, seriously. The gloomier it looks (like when it is not paved) the more desperate people will look for anything to fix it (read build on it).
Bruce 4:39 is spot on correct
Drive to westfield one sunny Sunday
Observe what a muni lot should look like and operate with a payment kiosk option. Notice it is not like the craters of the moon
On the nicest day of the year. Its safe well lit easy to enter shop pay and leave replicate it on hudson cottage and walnut
Key is safety function and usability
Screw the slum maker garage
ZERO – residents attended the meeting last night. If we are not going to attend and lead by example, then i guess we should support our counsel – and trust what they do, not spend time on social media. If we want change – we need to attend and participate and invest time.
Don’t forget the Village Council is buying the Town Garage for parking.
The former council pointed out that anything smaller than the oversized garage (which we voted against) was not going to be financially sound, so how did we arrive at this point? Pave the lot and look into alternative solutions as was proposed.
Garagezilla at Garagezilla cost , new garage much lower cost, lower break even, lower cost structure and frankly the FAC wouldn’t no their arse from their elbow
Still a total waste of money.
I’ll never park there.
6:55…Trust what they do. ?? Leadership First…Trust comes later..
let’s put a stake into the modified Garagezilla junior kids meal sized slum maker..where are the local churches on this..will be drug dealers central depot..aside a bus and train station..be careful what you don’t wish for and that gets rammed down our throats in Hail Mary bid..towns a disgrace..
PAVE THAT lot..apply paint..add safe lighting..how about a walkway..
Shovel that Parking lot at Hudson with priority..keep it clean and safe..police not meter police
might help keep that area safer more appealing with some muted lighting not like giants stadium prefab mega ramp with facade that looks like crap in five years..imagine the impact to that neighborhood and cafes..nightmare to Steet flow and emergency situations..fires risk to
those apartments above stores on RIDGEWOOD avenue..
Re: “ZERO – residents attended the meeting last night. “
I hope the Village Council does not make the same mistake that Hillary did – just because people don’t show up at meetings DOES NOT necessarily reflect AGREEMENT with the garage. The people will “vote” their position – in this case with their cars – by not using the garage.
multi family structure developers are the missing garage buildup link here .restaurants being used as a front..meantime I have no sympathy that they claim they are light on their second seating reservations goals…give us a break..we are in the coal mines every day to pay our taxes and the commuter lot parking rip off of 750 ..lets see them dare to raise that fee in JanuaryVOR surprise holiday messages
@5:37 no meters on Sunday but point well taken. Another thing you would notice is that other towns allow parking on most side streets, as long as there is no legitimate safety issue. So if you park near a school, hospital or downtown expect cars in front of your house. Ridgewood severely limits such parking, people enjoy it when they benefit but that makes it really difficult for everyone else to get around.
photo mock up looks like a nasty garage ,,they all go to seed ..they are dirt
salt and homeless panhandlers and break in collectors after first winter.
show me one existing garage that is maintained..impossible feat
wished for but never possible .we can’t maintain a surface lot folks..
and they existing town lots are flat and accessible all year round ..we can’t even paint a white line any more fo clear stalls
To truly see what a municipal garage can be, go visit the 2nd Street garage in Hoboken. All the best amenities. Reserved spaces for the city, Enterprise rent a car reserved spaces, non-operating elevators, filthy staircases and frightening environs. Now Ridgewood can be just like Hoboken.