the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The purpose of the Visioning Questionnaire (VQ) was to provide a means to capture the sentiments, opinions, and ideas of as many residents as possible about a wide range of topics in Ridgewood today and into the future.
The results of the VQ, combined with the results of the other methods for engaging residents during the visioning process, will inform the values, principles, goals, and priorities that guide the creation of Ridgewood’s next Master Plan.
The results of these questions can serve as a benchmark to compare with the results of future questionnaires of a similar nature.
2,001 people completed the questionnaire. That’s approximately 11% of the adult population of the Village completed the questionnaire (age 18 and up population = 17,794 based on ACS 2017 data). 1,971 respondents are current Village residents. 40 of these respondents submitted a hard copy of their questionnaires completed by hand.130 respondents either work, operate a business, or visit the Village frequently, but do not live in the Village.A number of these respondents report having lived in Ridgewood in the past.
Demographics of the Respondents another words how long have you lived in the Village? More than half of the responses are from long-time residents (20+ years). Residents living near the Willard and Travell Schools participated in the greatest number .
Respondents liked community ,schools and downtown most about living in the Village.Favorite places included the downtown, library and restaurants.
Respondents ranked what works and what doesn’t in the Village .Young Residents tended to rank Public Transportation lower than all other demographic groups. Business Operators ranked Business & Economic Development and Transportation (cars, parking) the lowest out of all the groups. Virtually All of the Demographic Groups ranked Transportation (cars, parking) the lowest among all the topics, followed by Socioeconomic Issues (affordability, aging-in-place).
What aspects, qualities, or parts of the Village should stay the same 5, 10, 20 years into the future? No surprise to anyone but the “3 amigos” Keeping the “Small Town Feel” or “Village Feel.”The charm, vibrancy, character of Downtown.Architecture/historic architecture. Respondents were also on the Ridgewood Train station and the Walkable/walkability on the town. Parks , open spaces and trees were also something respondents cherished .
Respondents were most concerned with the Village maintaining a “Small Town Feel” or “Village Feel” . Many residents responded to this question by expressing concern about “overdevelopment” in Downtown, feeling that the new residential buildings being constructed will be out-of-scale and add to the population and traffic.A number of residents expressed concern about Ridgewood losing its “village feel” and becoming more like [insert name of town here*] .
Small town feel. That’s done. The village is turning into a small city.
Those who still do not understand what is happening to RW are too naive or to put it in better terms idiots. Open your eyes and see what monsters are being built right in CBD. This is just the beginning. More will spread out all over town. Have you noticed how much of RW tree inventory has been depleted the past year? Have you noticed the monstrosity going on on the other side of RT 17? I really hate how this VC is treating us on this. What vision feedback are they asking for from residents? Their plans are being implemented already. Why do they insult us this way? They don’t care about our opinion, they just see us as cash cows for town’s coffers. We have no say in anything. And if some of us can’t take this and decide to leave RW, so what? Some other NY transplants will replace us and the tax $$$ will continue pouring in. Forget your village, this is a town transitioning into a small city. Think Hackensack, Montclair etc. And for all the bullshit about plastic bags, plastic straws and other feel good campaigns , the fact that trees are being cut in volumes just goes to show the hypocrisy. It is all about business and political power.
The above is absolutely correct. I was going to write it myself; but decided I write too often here. Very glad the above took the words right out of my mouth.
In about a year you’re going to witness a good 300 more Residencies, which will equal tune amount of people that’s to be determined.
EAGLE is spot on.
About 1000 more people from the three hundred residences, plus their visiting guests.
Blame the planning board who voted for the apartments. And of course the three amigos.
Yes, but also blame the current counsel who did nothing to stop the buildings and who are now negotiating to allow more of these monstrosities to be built.
Oh boy . Here comes the problems.
This town gets crappier every day
I don’t hear much arguments in favour of downtown development on this board. Is there an upside aside from not getting sued?
Damn it . The current council cannot stop the building. The current building was put into law by the Three Amigos. And it is a damn rotten lie to say the current council is negotiating for more building. They stopped the Kensignton Assisted Living Center from being built on Chestnut street. YOU YOU should go over and kiss their feet for stopping that. The Kensington corporate execs. tried very aggressively to build in Ridgewood. They tried a couple years ago; they came to a council meeting; and then a few months ago they tried again; they came to a council meeting with a big speech about how their business, assisted living center, would benefit Ridgewood businesses and give a lot of tax dollars to the Village of Ridgewood. But ya know what, Deputy Mayor Susan Knudsen stood strong and said NO NO NO. It would be too crowded for our Village. Deputy Mayor Knudsen and Sedon voted against the multi family housing a fewyears ago, but the Three Amigos outvoted them.
I am against the Schedler development and the train station development but by God voting out the Kensington development is much more important. Three Cheers for Knudsen. She spoke two meetings ago giving her reason for no, when a guy at the mic said the counsel should allow the Kensington development. Let’s toast Knudsen with a champagne party this New Year; she deserves it for not allowing the Kensington in Ridgewood.
And idiots, guess what, YOU YOU and YOU can watch the counsel meetings while you take a shit, since all of you are so busy with important stuff you claim. You can watch on the Village Website; just scroll down a bit and you will see the TV icon. You can watch anytime you want to. It is up there. NEVER CAST BLAME, without knowing the facts. You horrors.
This “small town feel” has been dwindling for years now and is definitely becoming a city like Hackensack or Montclair. The buses, bad roads, parking garage and upcoming apartments etc….
Ranting “Damn it” contributor. Get your facts straight. Ask questions. learn things.
pave Franklin
shit hole roads
they could care less county is a dog
cars being destroyed every day
winters and plows a coming
towns a disgrace
The library “renewal” was hardly mentioned at all. No one thinks that a multi-million dollar project is wanted or needed.
Apparently the earlier commenter doesn’t let facts get in the way of their #bias. They missed the word cloud with the word LIBRARY as the largest word in the cloud. An inconvenient truth, but truth nonetheless.