Ridgewood News Letter: Will parking deck pay for itself?
DECEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Will parking deck pay for itself?
To the Editor:
The results of the recent election have indicated that there is a need for a parking garage. The village website provided inadequate information. Of the three designs only one was shown.
The consultants have stated that the bond can be retired from the projected revenues. However, there is no evidence of the reliability of these projections.
The design that is favored by many is one that has brick panels. It is pleasing aesthetically. The design is more expensive to build and more expensive to maintain in this climate. No financial considerations appear to have figured in this design. In addition, there is only a small building in the vicinity that has some brick exterior. If the construction bids come too high, will the architect redesign the project at no additional fee?
The revenue projections are based on increased meter fees. When fees are raised, occupancy tends to go down. The financial report cites one case where this happened. If sufficient revenues are not generated, the town residents will be left holding the bag. The consultants and the council members will be long gone.
There is no urgency to build a large deck given the uncertainty of revenue projections. I therefore suggest that the project be built in two phases.
Ridgewood
Great comments and Facts
EPIC MISTAKE
it will take some time, how long , who knows.
Massive Design Failure. Belongs in Coney Island or in Asbury Park as the Fun House
Bend over it’s coming.
Let me fantasize for a minute.
We have already started spending money, so already there is a need for increased revenue to pay that back.
Lets change the meter rates immediately.
It will be the true test of how people will react & will confirm or refute the revenue projections.
Now let me get back to reality.
They are going to ram this thing through as fast as they can.
Build it and they won’t come!
I do not use the garage at Garden State Plaza or Riverside Mall. I will not ne using the garage in Ridgewood. They are not convenient and they are dangerous.
So, parking in downtown Ridgewood will not change for me. Either there is a spot on the street or there is not. It will however, be more expensive.
Paramus Park and Lord and Taylor are so convenient. . And it is not a problem for dinner. The new valet situation for some restaurants ties things up. Open up those spots.
I agree completely with 5:57. I never use the garage at other malls and will not in Ridgewood.
One word answer to the title question…………………….NO
After the Village doubles/ triples meter rates and extends hours to 9p.m. there will be no need for a parking garage; It will kill the downtown businesses and restaurants. Sorry, lets not forget the $30.00 parking tickets.
The Garage by design and Purpose is by definition Non Conforming to any Code or Integration into Current neighborhood structures or homes no less Mt Carme historicl church. Its a neighborhood Killet. Town counsel we are your constituents not the carpetbagger Merchants. They just leave and we sweep up and pay For your EPIC MISTAKES .STATUS QUO MORE THAN FINE. MERCHANT WONT PAY FOR A FRACTION IF THIS MISTAKE CASE CLOSED STOP THIS MEGA MISTAKE
Outside of peak evenings friday saturday dining and movie hours this can in no way be justified. There are no Anchor Store Draws.IE Lord taylors or Wiilliams Sonoma like at Tices Farms Westfield scale small town retail. Ridgewood you are all boutique retail ..means doing this scale investment easily 15 million w overruns insanity. Those who vote to support such an irresponsible Bond need to be sued for such a mistake .
11.22 and others are right. The emperors parking meters have no where to hide. Its happened before after meter increases where merchants cried like gutted geese.
We then reduced the meter rates which then Fast Eddy cleaned out the Till. 250 pounds at a time. Stop this new Fiasco Now. Taxpayers are not chumps. Real estate agents only beneficiaries outside of more out of town train commuters jamming up the district from 430 thru 8 pm daily
Yea, come and sue me …idiot. Classic Ridgewood response.
And what do you mean “will kill” the downtown?
That happen years ago. “Taxpayers are not chumps”? Really? Your gonna go there?
I rest my case..some feel that the Fix is In..
my predictions are: that the deluxe garage will be built and run over budget, that the garage will not be filled as expected, the town will then open up the spaces to commuters, the increased parking rates will reduce the shoppers in the retail stores, we will end up with a commuter parking garage catering to the needs of NJ transit and Bergen county, and finally that the residents of Ridgewood will be picking up the tab for the shortfall in revenues. p.s. how come no one asks about how the current parking revenues are being used to offset the town taxes. If those revenues are now funneled into the parking garage debt won’t the town budget have a shortfall??