Ridgewood Council Unanimously Approves Bonding $11.5 Million For Parking Deck

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. – The Village Council voted 5-0 Wednesday to bond $11.5 million to construct a 325-space parking deck on the Hudson Street lot.

The vote ends years of discussion and months of public presentations and debates regarding the controversial project.

A grassroots group of residents vehemently came out against the agreement and created a petition that would have put a binding referendum on the May 10 ballot. The referendum would have, if approved, rescinded the agreement.

The issue was very divisive, with both residents, some for, some against, publishing plans, information, and opinions online and in print for the months and weeks preceding the vote.

Business owners spoke in favor of the deck. Many local business owners encouraged and lobbied for the deck’s construction for years, saying more parking is needed downtown for them to continue to exist.

“The downtown is the heartbeat of Ridgewood and a garage is so greatly needed,” said Tony Damiano, owner of Mango Jam. “I do have a vested interest in this garage. There are so many business owners in favor of this garage and it is much needed.”

Village residents overwhelming approved a referendum in November to bond up to $15 million for the project.

The Council authorized a 25-year lease agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority to finance the deck’s construction on the Village’s behalf.

The Council voted on bonding for the project in January, but only three council members voted in favor of it, one vote short of the required number needed.

Many people took issue with the deck’s original dimensions.

The original 405-space deck was slated to be 49 feet high to the parapet, 68 feet to the top of the tower, and 123 feet wide.

The new deck will be 43 feet high to the roof. The highest parapet will be nearly 47 feet high. It will be 104 feet wide.

A rendering of the parking deck/Village of Ridgewood