| Author | Message | ||
     fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 35 Registered: 1-2003 |
Thai, Viatnam, Japanese, Indian, Spanish, Italian, Steakhouse. I also agree with outdoor seating. I think zoning should step in to curtain the beauty supply stores and dry cleaners. Whole Foods supermarket would do well and usually are happy with smaller spaces than a Shop Rite store. | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 381 Registered: 9-2002  |
There's a Whole Foods (Fresh Fields) in Millburn. Much too close for their standands. But how about a Trader Joe's? They've been talking about that on MOL for Maplewood for months... Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3489 Registered: 5-2001 |
Heck 2, if I don't do it then nobody does!!  I stand corrected, although my idea of shopping doesn't always center around food, in spite of my rather large girth.  | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 656 Registered: 4-2002 |
Woodstock: Trader Joes, Gourmet Garage and Fairway were all approached. Somewhere, I have an email from Trader Joe's explaining to me why they can't open in S. Orange. It was sent to me before the Florham Park Store opened, but it has to do with the distance between stores. We were too close to the Westfield Store and they were planning to open in Montclair (I don't know if they ever did). We do not have a location in the downtown large enough for a Fairway or whole foods. Supermarkets will not spend money to build small stores. They expect a developer to build them and since they are the draw to the location, they expect(and get) a substantially reduced rent. A developer will not spend the money to build unless he has enough land to build other stores that will pay rent that want to be near a supermarket. In S. Orange, we do not have the types of parcels they would like (the whole NJ Transit lot and stores on the Ave would not meet the requirements for some of the larger chains). Hence the idea of letting a developer build apartments on the same parcel to help pay for a supermarket. Whether we want more apartmenst (and these are epxected to be condos) or not, the reality is that seems to be the only solution to attract a developer in the current environment. Mayhewdrive: Somebody must be using all the dry cleaners, nail salons and beauty supply stores that seem to be cropping up everywhere in every town. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 416 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mark, I would guess the only reason there are so many nail salons & dry cleaners is that their overhead is low, their profit margin is high & the barrier to entry is very low (doesn't take a rocket scientist to run). Doesn't mean there is an enormous DEMAND for so many & doesn't mean the town should aspire to be the nail salon capitol of NJ. Back to the topic of parking...why doesn't South Orange also temporarily utilize the boarded-up Gulf station on 3rd street for parking? I don't see a "Coming Soon" sign, yet, so I imagine there are no tangible plans for that site, yet? | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 36 Registered: 1-2003 |
Mayhewdrive: Good point about the potential parking at the abandoned Gulf Station. It may not be an option probably due to some environmental concerns. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 658 Registered: 4-2002 |
The Gulf Station is privately owned (Cumberland Farms). They have not responded as to what they plan to do (sell, renovate, lease, etc). The previous leaseholder went bankrupt. I do not know of any environmental concerns on the property. Of course if is sold and was not going to be used as a gas station, I imagine there would be some expense and environmental issues to deal with. | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 37 Registered: 1-2003 |
mrosner: Does SO intend to condemn the property as part of their redevelopment of downtown? If its an eyesore, I would think that SO has a strong basis to take it over. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 659 Registered: 4-2002 |
Fred: There are no plans at this time. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 423 Registered: 5-2001 |
How about utilizing the "Coming Soon" SOPAC site for additional parking? Sure, it would mean removing the white fence, but what purpose does that fence serve anyway? You could probably fit 20 cars @ $5 per day = $500/week = $25,000 per year. Not bad for taking down a fence. Due to the proximity to the train, I bet you could even get more than $5 per day as the weather turns colder. | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 38 Registered: 1-2003 |
Mayhewdrive: I agree that the fence should come down to allow parking. But wouldn't it be better if the lot was reserved for SO residents. Apparently, the needs of SO residents should be addressed before the non-SO residents. With regard to the cost, I do not agree with charging $5 or more but I suppose if people are willing to pay it, then charge whatever the market warrants. | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 396 Registered: 9-2002 |
Fred, Which lot are you talking about? The lot that SOPAC is to be built on, or the NJ Transit lot? The larger lot is owned by NJ Transit and, as Mr. Rosner has stated on several occasions, SO cannot mandate who can and can't park there. If you are talking about the maybe 20 spots that would be useable (assuming people want to pay to park in the mud) if the fence came down around the SOPAC site, I agree they should be for SO residents only, and that the market should decide an acceptable rate. Who knows - people might be willing to pay more to be closer to the station. Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 672 Registered: 4-2002 |
Fred: Have you pressured other towns to increase parking for commuters (residents and non-residents)? If not, I am curious as to your interest in S. Orange's parking situation. Maplewood has a severe shortage of parking. We can increase the number of spaces closer to the train station, but that will make traffic worse. The answer is to increase commuter parking at third street (residents only) and other locations where there is access from roads other than S. Orange Ave. As you might have heard, in about two years the village will be expanding the jitney service to the whole village as well as offering a service for shoppers during the daytime. This will help reduce traffic in the downtown. Have you pressured your town (Livingston?) to start a jitney service that goes to a train station (S. Orange, Brick Church, Milburn ). Land is too valuable and too limited to just turn the whole downtown into a parking lot. Besides, we need more parking for shoppers and store employees too, not just commuters. If SOPAC does not happen, I would rather see it turned into a park/sitting area than add more parking spaces. I could envision some benches and tables for an al fresco area along with a play area for children. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 273 Registered: 8-2002 |
The SOPAC "lot" is filled almost everyday with construction trucks and materials. Occasionally they seem to actually dig around in there. Now -- maybe they use it because its available, don't know. But considering how long the construction on the SO train station is supposed to take -- and then presumably SOPAC construction -- that's probably not a practical choice. Now -- if Mr Beifus can't get something built on his lot -- there you may have an ideal parking possibility (location!) ;-) Pete | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 39 Registered: 1-2003 |
Woodstock: I am speaking about the lot that SOPAC is to be built on. You are generally right, people will pay more for spots closer to the train station. Mrosner: Maplewood is not an option for many Non-SO commmuters unless they live near that town. You are right, Maplewood parking is terrible. SO is more convenient for residents who live in West Orange, Orange, Livingston and Florham Park. As SO improves it downtown, these commuters will spend their cash in SO. I did hear about the Jitney Service expansion and that is great since it will hopefully cut down on the traffic around the train station and free up some spots for both SO and Non-SO commuters who cannot rely on the Jitney service. I agree that you do not want to have downtown turn into a parking lot. That is why a parking garage would be beneficial to the town. In fact, you could have spots reserved for both shoppers, employees and commuters. Commuters and employees would park the highest and furthest away. I do not think your idea about benches and a play area would work. The lot is next to the Transit Lot and I do not believe people will seek to play near such a busy lot. | ||
| mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 425 Registered: 5-2001 |
Right now there are two vacant lots (Beifus & SOPAC) that will likely remain vacant through at least part of next year. Why not put that land to use for the time being & open them up for commuter parking? It would probably be less of an eye sore than the weeds growing in those vacant lots now. | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 401 Registered: 9-2002 |
While the SOPAC land could possibly be used, I doubt Biefus could (except as a private lot) since it's not a publicly owned property. If Biefus wanted to open it for parking, perhaps he could (barring any legal obstacles), but I don't think the town can force it to be made available for parking. Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 40 Registered: 1-2003 |
Mrosner: Would SO object to the Biefus owner allowing commuters to park on his lot for a fee? Is parking a possibility at the SOPAC lot prior to construction? | ||
| Yossarian Citizen Username: Yossarian Post Number: 32 Registered: 8-2003 |
fred block -- I think it's been established that you don't live in our towns. I also think you haven't said what town you live in (I haven't gone back through the latest of these messages here to be sure though). If in fact you don't live here, and if in fact you won't say where you live, what is you incessant interest in SO? Hard to believe you can get so worked up about a parking issue, especially if you don't live here. There are numerous commuting options for all of us. SO is not your only choice, I'm sure. I decided to live here because of the commuting situation. It's one of the best commutes (if not THE best, anywhere near NYC. And that is taking into account the parking). Are you equally active in your town? Why don't you give it a break and focus on your own municipality? I think this point has been beaten to death. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 674 Registered: 4-2002 |
Yossarian: Thanks for putting it better than I have been trying to say. Fred: Who should pay for this garage? Parking decks cost over $10,000 per space to build. You are objecting to paying $5.00 a day, I could only imagine your objection to the higher daily charge that would be needed to justify a deck. However, maybe you can get your township to help subsidize one for S. Orange. If they do, I promise to get you a discount on a spot. Beifus was asked when the lot was still paved and he refused. As Woodstock has stated, it is private property. Mr. Beifus insists that he is going to be breaking ground very soon (as opposed to coming soon). At this point parking in the SOPAC lot is not a possibility. |
