In Montclair, parking is a valuable commodity. Finding a parking spot on the street is hard enough, and free parking is nearly impossible unless you are willing to walk multiple blocks, and still it’s usually only good for 2 hours.
However, there are those few coveted parking lots around the township, like endangered species, where residents can get away with free parking when the lots are not filled by others trying to do the same thing.
As of about three weeks ago, one of those not-so-secret lots is no longer on the list: The Chase Bank parking lot on N. Fullerton Ave.
Like the parking lot next to the V Bar on Church St. or at the intersection of N. Willow St. and Glen Ridge Ave., there is now a Montclair Parking lot attendant and a booth at the Chase Bank parking lot waiting to check in your car.
It now costs $2 an hour to park there starting at 8 a.m.
Parking is still free however for those that bank at Chase until 6 p.m.. Those visiting the bank must now get their parking validated by the bank in order to park there for free, and after an hour, they too must pay.
“What happened was,” said one parking attendant, “a lot of people were taking advantage of the lot. Parking here and going to do their banking, but then going to sushi for lunch; they might get something out of a gift shop or the wine store or go to the Y.M.C.A. to work out.
“This is new…a lot of people don’t like it,” admitted the attendant. “But what I’ve noticed is that a lot of people coming to do their banking love it.”
Anna Barbone, a who was on her way Wednesday afternoon to inquire about banking at Chase said she would “absolutely not” bank there if she had to pay for parking. But she liked how the parking lot was set up if it could guaranteed her a spot.
“They try and get money out of you for everything, like they used to cover the meters for free parking” said one woman who banks at Chase and asked not to be named. “My taxes are sky high…All they do is take services and they don’t give anything back”
After parking and getting his parking ticket, Chris Lynch said he only uses it to go to Chase. He said it’s good for those who use the bank, but clearly, the days of starting at the bank and then leaving the car in the lot while taking care of other errands, or having a leisurely lunch then shopping in town is over.
You’ll also get asked to pay $2 if you use the ATM there and then walk up the street, as I found out.
Well, it IS Chase’s lot and they can do whatever they want with it but it bothers me that they are charging $2 an hour for the privilege. Are the banks that bad off? What’s next, a bake sale?
Major “whoops” here guys!
This parking lot IS NOT a Township parking lot but rather one from “Montclair Parking,” a private, tax paying, entity that has a number of lots in town. Including the large parking lot on Church Street, by the Unitarian Congregation.
We’ve in the Township have enough to be blamed for, so fortunately we can’t take the rap for this lot.
By the way, Montclair Parking does a nice job of keeping their lots in really good shape, including the re-paving and re-striping job they did on Church Street.
Cary Africk
2nd Ward Councilor
So Chase does not own this lot, Cary?
Cary, the story was corrected within minutes of it going up. It says “Montclair Parking” employee — not township.
Montclair Parking owned by everyones favorite local developer Steve Plofker
“They try and get money out of you for everything, like they used to cover the meters for free parking” said one woman who banks at Chase and asked not to be named. “My taxes are sky high…All they do is take services and they don’t give anything back”
It amazes me how many people have no idea how government works or what they are responsible for. If they did, the person interviewed would have never said that.
It’s obvious they are confused by a privately owned company leasing the lot by comparing that to town meters. They are 2 totally separate issues and entities. It is a Chase issue (or that land owners decision, whomever that may be), not a township government issue.
“Montclair Parking owned by everyones favorite local developer Steve Plofker.”
Aha! No need for further comment.
Aw I use Chase!! That is stupid, the offical should monitor who uses the lot and is a bank customer. Why should I pay to use my own bank? What is wrong with Montclair?? Instead of making money that way, fine the people who didnt shovel sidewalks and salt during that crazy blizzard! They would have made THOUSANDS.
I know i’m in the monority but it seems to me that this town would be in an even bigger mess without Plofker
Whay is that, Walkingfool?
Whay=why
I’m happy to pay $2 to get parking near one of my favorite sushi places. I’m more likely to get a spot.
So, how does it work if you’re just using the ATM next to the lot instead of the drive-through or the Chase on Bloomfield Ave.? Can’t get a validation for that. And I am a Chase customer.
So Chase owns the lot but is leasing empty parking spaces to Montclair Parking? How odd. I wouldn’t have thought those people at Chase were smart enough to do this, or would have the flexibility.
How many patrons, who are offended, put-out, annoyed, angry, and just plain pissed over the $2. parking fee are looking to park their sixty, seventy or eighty thousand dollar car, in that two buck spot?
Are we sure this lot isn’t owned/operated by the airlines – they’ve become quite adept at nickel & diming us. [or should I say “quartering”?]
Has anyone else noticed how there are fewer metered spaces around town, as more and more are designated “permit only”?
BS parking in Montclair – one reason I do very little business there. Are you listening, merchants and town “leaders”?
nazlo,
Agree with you. More and more meters are being taken down, replaced with permit parking spaces.
Parking in Montclair is run by the Montclair Parking Authority. The ONLY control that the Town, or Town Council has over them is the town council could decide to disband them.
Operational or strategy issues are solely up to them and in particular the Board and Executive Director that run it. They even issue their own debt.
I have long suggested that the MPA be changed from a statute defined “Authority” to a statute defined “Utility.”
Our Water/Sewer Bureau is a utility. Management is under the town.
In the meantime, people with parking meter issues are welcome to attend MPA meetings, or contact their director, with their concerns.
Cary Africk
2nd Ward Councilor
“In the meantime, people with parking meter issues are welcome to attend MPA meetings, or contact their director, with their concerns.”
Translation: don’t talk to us we only have the power to stop them.
So many people think they like the idea of privatization — until it happens. This lot, privately owned, can charge whatever it wants to charge.
Caphilly: You make a good point. No sure which is worse in this particular case, government-run or privately-owned. At least with government-run, “we the people” have somewhat of a say.
And to address Nazlo’s point, I noticed that, too. Is this their way of forcing more people to use the awful parking garages?
Martta, according to Cary we the people don’t have a say unless or until we disband the MPA. Which sounds like a great idea to me.
I think the whole parking situation in Montclair needs a major overhaul. The township should look to other townships, with similar downtown areas, to see how it’s done right. I don’t have a problem with parking meters but calibrate them for more than an hour! Who shops, eats, goes to the movies, gets their hair done, whatever, for only an hour? And yes, there should be a near-equal number of parking spaces versus permit spaces.
I won’t park in a parking garage unless I am with my husband or other people (preferably ones bigger and stronger than me!) I just don’t think they are safe as they are not really being patrolled.
When I visit Montclair, I usually park for free, far away from the downtown area and just walk.
I also do not like the parking garage! Scary place at dusk. The poor parking is the reason that I seldom shop in Montclair. We hit a few (A FEW !) retail establishments in Blmfd., otherwise it’s S.O., Mplwd., W.O. or Millburn. It’s easy to park in Millburn, but watch your meter. No meters in Mplwd, EVER! S.O. has meters but alot of parking and in W.O. we go to Essex Green or the Whole Foods/Staples/K-Mart Plaza, (feree parking)
and plenty of it. BUT the BEST OF ALL, is the town of SUMMIT. Loads of parking lots. 100s of nice stores AND 15 minutes FREE parking at EVERY SINGLE METER IN TOWN ! (and the meter maids cut ‘ya some slack, too.
ROC,
I have arranged for an independent “consultant” who is analyzing both the financial and operation aspects of the MPA. He is a good guy, has done some really big projects in the public sector and is doing this at no charge to the Township.
I have my own feelings about the MPA, but it should be evident to you, and everyone else ROC, that I have one vote and that other Councilors do not share my viewpoint.
I am hoping that an “objective” analysis would “help” people make the decision that change is needed. And I’m open to the conclusion that these changes can be made WITH the MPA in a cooperative manner.
I had truly hoped the study would be over by now.
@Cary
ROC may pull a Darrell Issa / Ken Starr on all of Town Hall, and inquire you and your fellow leaders to death if given half a chance. That is, if he emerges as a real citizen and not just a vociferous and cranky B’net contributor. (not that I have a problem with vociferous and cranky people – hello cathar!)
Until then, ROC may very likely be quite suspicious of this independent consultant, whom he will consider a union hack unless certified glatt kosher by Jim DeMint or Sharron Angle.
It’s a really sad state that the majority of our town council thinks everything Montclair is so special that no one in public service could be doing a less than satisfactory job. The Town Manager, yeah he deserves a much higher salary managing Montclair than he did in Plainfield. Same for Principal Earl and Aleverez. Same with our library and our department of sanitation. And so on and so on. How’s that animal shelter report coming along? How much more does it now cost us to have a shelter than when PAWS ran it?
Stu,
Did you listen to last night’s meeting? The one where everyone congratulated every one else on what a great job was being done? I hope Baristanet runs the story!
Not yet Cary.
I close on our new home (not in Montclair) next week although we won’t inhabit the home probably until this Summer as we need to do quite a bit of work on it. Although we will maintain our multi-family here in Montclair and will rent out our former owner-occupied unit. Barring complete insanity, I should be able to pass the forever increasing property tax burden onto my renters as long as my wife continues to do so well with the tax appeals process. Quite honestly, I’ve lost hope for the future of Montclair, especially the complete dismantling of our school system. I said it years ago that the new and completely unneeded school would spell the end of the high regard that the Montclair public schools had. Watching the process and mostly wasted time of these focus groups has been absolutely incredulous. The only solution to obtain cuts of the magnitude required must either include serious givebacks by the administration and the teachers union or serious headcount reductions across the board. All this talk of revenue generation, property sales and leasing, etc. is so pie in the sky. In the end, I expect our school system to be stripped down to a former shell of itself. Class sizes will be significantly larger and ‘choice’ will be out the window. It’s a good thing we don’t get to vote on our school budget or on the BOE, right?
16 of my last 23 years in Montclair was a pretty good run. My, how endless spending has backfired on our formerly progressive enclave. Bring back Rainbow and the artists community we used to have and perhaps I’ll return. Until then, enjoy the new (half empty) school everyone and be sure to praise the unelected BOE for their wonderful decision making as more and more children are left behind.
Great job? Are they living in the real world? Every day I meet people at the train station who are leaving town. Every day.
And for anyone who hasn’t already seen Cary’s post on the Watercooler. Here’s probably another $500k that we shouldn’t have had to spend.
During last night’s Council meeting, I attempted to ask the Town Manager for an update on our efforts to reassess the Town. I did this after the Town Manager had given his report.
I see the reassessment having great importance: one of the key challenges this year. This year the Town will pay back over $3MM, little to none of which can be borrowed as in previous years. In addition will be paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney fees. 2011 will be even worse.
The Mayor said that this question would not be allowed as it required extended discussion, and that the Manager had not been given proper ‘notice’ that I was going to ask the question.
Despite the Town Attorney’s willingness to give an update, since he is the one spearheading the project, an update wasn’t given.
I spoke briefly to the Town Attorney after the meeting, and learned that we are doing everything possible to move it along, however since the Council did not act earlier in 2010, the reassessment will not be effective until 2012. In addition, since it will be over 4 years since we did the last assessment, we will now have to do a full reassessment, i.e. an assessor will have to visit, and enter, into each house.
For me, financial priorities are top priority in Montclair.
Cary Africk
2nd Ward Councilor