Woman's Club Lot Open to Public Parking

More than 30 spots in the parking lot at the former Woman's Club at 60 Woodland Road will be open as a public parking lot beginning Monday, July 1, according to Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca. 

Of the lot’s 53 spaces, 31 will be available as free, public two-hour parking. Signs have now been installed in the lot. 

The other spaces will be used for a mix of merchant parking, commuter parking and overnight parking. The Township Committee (TC) voted to approve a resolution setting the lot’s parking fees at its last meeting on June 18. 

The other spots will be configured as follows: 

8 reserved parking spaces on a 24-hour basis for merchants at a cost of $100 per month 

10 reserved parking spaces for train commuters at a cost of $60 per month 

2 handicapped spaces 

2 spaces reserved for people using the building 

Also at the June 18 meeting, Committeeman Jerry Ryan and Deputy Mayor Kathleen Leventhal of the Maplewood Woman’s Club Task Force reported on the status of repairs at the property.

Ryan reviewed the initial list authorized by the Township Committee, which include regrading and striping the parking lot, grading the front walkway, making repairs to the front door, fixing bathrooms, various electrical and plumbing work and asbestos abatement. Those are estimated to cost roughly $200,000.

Ryan said after further inspections, the township engineer had suggested insulating the theater roof and replacing some of its panels, to improve heating efficiency and add a little soundproofing.

The TC agreed to authorize the work at an estimated cost of $60,000. The funds will come from the township’s capital building improvement budget.

Leventhal reported on the results of the recent Woman’s Club public forum, which roughly 50 people attended. The top suggestions for uses for the building were concerts and shows, private events, public/nonprofit events, active youth events and indoor recreation. Leventhal said the building could be used for a mix of these events.

Next, the task force will recommend parameters for a request for proposals to hire a permanent property manager for the building, said Ryan. (HK Project is currently serving as the interim manager.) That recommendation will come at the July 16 TC meeting.