New Red Bank Parking Garage In Planning Stages

RED BANK, NJ - The new year will not only deliver hangovers but control of the council majority to Democrats who appear ready to select a builder to redevelop the 2.3-acre White Street parking lot, which is owned by the borough.

According to a post on redbankgreen, several steps are needed before the parking agenda moves forward, including the commissioning of a parking study, the suggestion of which has become exceeding controversial, and the writing of a new redevelopment plan, after the first one had to be scrapped amid possible litigation.

Republican Councilman Mike Whelan, who heads the council’s parking committee at least until Jan. 1, told redbankgreen that a recent parking agenda item - discussed in closed session - was part of an effort “to get from two developers to one,” a reference to the continued winnowing of builders in contention for a contract to redevelop the White Street lot.

Still in the running are borough-based Yellow Brook Properties, owned by Roger Mumford, and BNE Real Estate Group, based in Livingston, according to the website. A decision could be made at the Dec. 13 council meeting.

Yet to be addressed, however, is a redevelopment plan to replace the one adopted a year ago but rescinded in September in the face of a legal challenge financed by former Councilwoman Cindy Burnham.

As a step toward the creation of a replacement plan, Democrats, led by party chair and Councilman Ed Zipprich, intend to call for a parking study, he said recently to redbankgreen via email.

A study was part of the platform that Zipprich and his running mate, Michael Ballard, ran on, defeating incumbent Republican Linda Schwabenbauer and her running mate, Dana McArthur in last month's election.

That plan called for a “parking needs assessment” that would be used to implement “short-term, inexpensive solutions” while the borough begins long-term planning for a White Street garage that addresses parking shortages.

“While a White Street parking garage may be inevitable, there are other less expensive solutions that a Parking Needs Assessment would reveal, such as numbering, colorcoding, signage, hours, licensing, permitting, and enforcement that would improve the parking situation in Red Bank, with or without a parking garage,” it says.

Both prospective developers, however, said at a September parking forum that new analyses would have to be conducted in order to attract financing for their projects, which carry estimated price tags of $65 million for the BNE plan and $80 million for the Yellow Brook plan.

A metaphorical or actual no parking sign is what too many shoppers and residents encounter downtown. Image via Shutterstock.