RED BANK: SNACK BAR TO BE PARKING OFFICE

The former concession stand at Riverside Gardens Park has been vacant for the past year. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

park it 2020 Red Bank officials plan to turn the Riverside Gardens Park snack bar into a parking utility satellite office.

Rarely used for two decades before short runs as an ice cream stand and a gourmet takeout restaurant, the vacant structure will be reopened as an office and public interface for the borough’s parking enforcement unit, Business Administrator Ziad Shehady tells redbankgreen.

September 22, 2020 - 6:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: LITTLE PROGRESS ON GARDEN

Thirteen months after it was abruptly closed over contamination concerns, Red Bank’s only community garden heads into autumn with a crop of periodically mown grass.

But what happened to the neighborhood soil testing that was supposed to be conducted? And will the garden reopen?

redbankgreen’s What’s Going On Here? has an update.

September 17, 2020 - 2:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: CHANGES EYED AT BASIE FIELDS

Under the proposal, most of Henry Street would be eliminated and a new playground built alongside Mohawk Pond. (CME Associates graphic. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

A street that effectively serves as shortcut past the main entrance to Count Basie Fields would be closed to traffic under a concept plan discussed by the Red Bank council Wednesday night.

September 10, 2020 - 6:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: WHAT’S ON AGENDA… AND NOT

Councilman Ed Zipprich in 2018. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank nj Missing from the agenda for the Red Bank council session scheduled for Wednesday night: clashing demands for investigations.

But the probes – one focused on the source of an email leak, and the other on alleged conduct exposed by the emails – may still get an airing.

Here’s a look-ahead at the agenda for the session.

September 8, 2020 - 2:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: DEMS CLASH OVER BUDGET, PROBE

A screengrab of the council’s session Wednesday night. (Zoom screengrab. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic Rifts among Democrats were on almost nonstop display during a three-hour meeting of the Red Bank council Wednesday night.

While Councilman Ed Zipprich pressed for a probe into an email leak he said had smeared his reputation, at least two of his colleagues were more concerned about his intervention in the bidding for a new trash hauling contract.

But first, the all-Democratic body split over proposed budget cuts pushed by Councilman Michael Ballard that others saw as unwise.

August 21, 2020 - 11:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: DELISA TO GET ‘EMERGENCY’ PACT

DeLisa Demolition would continue to pick up waste and recycling under an interim contract that boosts its existing rate by $10,000 per month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

this just in redbankgreen Red Bank’s elected officials will be asked to authorize an “emergency” trash contract this week after no bids were received for a longterm pact, redbankgreen has learned.

August 17, 2020 - 12:25 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: NEW LOT, HOURS ON AGENDA

The plan calls for a new parking lot on the former site of the Marine Park tennis courts. (Image by CME Associates. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

park it 2020 A new parking lot in Red Bank’s Marine Park is among the topics slated for discussion by the council Wednesday night.

So is an issue put on hold five months ago: increasing the hours of paid parking downtown.

Read More »

August 3, 2020 - 11:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: BUDGET Q&A SLATED AFTER ALL

Councilman Michael Ballard, center, with Councilman Ed Zipprich, left, and Business Administrator Ziad Shehady in December, 2018. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Almost two months later than promised, Red Bank residents will get a detailed explanation next week of a borough budget that would increase property taxes by 2.8 percent.

July 30, 2020 - 11:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: METER PROGRAM ADVANCES

A bumper crop of new parking meters has appeared in downtown Red Bank.

What’s Going On Here? Read on.

July 29, 2020 - 6:53 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: TAX INCREASE AT 2.8 PERCENT

A screengrab from Wednesday’s virtual meeting, with Councilman Michael Ballard at top center and Business Administrator Ziad Shehady at center right. (Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic

Red Bank property owners would pay 2.8 percent more in municipal taxes this year, under a budget advanced by the borough council Wednesday night.

The still-evolving $22.4 million spending plan was the centerpiece of a nearly three-hour online council meeting that left viewers with a lot to unpack.

July 23, 2020 - 6:56 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: TAX INCREASE ON AGENDA

Councilman Michael Ballard during an online meeting in May. (Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Red Bank’s proposed budget for 2020 would boost the amount to be raised from local property owners by 5.4 percent.

But heading into the final stretch, it’s not clear that the chairman of the finance committee will support the spending plan if it goes to a vote Wednesday night.

July 21, 2020 - 8:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PLAZA LIMITS IRK OUTSIDERS

Abutting restaurant setups at the north end of Broad Street have created an atmosphere that’s drawing customers away from other restaurants, some owners say. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

[See CORRECTION below]

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank nj Is a north-south divide developing on Broad Street in Red Bank?

Owners of some businesses located just south of the month-old Broadwalk street plaza say they’re being unfairly cut out of a boom in downtown visitors.

July 17, 2020 - 2:30 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: FOOD TRUCK EYES VACANT SITE

A food truck called Your Sister’s Balls hopes to set up “a few days a week” on a Shrewsbury Avenue lot. (Nicole Montecalvo photo. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank nj Less than a year after the latest effort to remove Red Bank’s ban on food trucks got a flat tire, the issue is back.

Leading the charge: a food truck called Your Sister’s Balls.

July 2, 2020 - 12:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: TAX SETTLEMENT POSTPONED

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank nj The Red Bank council postponed action Wednesday night on a proposed tax appeal settlement that would slash the assessment on a downtown bank property by almost one-third.

But the delay, requested by Mayor Pasquale Menna, was not motivated by an objection to the terms of the deal, he said.

May 28, 2020 - 12:45 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: WHITE STREET DISRUPTION FEARED

Kris Winters says her White Street shop, Cabana 19, was just getting back on its feet from last year’s streetscape disruption when the pandemic hit. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

park it 2020

A Red Bank construction project looms large for some business owners as they start to crawl out from under one of the worst economic crises in American history.

They’re pleading for “empathy” as they try to avoid a third consecutive blow in one year.

May 20, 2020 - 9:15 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PICKUP PARKING ZONES SET

Downtown shoppers will be able to park in designated spots for quick pickups from restaurants and retail stores throughout town. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

park it 2020

With merchants starting to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown, Red Bank officials unveiled a temporary parking plan Monday aimed at helping them regain an economic toehold.

May 19, 2020 - 9:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: JOBS DEBATE SPLITS COUNCIL

Robert Greene, left, and John Caine at the Red Bank recycling center Thursday morning. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

redbankgreen hot topic A plan to eliminate two part-time jobs at the recycling center sharply divided Red Bank’s all-Democratic council Wednesday night.

Things got personal. During the governing body’s semimonthly meeting, conducted via Zoom, Councilman Ed Zipprich accused Business Administrator Ziad Shehady of retaliation for an earlier action by the union that represents the affected employees.

May 14, 2020 - 12:45 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: BROWN WATER EXPLAINED

red bank what's going on here Red Bank officials are looking into reports of brown tap water, but believe they know what’s causing it, Business Administrator Ziad Shehady said Wednesday.

May 6, 2020 - 12:15 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: ZOOMING IN ON PARKING & MORE

The White Street parking lot was desolate April 8. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

[See CORRECTION below]

By JOHN T. WARD

Along with their Netflix and Hulu viewing options during the COVID-19 lockdown, civic-minded Red Bankers will have some Zoom options in coming days.

Among them: a presentation on the redesign of the White Street parking lot.

OK, so it’s not quite ‘Tiger King,’ but hey.

May 1, 2020 - 10:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PARKS TO REOPEN SATURDAY

Following Governor Phil Murphy’s decision to reopen state and county parks, Red Bank’s parks will reopen too, the borough announced on its website late Wednesday.

Read More »

April 30, 2020 - 8:20 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: MAPLE COVE ADDITION POSSIBLE

The property at 96-98 West Front Street is approved for offices and apartments. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank may get a small addition to its riverfront Maple Cove tract under negotiations authorized by council in executive session Wednesday night.

April 23, 2020 - 8:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: WHITE STREET ON COUNCIL AGENDA

Officials and council members recite the pledge of allegiance during the borough government’s first-ever digital-only meeting April 7. (YouTube screen grab. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

At its second official meeting of the COVID-19 era Wednesday night, the Red Bank council plans to consider awarding a contract to rebuild much of White Street and the adjoining municipal parking lot.

April 22, 2020 - 7:25 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PARKS SHUT DOWN & BARRICADED

Red Bank’s parks – including Riverside Gardens, above, and Marine Park, right – were off-limits to visitors Wednesday after borough workers erected barricades at their entrances.

Read More »

April 9, 2020 - 8:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: BOROUGH SHUTS DOWN PARKS

Riverside Gardens Park as seen last Saturday afternoon. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank officials plan to indefinitely close borough parks starting Wednesday.

April 8, 2020 - 8:43 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PUBLIC PROJECTS ADVANCING

Like the rest of New Jersey, Red Bank may be on near-lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but work on a trio of closely watched municipal projects continues.

What’s Going On Here? Read on.

April 7, 2020 - 11:30 am | Comments ()

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Serving Red Bank and Greater Red Bank, NJ

RED BANK: SNACK BAR TO BE PARKING OFFICE

RED BANK: LITTLE PROGRESS ON GARDEN

RED BANK: CHANGES EYED AT BASIE FIELDS

RED BANK: WHAT’S ON AGENDA… AND NOT

RED BANK: DEMS CLASH OVER BUDGET, PROBE

RED BANK: DELISA TO GET ‘EMERGENCY’ PACT

RED BANK: NEW LOT, HOURS ON AGENDA

RED BANK: BUDGET Q&A SLATED AFTER ALL

RED BANK: METER PROGRAM ADVANCES

RED BANK: TAX INCREASE AT 2.8 PERCENT

RED BANK: TAX INCREASE ON AGENDA

RED BANK: PLAZA LIMITS IRK OUTSIDERS

RED BANK: FOOD TRUCK EYES VACANT SITE

RED BANK: TAX SETTLEMENT POSTPONED

RED BANK: WHITE STREET DISRUPTION FEARED

RED BANK: PICKUP PARKING ZONES SET

RED BANK: JOBS DEBATE SPLITS COUNCIL

RED BANK: BROWN WATER EXPLAINED

RED BANK: ZOOMING IN ON PARKING & MORE

RED BANK: MAPLE COVE ADDITION POSSIBLE

RED BANK: WHITE STREET ON COUNCIL AGENDA

RED BANK: PUBLIC PROJECTS ADVANCING