Wellmont Parking Has Merchants Fuming

nice when a well thoughtout plan comes togethet.

they're using the parking lot for a dressing room??!! that's going to make the wellmont a top pick for top entertainers this winter. i see a couple of months of polar bear ensembles. and a one and a two and a...owwarrr!

I thought we has some idling law here, or does that only apply to children on a school bus?

"Well thoughtout plan" and "Montclair" apparently do not inhabit the same sentence.

What a mess! I really feel for the small businesses along Bloomfield Ave. Just yesterday I was walking around 7pm and witnessed first hand the frenzy that is parking for the Wellmont. Even restaurants are disappointed by the dip in business. No one has time to eat before the concerts and by the time they get out, the kitchens are closed. It sounds like all the businesses were promised a bunch of perks, but all anyone is getting are annoyances and interruptions.

My husband and I remarked on this as we drove down Bloomfield Avenue Sunday night. In addition to all the problems listed in the article, it just LOOKS unsightly, with all the foreboding trucks and trailers parked out in front. I mean, really, if you were out for a nighttime stroll, looking for a place to eat, whatever, would you want to deal with that mess? Not me. You see this in New York all the time but Montclair ain't New York.

crappy sound, crumbling ceiling, idling trucks, what a clusterf*ck!

Why is "principal" Andy Feltz involved? Doesn't he have enough to do with those kids at school?

My husband and I live nearby and really feel for the merchants. Once, when he went to pickup takeout from Sesame he was almost stopped by the police from going near the restaurant (and he was walking). The restaurant owner complained that the place smelled like diesel fumes because of all of the the trucks parked out front. I wish the Wellmont well, I really do but right now things look very unsightly. And I can only imagine the headaches experienced by the folks that live on Seymour Street (a one way street).

One more thing, on a positive note, I meant to add that there is a new restaurant near the Wellmont -- the Aqua Blue Cafe -- that serves Latin American Soul Food and Tapas. It is BYOB and plans to be open late nights until 2 am on Thurs., Fri. & Sat. That should give the concert goers another late night option. I have not tried the restaurant yet myself, but the menu looks promising -- lots of seafood, empanadas, latin style meat stews and chicken.

Bottom line, they should have told them that they can not have any events at the Wellmont until the place is 100% complete. You have stuff falling from the rafters and mack trucks lining the streets. This was clearly a rush job facilitated by the town allowing them to open before the project was complete. My only hope is that another chunk falls from the ceiling and takes out Bill Maher...what an A-hole.

Under what authority is the town allowed to repeatedly and continually waive parking ordinances for these vehicles, and to exempt them from idling and noise ordinances if there may be any on the books?

Sounds like the merchants should band together and hire a lawyer, either through the BID or on their own.

It really is unfortunate for the Chinese restaurant blocked by the buses, but I've got to imagine that this is still a good development for the financial success of the area.

For both shows I went to at the Wellmont, I had dinner at a nearby restaurant. And both places were absolutely packed, buzzing with pre-show excitement. The Italian restaurant across Bloomfield Ave., which had exactly one other table occupied my first time there, actually had a 5-minute wait.

Hopefully once the dressing rooms are completed, the buses won't need to park on the street, and the situation will improve. In the meantime, I'm still optimistic that this is a good addition to our town--both in terms of finances and quality of life.

Unbelievable! I was really excited when I heard the Wellmont would be opening, but it's sounded like one nightmare after another, and most of the scheduled events are pretty unappealing to those of us who'd been excited to see that the same folks involved in the Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom were opening a place locally.

Surely the Wellmont stands to make a killing in Montclair, considering the ticket and drink prices. Should they not be fined for disrupting the entire business district for weeks on end, preventing established restaurants and retailers from making their own revenue? This is outrageous.

oh, and let's not forget the nonsense that is the extra police presence that is required for parking, traffic and trailer issues. I'm sure they're donating their time or being paid by the venue... right?

Joey Thai, just down from Aqua Blue is also great! The food is authentic and the owner is as nice as can be. He will cook anything on the menu just as you wish!

Personally, I don't think the new and improved Wellmont is good for the town, cited by the examples above. I agree with Nobama that it was a rush job with little attention paid to the consequences. I've seen other businesses come in to town with big dreams (Rascal's anyone?)but without the planning and foundations under them. The rest is history.

yes, a few thousand visitors out for a night on the town would be dreadful for the local economy.

How about the Bill Maher part Mrs Martta?? Not a huge piece that would paralyze him, just something that may graze him and cause him to fall off the stage and, I don't know, maybe break an arm or a leg.

not to mention, the fact that many posters on this very board would be apoplectic if the wellmont was renovated to be nice, quiet condos.

Can't really have it both ways, I'd expect.

Did everyone miss the part of the article where it says this is "temporary" ?

I live up the street, and every night there is a show, out my window, I hear/see cars that are trying to park..horns blaring, people yelling at each other..it's a big mess.

After the show, the same folks are driving home, again, a lot more street noise... I know living on the Ave. to expect such, but this is way over the top for all of us that live here.

I also feel for the merchants, many I know for a long time...this time of year, the Holiday Season, will make or brake it for most of them..I hope something could be worked out before the end of the shopping period.

I don't think it's bad, overall, for Montclair, but I do think it is an example of very poor planning. And I agree with Nomaba that it should not have been opened until it was 100% complete.

I don't wish anyone harm, Nobama. I don't agree with Maher's politics but he IS funny. I just wish he played on our team.

"yes, a few thousand visitors out for a night on the town would be dreadful for the local economy."

Especially if they are being harassed by police officers in front of the Chinese restaurant.

Nobama has it right (apart from wishing harm on random celebrities), they shouldn't have opened until everything was done, and done right.

I noticed on my way to the train at 7am, that the sound trailers were already parked with a police presence on Bloomfield Ave. I thought that that more planning would have gone into a venue, especially on Bloomfield Ave, a major road.

Then, a woman whose desk is next to mine at work, remarked that she had restaurant reservations and couldn't get through due to a show and would not go near the area again if an event was going on. She had a brochure on the events and was making a reservation elsewhere.

I feel sorry for those Restaurant Owners, here they are putting an all out effort to improve that area, and get no help fom the town.

What about the Owners of Condo's upstairs from the Wellmont? Their lives must be upside down with the noise and traffic/parking congestion.

This really was not thought out well by the Town.

The town just wasn't built for a venue like this! A lot of these changes of late that are designed to better the town have been causing it to a) lose it's charm and b) become less racially diverse. Montclair used to be a town that rich AND poor lived in (as well as every socioeconomic class in between) - that's probably why all of you newbies moved here! So, the midtown direct came, then more chain stores, increased parking fees, banks taking over what used to be unique businesses, places like Diva's and what used to be Rascals, now the Wellmont. It's a shame.

Surely the Contract that The Welmont has with the Town/Parking Authority, has a clause for "lost business insurance" of which the local businesses affected can recover some monies; no different than a utility loss of power???
Unanticipated things always happen, like a utility interuption. THIS is a lack of planning and foresight, and should have been clearly thought through immediately upon the new Administration taking office. Surely the "idling" ordinance should be enforced.
Fix this fast, or we look really unprofessional to those that frequent the Bergen PAC, SOPAC, Morristown, Count Basie venues.

Until such time as renovations on the hole under Liz's porch are complete, let it hereby be known that I shall have a dressing van idling in front of Liz's house.

Not sure how a music theater makes the town lose its charm or become less racially diverse.

Yes, there is not a lot of parking in the area. Everyone knew that was going to be an issue from Day 1. But that doesn't mean the town should have given up on this endeavor.

Forgetting for a moment about the culture that the venue brings, how much money do you think it brings in? Isn't that a good thing for all of us? (Well, except for the folks who live above the theater...)

Theoretically, the owners of the Wellmont have more money than just about every store owner in that area and the town is allowing the Wellmont to open early and prosper at the expense of the local merchants that were here before the Wellmont and who are all likely struggling to survive through this recession. Why did it have to be such a rush job, we all saw the articles where they were still painting and doing work literally a couple of days before the first concert. The Wellmont owners could have survived carrying the mortgage another 30 days before opening and the town should have never allowed them to open under these conditions.

I am also not a believer that once the dressing rooms are done everything will be fine and the Mack Trucks will all of a sudden not be a fixture in front of the theater. One does not seem to be related to the other. These concerts even at this small venue are big productions which will require these trucks to unload for an extended period of time, and they will not be unloading through the dressing room in the back.

This is why venues are usually in the city or places like the Meadowlands. Areas that can handle the influx of people. Montclair? The people that LIVE here already had trouble with finding parking. Who thought that it would be easy to let in a few thousand more?

The entertainment business holds itself the petty concerns being voiced here. Don't expect too much cooperation from them. If they aren't legally enjoined from perpetrating these quality of life infractions, they will continue to do so.

These smarmy, bossy, 20-30 something kids in their hip little headpieces that festoon movie and TV shoots are the epitome of the hipper than thou mentality that informs these kinds of invasions into work areas and communities.

"Theoretically, the owners of the Wellmont have more money than just about every store owner in that area and the town is allowing the Wellmont to open early and prosper at the expense of the local merchants that were here before the Wellmont and who are all likely struggling to survive through this recession. Why did it have to be such a rush job, we all saw the articles where they were still painting and doing work literally a couple of days before the first concert."

Bingo! Whose ox is getting gored?

holds itself aloof from ..

Nobama is right. It's class warfare! I blame it all on those rich bastards.

Hmmm, I agree with ROC. Shocking! It sounds like some huge kinks need to be worked out but to go from being wildly enthused to making the conclusion that the place should be shut down in such a short amount of time is a bit drastic. Sounds like they are working on the problems and my guess is that it just needs some time. Sure, it would have been better if all these problems were non-existent and better planning would have occurred but what in life is done so perfectly the first time around. Maybe Walt Disney World. It is unfortunate that the business owners are suffering but hopefully they won't for long and will benefit in the long run.

Now, if they could book David Byrne, OCMS, Neko Case, well, now, that would possibly make up for it.

I just think a leeeetle more time is warranted before concluding the place is a disaster and the owners should be tarred and feathered.

Sularu,

Just like developers in Montclair, the Wellmont owners get away with whatever the town lets them get away with. And once again, the town botched what could have been and still could be a great thing. The Wellmont could be a great asset to the town, but there was no need to rush the job. All they had to do was make sure the project was complete before they hosted any events and we would be talking about other more important issues, like the travesty of using bark to build houses.

I know there is someone out there that wouldn't mind even a very small piece of the ceiling to clip Maher, okay not to hurt him. Forget about the broken arm or leg, just for the emabarrassment factor alone. Come on, you know you want it, speak up!

As far as the roof falling down on Bill Maher, those folks who were there might remember his microphone dying a few times during the show--at one point a split-second before he delivered a punch line.

That was bad enough...

So they opened in time for the holiday season. They need to work out some kinks, like Walleroo's contractual need for a well furnished green room. First people whine that downtown shops are going out of business now they whine that venue that will bring in foot traffic
has some temporary problems that are being addressed. How about giving it a few months.

a well furnished "green room" what the hell is that?

Go easy on her, ROC, she's obviously suffering from overwork and severe boredom from riding the trains to and from New York.

A green room is a private space where "talent" can comfortably stay when not needed on set or on stage.

isn't that the dressing room?

Is it symbolically green?

What, when renovating dressing rooms, could possibly take three weeks?!

you've never done any renovation or construction, have you "user" ?

A green room is not a dressing room. It is a waiting room, not for getting dressed or putting on make-up. There are many anecdotal stories about the origins of the term dating back to Shakespeare. The more contemporary version is that the "green" light goes on to alert artists that they are "on".

This whole thread sounds eerily similar to the pre-Rascal's thread.

Eventually, the promise of a local venue where fanatics can practice their profession will succumb to the realization that it is not worth the decrease in the quality of their local life.

Just as it does not make sense to drill for oil, where it is not financially viable, it does not make sense to open a 2,000 seat venue where parking was already the largest detriment to obtaining retail rateables.

Hmmm, I wonder if there's oil beneath the Wellmont. That would give a different cast to this whole problem. Wouldn't need to worry about parking if we built a pipeline. Could combine if with a coffee shop.

Isn't Bloomfield Avenue a *county* road?

" it does not make sense to open a 2,000 seat venue where parking was already the largest detriment to obtaining retail rateables."

Im sure these issues will put a serious dent in all the night time retail shopping going on.

Exactly ROC. Plus the town has worked with the parking garages to ensure 800 spaces for each event. Most of the shops are closed by the time shows start and aside from Sesame, which has the truck issue for now, I can't imagine the other restaurant owners believe the venue is going to be bad for business. If someone were smart, they'd stay open later than the shows and offer up "light" fare for some of the night owls who don't want to go home at 11pm.

ROC,

When the local apartment renters can't have guests come over, or the high-end restaurants are empty since no one in the Gwar fanbase can afford Sesame, you will get your dent. These shows start at prime dining time. The fact that parking for the shows is incredibly difficult will bring people in early to secure a prime spot. Try to pick up take-out from a Bloomfield Ave. establishment on show night for your evidence.

Time might fix the production trucks issue, but no amount of time is going to make 1,000 parking spots spontaneously appear. And lord help us if the security detail necessary to route all of the concertgoers is not being paid by the venue.

13%, this is for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtiTZ2WS3Fg

As a neighbor of the wellmont, It really is an inconvenience to not be able to get around the trailers but think of how awesome this is for downtown Montclair! Obviously their is always going to be bugs to work out when you're dealing with such a large venue, but it comes with the territory. I don't know if anyone noticed but before the wellmont the downtown area was like a ghost town and mostly all the restaurants and shops were empty and now atleast the captive audience is there now all the merchancts have to do is get them in. Over all I feel that the wellmont is a great addition to Montclair and I hope to see more shows booked for the future. Congrats and good luck to them!

J22Jam - hear, hear!!! Finally someone w/ some foresight! I agree, give them some time to work out the kinks...AND this coming from someone immediately/currently affected - good for you!

Re: parking
Look at Red Bank's Count Basie Theater and New Brunswick's State Theater for solutions. Build a parking deck next to Wellmont, perhaps?

Re: merchants
The night of Bill Maher's soldout show I got takeout from Sesame. The place was packed. Sure, I had to park a little further away (I'm not revealing my secrets) and the wait for the police to allow me to cross over Bloomfield Ave was annoying. But don't believe everything you read that merchant business is down BECAUSE of the Wellmont (bad economy? hello?).

JG--I am always happy when there's more live music in town (even in this case, despite the fact I'm largely disappointed with the programming so far).

BUT... what other business would have been allowed to open when they were so clearly unprepared to do so? Can you imagine what would happen if a new local retailer opened under similar circumstances (building obviously not finished, reasonable processes not in place)? Come on.

I want the Wellmont to succeed because I think can ultimately be a feather in Montclair's cap--and eventually bring more business for other local merchants. But established merchants shouldn't be made to pay for the Wellmont's lack of preparation in the meantime.

The Wellmont isn't necessarily bad for every local business. One sector of the local economy claims that business is actually up in that area.

you know if you call that number complainer, someone answers "Wellmont Green Room"

ROC, I guess that would explain what is Behind the Green Door.

Wow. We're in a severe recession, credit is amazingly tight to completely unavailable, and the Wellmont has a few kinks to work out. Let's be serious. Rather than shutter the building and send the trucks home, now that we have the facts, why not wish this fledgling business occupying a formerly shuttered building (and previously, gasping enterprise) Godspeed in these challenging financial markets and hope they iron out those kinks forthwith? We are likely to see a lot more business failures than successes in the months to come. Let's not be haters about one that stands a chance of making it.

And meanwhile, yes, empathy for the other neighborhood occupants, human and commercial alike, and hopes that resolutions for all concerns will be actively sought.

well said, git.

It's a mess.
They didn't plan for parking...just like they didn't plan for parking for the Handicapped Playgound.
That's going to be another mess.

The Wellmont itself should flourish IMO.
Touring oldie bands are the only bands out there filling seats anymore.
Wellmont is a perfect venue and Montclair is a perfect town to support touring acts in that size venue.
(and Montclair has money to buy tickets)
That said...the parking and Bloomfield Avenue is a complete nightmare.

Wow, the people on this board and in this town truly amaze me. You have an entrepreneurial venture that is taking an EXISTING structure, an amazing theater, and transforming into a venue that attracts top notch talent satisfying many different musical tastes and people here want to condemn it. "I can't park, whaaaa!!! Enough, take a bus, get out and walk or stay home. If Plofker knocked this place down and put up anything else you would all still be bitching....Maybe we should knock it down and make a parking lot? This place was a theater 80 years ago that sat over 2000, and now it still is. What the hell is wrong with that? I am not sure what you people envision this town should resemble, but I have parking in my driveway and I have never had a problem parking downtown. If you rent an apartment with no parking, why the F should I care? Pretty sure entitlement to a parking spot is not in the bill of rights. Don't like it, move. Most towns in this country, particularly in these economically challenged times would die to have a parking problem, it means you have a thriving town. Don't like it, move to West Caldwell, plenty of parking in all the strip malls they call a "downtown".

Yikes, here comes the shill, getaclue completely ignoring the merchants complaints.

LOON,
Not ignoring those issues, but commenting on the responses, thus the beginning of the post directed to the people on this board (such as yourself).....Those merchant issues will be solved and I view it as a temporary problem. I would be comfortable in guaranteeing that for every one of these businesses that are being negatively affected (I count 3 from this article), there are many more that are benefiting from the Wellmont. The situation is unfortunate but temporary.

Nobama is just upset because Bill Maher has played the Wellmont and Charlie Daniels and Jeff Foxworthy have not.

As for those unsightly trucks, why can't they park in front of the Social Security building instead of blocking private merchants?

There is an active NJ Transit / Decamp bus stop in front of the Social Security building. Moving the bus stop to a new location will probably not happen in our lifetime.

Greypoupon, parking in front of Social Security would block out the prolife protesters. Few people in Montclair would complain about that.

The Wellmont should be forced to pay a portion of their proceeds to the businesses they are affecting. Seems fair to me.

Wow. 70+ posts of bitching and moaning about a temporary problem.

Take a deep breath. The Wellmont is good. Good Wellmont.

"Just like developers in Montclair, the Wellmont owners get away with whatever the town lets them get away with."

Yup! Our retired law enforcement officer Councillor-at-Large has arranged for the cops to allow a big-ass trailer truck to park on the street in our neighborhood (NOT his), so you have to put up with them allowing big-ass star trailers to park on the street yours! It's equal opportunity disrespect for any taxpayer who is not a chronie of the folks we just voted out!

"Just like developers in Montclair, the Wellmont owners get away with whatever the town lets them get away with."

Yup! Our retired law enforcement officer Councillor-at-Large has arranged for the cops to allow a big-ass trailer truck to park on the street in our neighborhood (NOT his), you have to put up with them allowing big-ass star trailers to park on the street yours! It's equal opportunity disrespect for any taxpayer who is not a chronie of the folks we just voted out!

I wonder what the cops do when the smell the mari-hoochie smoke pouring out of the tour busses?

I'm sure they just 'smell the other way'..

Everybody must stop bitching NOW! Except Nana, of course.

What do you do, relax people, when you want to get people up in arms? Do you have to change your name to "get up in arms people"? Or perhaps your message is always zen like.

Roo,

Up in arms about the Wellmont? That's a pretty pathetic cause.

But bitch frenzies are funny, especially from posters here.

"If Plofker knocked this place down and put up anything else you would all still be bitching....Maybe we should knock it down and make a parking lot?"

Maybe we should knock Plofker down. I have a feeling, though, he would be like one of those "weebles," as in "weebles wobble but they don't fall down."

Without bitch frenzies, the Baristas would be out of business, and we'd all have to work.

I live there. I paid several hundred dollars for a parking permit. I looked FORWARD to the wellmont theatre opening for many of the reasons listed here. I was not aware & in fact was assured that I would not be a prisoner in my home due to the parking lot there. Let me explain to "Just get a clue" how moronic their suggestions are. If I "stay home" that means I don't work for a living &/or I tell my job "sorry concert tonight can't make this required meeting - sure the economy sucks & I can't get flexibility like before but you see there is a concert schedule." OR I can walk blocks & blocks up to a mile or longer away in the dark (& in the winter on the ice) on a fairly regular basis (& risk getting attacked - good times), while the parking permit I paid for has now been made worthless. Instead the Wellmont & the town needs to ensure they make good on the parking situation. Patrons will walk (& I say this as a typical concert venue patron); concert venues often provide shuttle buses. This won't shut the Wellmont down if patrons don't take over the parking lot & I am no longer a prisoner in my home, however I very likely could lose my livelihood &/or will have my physical safety compromised. I paid money & researched the situation prior to moving there; I was told this wouldn't happen. To reiterate, the bottom line is that the wellmont can & will thrive even if patrons don't park right there displacing me & putting me into a phsyically dangerous situation. They just won't do it unless they are incented to is all.

I live there. I paid several hundred dollars for a parking permit. I looked FORWARD to the wellmont theatre opening for many of the reasons listed here. I was not aware & in fact was assured that I would not be a prisoner in my home due to the parking lot there. Let me explain to "Just get a clue" how moronic their suggestions are. If I "stay home" that means I don't work for a living &/or I tell my job "sorry concert tonight can't make this required meeting - sure the economy sucks & I can't get flexibility like before but you see there is a concert schedule." OR I can walk blocks & blocks up to a mile or longer away in the dark (& in the winter on the ice) on a fairly regular basis (& risk getting attacked - good times), while the parking permit I paid for has now been made worthless. Instead the Wellmont & the town needs to ensure they make good on the parking situation. Patrons will walk (& I say this as a typical concert venue patron); concert venues often provide shuttle buses. This won't shut the Wellmont down if patrons don't take over the parking lot & I am no longer a prisoner in my home, however I very likely could lose my livelihood &/or will have my physical safety compromised. I paid money & researched the situation prior to moving there; I was told this wouldn't happen. To reiterate, the bottom line is that the wellmont can & will thrive even if patrons don't park right there displacing me & putting me into a phsyically dangerous situation. They just won't do it unless they are incented to is all.

I live there. I paid several hundred dollars for a parking permit. I looked FORWARD to the wellmont theatre opening for many of the reasons listed here. I was not aware & in fact was assured that I would not be a prisoner in my home due to the parking lot there. Let me explain to "Just get a clue" how moronic their suggestions are. If I "stay home" that means I don't work for a living &/or I tell my job "sorry concert tonight can't make this required meeting - sure the economy sucks & I can't get flexibility like before but you see there is a concert schedule." OR I can walk blocks & blocks up to a mile or longer away in the dark (& in the winter on the ice) on a fairly regular basis (& risk getting attacked - good times), while the parking permit I paid for has now been made worthless. Instead the Wellmont & the town needs to ensure they make good on the parking situation. Patrons will walk (& I say this as a typical concert venue patron); concert venues often provide shuttle buses. This won't shut the Wellmont down if patrons don't take over the parking lot & I am no longer a prisoner in my home, however I very likely could lose my livelihood &/or will have my physical safety compromised. I paid money & researched the situation prior to moving there; I was told this wouldn't happen. To reiterate, the bottom line is that the wellmont can & will thrive even if patrons don't park right there displacing me & putting me into a phsyically dangerous situation. They just won't do it unless they are incented to is all.

I live there. I paid several hundred dollars for a parking permit. I looked FORWARD to the wellmont theatre opening for many of the reasons listed here. I was not aware & in fact was assured that I would not be a prisoner in my home due to the parking lot there. Let me explain to "Just get a clue" how moronic their suggestions are. If I "stay home" that means I don't work for a living &/or I tell my job "sorry concert tonight can't make this required meeting - sure the economy sucks & I can't get flexibility like before but you see there is a concert schedule." OR I can walk blocks & blocks up to a mile or longer away in the dark (& in the winter on the ice) on a fairly regular basis (& risk getting attacked - good times), while the parking permit I paid for has now been made worthless. Instead the Wellmont & the town needs to ensure they make good on the parking situation. Patrons will walk (& I say this as a typical concert venue patron); concert venues often provide shuttle buses. This won't shut the Wellmont down if patrons don't take over the parking lot & I am no longer a prisoner in my home, however I very likely could lose my livelihood &/or will have my physical safety compromised. I paid money & researched the situation prior to moving there; I was told this wouldn't happen. To reiterate, the bottom line is that the wellmont can & will thrive even if patrons don't park right there displacing me & putting me into a phsyically dangerous situation. They just won't do it unless they are incented to is all.

I live there. I paid several hundred dollars for a parking permit. I looked FORWARD to the wellmont theatre opening for many of the reasons listed here. I was not aware & in fact was assured that I would not be a prisoner in my home due to the parking lot there. Let me explain to "Just get a clue" how moronic their suggestions are. If I "stay home" that means I don't work for a living &/or I tell my job "sorry concert tonight can't make this required meeting - sure the economy sucks & I can't get flexibility like before but you see there is a concert schedule." OR I can walk blocks & blocks up to a mile or longer away in the dark (& in the winter on the ice) on a fairly regular basis (& risk getting attacked - good times), while the parking permit I paid for has now been made worthless. Instead the Wellmont & the town needs to ensure they make good on the parking situation. Patrons will walk (& I say this as a typical concert venue patron); concert venues often provide shuttle buses. This won't shut the Wellmont down if patrons don't take over the parking lot & I am no longer a prisoner in my home, however I very likely could lose my livelihood &/or will have my physical safety compromised. I paid money & researched the situation prior to moving there; I was told this wouldn't happen. To reiterate, the bottom line is that the wellmont can & will thrive even if patrons don't park right there displacing me & putting me into a phsyically dangerous situation. They just won't do it unless they are incented to is all.

I live there. I paid several hundred dollars for a parking permit. I looked FORWARD to the wellmont theatre opening for many of the reasons listed here. I was not aware & in fact was assured that I would not be a prisoner in my home due to the parking lot there. Let me explain to "Just get a clue" how moronic their suggestions are. If I "stay home" that means I don't work for a living &/or I tell my job "sorry concert tonight can't make this required meeting - sure the economy sucks & I can't get flexibility like before but you see there is a concert schedule." OR I can walk blocks & blocks up to a mile or longer away in the dark (& in the winter on the ice) on a fairly regular basis (& risk getting attacked - good times), while the parking permit I paid for has now been made worthless. Instead the Wellmont & the town needs to ensure they make good on the parking situation. Patrons will walk (& I say this as a typical concert venue patron); concert venues often provide shuttle buses. This won't shut the Wellmont down if patrons don't take over the parking lot & I am no longer a prisoner in my home, however I very likely could lose my livelihood &/or will have my physical safety compromised. I paid money & researched the situation prior to moving there; I was told this wouldn't happen. To reiterate, the bottom line is that the wellmont can & will thrive even if patrons don't park right there displacing me & putting me into a phsyically dangerous situation. They just won't do it unless they are incented to is all.

How temporary is temporary?
Temporary around here can go on for years.
That's why everyone is bitching.

Whoa. I think montclair resident may also have acute caffeine toxicity today.

Whatever raises a good point"

"Temporary around here can go on for years"

My neighborhood was asked to put up with permit parking while the Crescent Deck was being built. It was supposed to end when the deck was finished. I think that the deck has been open 2+ years now, and unofficially, the permit parking is still clogging up my street.

Hey, there's the new town logo:

Montclair: Temporary around here can go on for years.

Life is temporary.

Walleroo, that's just too deep for this discussion.

Neighborhood residents as well as long-time merchants like Cricket Antiques and the London Food Company need the township's protection in this case. Sales during the Thanksgiving-New Years period are critical, especially to these small businesses. They can make the difference between staying afloat or closing. These shops were there long before the new incrnation of the Wellmont. They deserve better treatment from the township government and the support of the shopping public.

Agreed, JG. Not only are sales critical during the holiday season but we have the double whammy of being in a bad recession when sales figures are already down and predicted to remain there until who knows.

If I were the owner of the London Food Company I'd be figuring out a way to sell yummy British candy bars, tea, coffee and snacks to the Wellmont patrons -- perhaps from the sidewalk in front of the store or out of a stand on the corner near the Social Security Building. The amount they'd bring in from this would easily pay for the extra hours the store would need to be open. It's a veritable cash cow.

"Most towns in this country, particularly in these economically challenged times would die to have a parking problem"

Im sure this is high on the to do list.
1. Control taxes
2. Create parking problem

It doesnt mean you have a thriving downtown, it means that there was and is a poor job being done in urban planning.
Youre a real brain trust getaclue.

in a strange way jimmy, 2 could possibly be said to follow from 1.

lets see, parking issues arising from a busy downtown... hmmm jimbo, how would your tax situation improve with empty storefronts coupled with little to no economic activity in a towns commercial district, albeit with plenty of parking? My point is that I think the town parking "problem" is the result of successful revitalization of its downtown district. The Wellmont was already there, been there for 80 years so in terms of the "planning" you speak of, alittle late for that discussion. If we were talking about a "new" structure with any combination of residential and commercial development, maybe we could talk about the great job of planning you could do on that project. The real parking problem lies in the fact that too many residential rental units downtown have no parking, and in terms of planning, I wholeheartedly agree that something should be done to reduce the use of public town parking for residential use. Residential development in that area has caused the problem, not the commercial district development. Here is a plan Jimmy...this will help reduce your property taxes if you actually pay them... increase the overnight permit parking rates 3 fold and continue to have the town charge $15 to park on concert nights in town lots. That raises a hell of a lot more money than taxpayers currently receive from the residential use of those "public" parking lots.

This problem isn't going away with dressing rooms. Each show is going to bring trucks needed to carry equipment, which will block up the Ave while they are unloaded then loaded up again. This was bad planning.

This whole mess stinks of the Marlboro Inn. Once again, it's Money over Montclair.

This whole mess stinks of the Marlboro Inn. Once again, it's Money over Montclair.

"Once again, it's Money over Montclair."

I like this one a lot more.

Montclair: Temporary around here can go on for years.

getaclue, please use paragraphs! Sheesh.

Maybe his enter key is broken?

So let's see-there are 103 posts. Where is the P.R. for the Wellmont? It's unfathomable that so many complaints (sound, parking, plaster falling) have come through this site and nobody from there has bothered to respond or even just contact the Baristas to publish a statement. Maybe if the Star Ledger got in the mix?