Nyack’s mixed bag
Prosperity clashes with parking needs
By KATHY KAHN

The shadow of recession may be lurking in retailers’ halls this holiday season, but one Hudson Valley store wasn’t feeling the “grinch” pinch last weekend.

Unlike many of her neighboring business owners, Irit Goldman’s shop, Iriniri, was filled with shoppers delighting in the variety of offerings on display ­ and spending their holiday dollars with nary a flicker of indecision.

Goldman didn’t know how to account for the foot traffic that kept her and her staff hopping, Teacher Laura Clark drove from Yonkers specifically to shop at Iriniri and walk around the quaint New England-style village. “I love Iriniri and love visiting Nyack in general,” said Clark. “It’s this kind of store and the others here, the ones you’ll never find inside a mall, that make it such a treat.”

Hungry? A slice of Rockland’s award-winning “best pizza” at family style Tarantella’s awaits. For those who prefer more elegant style, mahi-mahi with ginger sauce may be the special of the day at upscale Vertigo.

While some blamed the weather, the nearby mall, or consumer fears about the future, on this brisk December Saturday, one week before Santa’s big day, many stores and restaurants were solemn and silent. A lot of the shop and restaurant owners in the quaint Hudson River village blame the foot traffic fallout on the lack of parking spots.

It’s a problem that’s been vexing the village and pitting businesses against officials for several years. When the village board recently voted to raise metered parking from 25 cents an hour to $1 an hour, owners railed in angry response to the move. A shift in the times meters are in operation also aroused ire: changed from 9 a.m. ­ 6 p.m. to 11 a.m. ­ 9 p.m. Restaurateurs feel the shift has put the proverbial lump of coal in storeowners’ stockings. “Six to 9 p.m. is prime time for restaurants,” said one scowling maitre’d standing in his doorway, halls decked with holly but seats bereft of customers. “Who wants to play ‘how much time is left on the meter’ game?’ while they are waiting for their dinner?”

Mayor John Shields told Hudson Valley Business he will respond to concerns of business owners and reverse his position on the parking fee increase, one he initially supported and ask trustees to do likewise. He also planned to introduce a motion to hire a planner to study the potential impact, both negative and positive, of a multi-tiered parking structure in the village.

The proposed parking lot would be erected behind the former Helen Hayes Theater, where the village’s municipal lot is usually filled to the brim. Now that the idled theatre has been taken over by Riverspace, a not-for-profit organization, the village’s new chamber of commerce President Bob Gunderson pledged to help make it work for both the business owners and the theater. “Riverspace is wonderful addition for us, but we’re back to square one with the parking problem now that the theater has become a draw. We aim to make things right for everyone who owns a business here and for those who visit.”

Many of the business owners who sat waiting for customers to appear didn’t want to go on record with their gripes, citing a fear of unspecified payback. “It’s time the village to stop ignoring this situation before this place goes from boom to bust,” said one shopkeeper of the parking situation.

“Rents here are between $4,000 and $11,000 a month,” said another, who also declined to give his name but wanted to speak his piece. “This is not a cheap place to do business. We’d like to see the village be more responsive to our needs and one of those needs is accommodating tourists who come to enjoy Nyack. We want them to be able to park and not worry about feeding meters; worse yet, not finding parking at all, which often happens. That’s not good for business, and it’s not good for the homeowners who rely on our rateables to keep taxes down.”

Israeli-born Goldman, who designs some of the jewelry in her shop, says parking at her other two locations is not a concern: “In Sugar Loaf, where my original store is on Main Street, there aren’t any meters ­ people can park just about anywhere. In Warwick, the village put hoods over all the parking meters with a ‘season’s greetings’ message on them. If that would make a difference here, I welcome anything that will bring customers to me and my neighbors’ stores.”

Gunderson, who founded the original Friends of Nyack more than three decades ago, is not a business owner, but a longtime resident who knows business keeps the community’s blood flowing. He agreed with Goldman’s assessment and promised to implement changes he hopes will give Nyack’s businesses a renewed sense of connectivity with their local chamber, something he feels has waned. “We have 180 members now, and we plan to serve each and every one of them, as well as the businesses that are not members.

“We’re already planning for a week-long Mardi Gras the last week of January to coincide with New Orleans’ Fat Tuesday celebration, as well as other attractions to bring in tourism dollars,” said Gunderson, noting a place for those potential tourists to park without pain would be the icing on the cake. “We’re all for whatever will make life easier for our business owners. They are the lifeblood of the community.”

 

 

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