RED BANK'S PARKING HISTORY

What came first the businesses or the residential homes in Red Bank? Well the truth is that they both developed at about the same time. In the late 1800’s Red Bank was a merchant town as well as a port for the farm products to go to New York. Homes surrounded the downtown district. As the town grew the merchants had their homes here and in the 1930’s many of our locally owned businesses grew up in town with their families living close by.

The Eisner manufacturing plant gave jobs to about 35 % of the families in town and the homes on the west side developed. There has always been a parking problem in downtown Red Bank. As early as 1921 the Red Bank Chamber of Commerce started to study the “Parking Problem.” There were further studies in the 70’s and 80’ as well as Rivercenter’s proposals during the 90’s

In the last ten years as Red Bank became hip town there has been a desperate need for more and better parking. The parking garage on White Street could have been a saving grace for the downtown. Now, with the proposed development of the Arts and Antique District, i.e. Monmouth Street, PRC and Terranomics it is time to really get to work on our parking needs.

I am not talking about spending money on another study. It is time to re-open the parking garage on White Street issue. Contacting NJ Transit and working on one or two parking garages in this end of town could be very beneficial to both NJ Transit and the Arts and Antique District. Another part of the equation would be the businessmen and theater people getting their heads together and finding available space now not being used and working together with valet service on nights that we know are going to need a ton of parking spots. It worked very well during the Gala opening of the Two River Theater and could be short time fix until additional parking can be provided.