13 • TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 February Forum On Ridgewood’s Future Eyes Changes To Neighborhood by Robert Pozarycki Ridgewood’s past, present and future will be the focus of a special panel discussion involving local civic activists and residents scheduled for next month. As announced by Henry Cross, founder of the Ridgewood Community Group on Facebook, the forum will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 at Topos Bookstore Café, located at 788 Woodward Ave. According to Cross, the event centers “on the past, current and future” of Ridgewood, which many publications deemed last year to be one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city. The attention Ridgewood received of late, while welcome among many long-time residents and business owners, sparked some resentment over published comparisons to Williamsburg, Bushwick and other neighborhoods which experienced similar booms in previous years. Some also seethed last June when a New York Times writer, in a review of a local restaurant, dubbed the Ridgewood area near the Brooklyn/Queens border as “Quooklyn.” At previous community meetings, Ridgewood residents also expressed concern that a higher demand for housing and business space would result in rent spikes forcing long-time residents out of the area. Cross, who also serves as a member of Community Board 5 and the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association, will serve as moderator of the discussion. The panel includes RPOCA Counsel Paul Kerzner, Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District and Ridgewood Local Development Corporation Executive Director Ted Renz, RPOCA Third Vice President and Board 5 member John Maier and Queens College professor Stephanie Wakefield. For more information, search and visit the Ridgewood Community Group page on Facebook. ©Times Newsweekly ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - WYCKOFF -2014 - CHOPIN
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