Last night, the Ridgefield Economic and Community Development Commission met to discuss strategies for filling vacant office space in Ridgefield.
Aimee Berger-Girvalo, Democratic candidate for Ridgefield State Representative attended the special meeting held on September 10, 2018.
Listening to the needs of the commercial taxpayer is critical to Berger-Girvalo. The commercial property owners reduce the burden of the residential property owner due to their significant contribution to the overall tax base, making the vacancies in office space an important issue for all Ridgefield residents.
The Commission invited commercial landlord and Selectman, Steve Zemo, Urstadt-Biddle President Wing Biddle, and commercial real estate agent Bob Cascella to participate in the conversation. The discussion focused on the issue of office vacancy and how Ridgefield compared to its Fairfield County neighbors. Also in attendance was Laura Rubinfeld, Executive Officer of the Ridgefield Board of Realtors.
In summary, according to Steve Zemo, “Occupancy rates in Ridgefield are strong. The mid-size office spaces are the biggest contributors to the increased vacancy percentages. Many of these buildings are in need of renovation and repricing. Cosmetic improvements together with competitive pricing will definitely help the percentages decrease by attracting area business people.”
Zemo and Biddle expressed their support and appreciation for the ECDC social media initiative in promoting Ridgefield.