Monday, April 9, 2012

The "Latest Iteration" of the Senior Center

At Monday night's informal meeting, architect Jane Smith of the architectural firm Spacesmith presented what Common Council president Don Moore called the "latest iteration of plans" for the proposed senior center. Smith stressed that the building was still in "schematic design" and talked about the thinking behind the design. She explained that the goal was to impact the existing historic buiding as little as possible and to design "a light, airy structure that is complementary to the existing structure." She described the materials to be used as "simple, authentic Hudson materials"--clapboard, wood, clerestory windows, a standing seam metal roof--and called the design "simple, pure architecture of this time."















Smith said that a model, showing the new building in the context of existing buildings, and realistic renderings of the proposed building would be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission, but given the time constraints, that might not be possible. According to city attorney Cheryl Roberts, there must be a recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission before the State Environmental Quality Review can be done. She referred to a schedule that presumably had been worked out in February. Smith responded by saying that typically a project was presented to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission for approval before the final design was done, and it was the final design that was presented to the Historic Preservation Commission for approval.

Although Roberts made reference to a schedule for moving the project forward, David Voorhees, chair of the HPC, who was in the audience, was unaware that the project was expected to be presented to the HPC at its meeting this Friday, April 13. He pointed out that because there was a vacancy on the commission and two members had to be absent on Friday, there would not be a quorum and suggested that the HPC might have to schedule a special meeting on April 20 to review the project. 

There was also a question of extending the funding for the project. The funding expires at the end of August 2012, and the project obviously cannot be completed by that time. John Duchessi of The Grant Writers reported that the draft of a letter requesting an extension was now being worked on, but he was confident that the City will be granted an extension.

Karen Smith, whose house on Union Street is immediately adjacent to the Youth Center and the proposed new senior center, spoke for herself and her neighbors when she expressed concern about light from the new building flooding her backyard at night and noise from the building's mechanicals being disruptive. Jane Smith explained that the intent was that the light emanating from the building would have a much more residential feeling than the fluorescent light that now escapes from the building and pointed out that the mechanicals were positioned so that the building itself would muffle the sound.

Alderman Ohrine Stewart (Fourth Ward) was less than sympathetic. Not allowing Karen Smith to finish what she was saying, Stewart said that she lived on Columbia Street and had to deal with light pollution from the parking lots that surround the county office building at 325 Columbia Street and noise pollution from the truck route. She concluded by saying, "We all need to work together," but the implication seemed to be that Smith should stop complaining and suck it up. At which point Alderman Wanda Pertilla (Second Ward) said, of the thirty-four seniors who currently participate in senior programs, "They deserve it."

After the senior center presentation, the Common Council went into executive session to discuss the police contract and those tantalizing "real estate matters." 

5 comments:

  1. When I was on the board of the Boys & Girls Club, in the early 00s, when the housing market was booming, I explored the notion of selling the building and moving into new quarters, to be constructed in the double lot across the street from Bliss Towers (owned by the City). It made sense financially: a couple of real estate dealers said the building could fetch $800k; a new building built for $600k. It made sense programmatically: put the Club where the kids are. Unfortunately, politics trumped common sense and here we are, trying to shoe-horn a senior center on to a youth center, on a lot where there's no room in a part of town where neither belong! Poor Hudson!

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  2. I don"t care what the spin doctors say - this is just WRONG on so many levels.

    Nice airy modern 'addition' should be on its own lot - with parking available - not crammed into this absurd rendition - which does absolutely no justice to the standing historical structure.

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  3. ... and this is the same 'lot' the ex-mayor removed the kids raised garden beds because - his reasoning - it removed important parking space !?

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  4. Karen Smith is owed
    a complete apology from Common Council
    How dare they let a citizen
    be silenced and dismissed
    presenting her and her neighbors concerns
    about a highly controversial
    $ 800,000 project,that is irreversible,
    once it starts.
    Ms. Smith is the most affected homeowner ,citizen and taxpayer
    in Hudson, as her house is inches
    from rear of Youth Center
    and her property runs the complete width of Youth Center and proposed Senior Center Site

    Across Cherry Alley is the Sport Store parking

    The only prior complaint she has made
    to the City is the lack of maintenance
    on the Youth Center Bldg has caused damage
    of her property as well
    the Youth Center Bldg.
    ( A land-marked district ,Historic Bldg.
    former Friends meeting house foundation1794
    swapped with Methodist Episcopal on N3rd
    renovated Friends House into Methodist 1854
    ( boys and girls club since 1925,City seized property 2005 and became City run ,Youth Center)

    Karen Smith took photos, so the problems are clear
    See
    Gossips of Rivertown
    Tuesday ,February 7,2012
    "Questioning proposed Senior Center"

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  5. From Register Star
    Senior addition has home owner worried

    By Tom Casey
    Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

    Published:
    Tuesday, February 7, 2012 2:06 AM EST
    excerpt
    [ Karen Smith] "complained of rotted and missing gutters at the youth center, located at 18 South Third St., leading to the flooding of her lawn and basement and safety concerns to her home. Smith wants the council to address several “essential structural issues” before making a decision to go over budget on the center.

    “If they are going to start construction there they

    should fix the structure on the old building first,” said Smith.

    At its closest point, about six inches separates Smith’s Union Street home

    and the back of the youth center, and about five feet between the buildings’ foundations
    The flooding, she said, began about three year.

    ---------
    (in same article )

    Hallenbeck said he has received the letter and will visit the home to see the damages.

    “The city of Hudson goes out of its way to make sure its residents are heard

    in regards with any new projects taking place and any concerns they may have,” said Hallenbeck.

    The mayor said the city is “diligently looking into finding monies

    that are available and a way to fund the second floor” to avoid raising taxes

    As for the repairs needed for the center, he said they would be addressed.

    “I think if there is something that needs immediate attention

    we need to take that seriously to maintain city structures,” said Hallenbeck.

    “I’m not aware of any issues with that building at the present time

    up to receiving this letter ... we will look into that to rectify the problem.”

    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Karen Smith has now raised some legitimate concerns to Common Council
    about the impact to her and her neighbors
    having this Senior Center being built in the former
    Church's side yard
    that abuts Ms Smith's yard.

    Not once has Ms Smith said one negative word
    about the Youth or the Youth Programs
    being smack up against her house.

    That there are only 2 walls between her second floor
    of her upstairs and a kids active gymnasium
    She hasn't mentioned the seniors or kids at all

    or (the ordeal of having a construction site smack up against her yard
    and this Senior Center is going to built on busy Trke RTE 23B9G a traffic light at Union&
    half a block to stop light at Warren, the main South gateway into Hudson how long? Since this bldg takes up every sq.inch of a former tree filled side yard of Methodist Episcopal Church and there is no parking,
    how are they going to build,without shutting down Cherry Alley?;
    these are some of a thousand of MY questions)not Ms Smith's.

    No,

    Ms.Smith was concerned with the longer term problems,
    permanent output of light ,that wasn't there before
    and the yet unknown sound of bldg. mechanicals

    ( that would be all HVAC(including elevator shaft)~again me

    as they will be located on first story roof of proposed attachment.
    and then Karen Smith was rudely silenced and dismissed by Council

    The Youth Center is very fortunate to have
    had such an open and understanding neighbor
    as Karen Smith.
    She deserves a sincere apology
    the Common Council's full attention.
    and Mayor Hallenbeck make good on his word

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