tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post5558164683928995272..comments2024-03-28T17:55:31.180-04:00Comments on The Gossips of Rivertown: Proposal for Union and First StreetsCarole Osterinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-26961747928352586072011-03-14T07:23:17.866-04:002011-03-14T07:23:17.866-04:00I have never understood this particular argument w...I have never understood this particular argument with regard to the development of Crosswinds. The "last large open space" that Crosswinds is now situated on was For Sale for a long time, which means that Mr. Meyer or anyone else could have purchased that property and maintained it as an open space for as long as they wanted to.<br /><br />As the former Site Manager, I can attest to the fact that Crosswinds improved the lives of many Hudson City School District students by providing newly constructed, safe and sanitary housing. Comfortable housing, as you already know Mr. Meyer, is one of those variables that help children learn better and succeed.<br /><br />When a group of Democrats toured Crosswinds, Mr. Mendolia's comment at the end of the tour, (I can't quote him exactly because it was so long ago now.), was in regard to "losing the view". (THAT phrase stuck with me.)<br /><br />As a Democrat, I was stunned by that comment. I believe the needs of CNAs, police officers and customer service employees - all jobs that provide services to readers of this blog - and Senior Citizens surviving on fixed incomes - trump the view.<br /><br />Earning local wages in a housing market that now and has for quite some time, catered to non-local wages, seems to be the specific economic/housing conversation one no one wants to take up. Perhaps it is just too uncomfortable to do so. <br /><br />I often hear and read that new residents who come to Hudson, to invest in Hudson, do so because it is "edgy". I would be very interested to read that definition of edgy, because in the new Hudson terms, it apparently doesn't ideally include a community with poor people, disabled people, people with physical or mental illness or a whole host of people who can't afford to or don't drink $3 coffee or eat $3 loaves of bread.<br /><br />Finally, there are many local young people who would also like to invest in Hudson - that idea, that dream - is not limited to people from somewhere else. But that goes back to the economic/housing conversation about local wages versus a non-local wage housing market.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13904744235071178921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-89327449789014666012011-03-13T14:40:37.995-04:002011-03-13T14:40:37.995-04:00Exactly. This was my major objection to the build...Exactly. This was my major objection to the building of Crosswinds, the development plopped down on one of Hudson's last large open spaces (next to the Intermediate school). We have such a surfeit of old houses in need of repair. Couldn't we convince Mssr. Galloway to direct his energies and monies toward them?Peter Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627451247693034161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-14652623808364704502011-03-12T16:20:03.423-05:002011-03-12T16:20:03.423-05:00I walk by here all the time. If it was just one or...I walk by here all the time. If it was just one or two buildings on the alley side instead of that wreck, I'd say great. There are so many buildings here empty and/or in need of repair that could be made into decent housing, but so little open space. If it was up to me I'd keep the lot as it is or make it into a small public park. It's unfortunate when people see an empty space they can't appreciate it, but only see it as a spot to stick another building.SlowArthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182629761582261749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-66259935159454767652011-03-12T13:30:47.265-05:002011-03-12T13:30:47.265-05:00Yes, Peter, I do know what an area variance is, an...Yes, Peter, I do know what an area variance is, and I apologize for asuming that everyone else did as well. <br /><br />A variance is any departure from what is permitted in the zoning code. There are use variances and area variances. A use variance would be required, for example, if someone wanted to open a business on a street zoned residential. An area variance has to do with the relationship of a building to its surroundings.<br /><br />This project will require area variances for a few reasons. (1) The code requires houses to be set back something like 15 feet from the street. These houses are meant to continue the existing street wall, which means they will only be about 4 to 6 feet from the curb, so they'll need an area variance for that. Also I think the space between the houses on First Street is less than the code requires, although it's more than the 4 feet that is the typical space between houses in this part of the city. (2) The code also requires offstreet parking for new houses, and these houses won't have that.Carole Osterinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-6232783354719797102011-03-12T12:42:42.121-05:002011-03-12T12:42:42.121-05:00Carole, do you know what an "area variance&qu...Carole, do you know what an "area variance" is and why it's necessary to get one?<br /><br />thanks,<br /><br />pmPeter Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12627451247693034161noreply@blogger.com