Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

As we move closer to Halloween and to what is probably the most consequential election in my lifetime, here is what's happening in Hudson.

• On Monday, October 21, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meets at 6:00 p.m. The board is expected to discuss the Revised Preliminary Redevelopment Plan. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Tuesday, October 22, the Common Council Finance Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• Also on Tuesday, October 22, the Common Council ad hoc Parking Study Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.

• On Wednesday, October 23, the Common Council ad hoc Truck Route Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• Also on Wednesday, October 23, the Furgary Park Visioning Community Roundtable Event takes place at 7:00 p.m. at The Spark of Hudson, 502 Union Street. Residents are invited to share their ideas for transforming the Furgary site into a community recreational resource.

• On Thursday, October 24, the Public Works Board, tasked with overseeing the city's Sidewalk Improvement District, meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• On Friday, October 25, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. The meeting includes public hearings on the plans for the rehabilitation of the Public Square and on the hardship application for 431 East Allen Street. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place on person in the Council Chamber at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.

And there are a lot of things happening on the weekend, which Gossips will cover tomorrow in a separate post.

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BEA Budget Workshops This Week

The process of crafting the city budget for 2025 continues this week. The BEA (Board of Estimate and Apportionment--the mayor, the Common Council president, and the city treasurer) has three workshops scheduled for this week. The workshops are hybrid, taking place in person in the Council Chamber at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click on the topic of the workshop for the link to join the workshop remotely.  

• Monday, October 21
• 2:30 p.m.--Revenues
• Wednesday, October 22
• 2:00 p.m.--To Be Determined
• Friday, October 25
• 2:30 p.m.--To Be Determined

HPC to Hold Two Hearings on Friday

On Friday, October 25, the Historic Preservation Commission is holding two public hearings: one on the proposed rehabilitation of the Public Square; the second on 431 East Allen Street, the location of Catholic Charities.

There are currently cedar shakes on the mansard roof on the building at 431 East Allen Street. A certificate of appropriateness is being sought to repair the roof by replacing the cedar shakes with asphalt shingles. The HPC suggested that faux cedar shakes should be used instead of asphalt shingles, but the applicant maintained the cost of faux cedar shakes was not affordable. Because, according to the preservation ordinance, cost should not be a factor in deciding appropriateness, the HPC, at its September 27 meeting, denied a certificate of appropriateness and asked that a new application be submitted requesting a hardship consideration. The public hearing relates to the hardship application.

Set far back from the street, partially obscured by the garden beside St. Mary's Rectory, created in 2017, the house is easily overlooked, but it is a building of no small significance. Built in the 1860s, the house was designed by J. A. Wood, the architect for the 1877 Gothic expansion of the First Presbyterian Church. 

The house was originally located at the corner of East Court and East Allen streets. It can be seen, in its original location, in this historic photograph of courthouse square.

Photo courtesy Historic Hudson

The house was moved to its current location to make room for St. Mary's Church, the construction of which was completed in 1930.

Surely, this house deserves better treatment than it is getting. The HPC requested that the comparative prices of faux cedar shakes and asphalt shingles be presented at the hearing. Maybe someone of wealth, with a generous spirit and a desire to preserve Hudson's architectural heritage, will step up and provide the difference.

The public hearing on this project takes place at the HPC meeting on Friday, October 25. The meeting, which begins at 10:00 a.m., is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.

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Finding Love on Warren Street

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., puppies looking for their furever homes will be on Warren Street near South Fifth. The puppies--there are eight of them, all adorable, vaccinated, and medically approved--are from Wonderdog Rescue on Church Road in Greenport, which transports dogs from overcrowded shelters in California to us here in Hudson. Tomorrow's pop-up adoption event is being hosted by Olde Hudson.  

There's reason to believe the pictures below provide a sampling of the cuteness that could steal your heart tomorrow.

You can find out more at wonderdogny.org or by calling or texting (518) 610-6088. 

Keeping Up with HHA's Redevelopment Plan

Gossips' last report about the Hudson Housing Authority's plan for redevelopment was about the greenspace workshop on September 17. Next week, on Monday, the HHA Board of Commissioners has its regular monthly meeting, and it is expected the most recent revisions to the redevelopment plan will be discussed. Last week, Eu Ting-Zambuto of Mountco distributed a Revised Master Plan for the redevelopment. The plan is eventually supposed to be available on the housing authority website, but that hasn't happened yet. In the meantime, Gossips will share the images and some quotes from that document.

Revised Preliminary Redevelopment Plan

The development team prepared a revised initial redevelopment plan, as of September 2024. The Revised Master Plan proposes the development of new modern sustainable, well-designed, affordable housing at all tiers of affordability at or below 80% of AMI across two independent phases.

Phase 1 is proposed to be comprised of new construction on "Site B," HHA's underutilized existing 1.4-acre site on its north end, which currently contains a basketball court, maintenance shed, and the new construction of Site A1, a vacant parcel to the west of the project's existing Columbia Apartments, along with the acquisition and new construction of approximately ten townhouses on City-owned land. Site B proposes to create a single building with 4 stories on its east end and 5 stories on its west end with 110 units of affordable housing, along with residential amenities, a 3,000 sq ft commercial space reserved for a third-party non-profit, and subsurface parking. Site A1 proposes for the new construction of a 5-story, 50-unit building with residential amenities, plus 4,500 square feet for Housing Authority Offices. Reference to Sites B and A1 are illustrated below:

Phase 1 is essential as it will provide necessary relocation resources for residents of Bliss Towers and Columbia Apartments. This will facilitate the demolition of both buildings and allow for the development of approximately two acres of green space. The final design and features of the green space will be developed in collaboration with the community. In the rendering above, this space includes trees and landscaping, a basketball court, and a playground.

Phase 1 will replace the 135 units currently on HHA's site and will create an additional 25 units of affordable housing in an effort to address both the exigent need for existing residents to reside in quality and safe affordable housing and also, to address the overwhelming demand for affordable housing in the community.

The units will be set aside for households at varying levels of incomes requiring affordable housing and will include affordable workforce housing. . . .

Phase 1 paves the way for discussions regarding a subsequent Phase 2, which is projected to add an additional 100 units of affordable housing across a four and five story structure. While the Master Plan is proposed herein, Phase 1 is fully independent of the affordable housing component of Phase 2.

Please note that while the Preliminary Redevelopment Plan presented by the HHA represents the HHA's efforts to address the needs of its current residents, the community's desire for additional affordable housing, and the desire to create a transformative project that improves the community at large, the Plan is subject to revision based upon continuous input from the HHA Board, City administration, the City Council, Planning Board, the State and other . . . funding sources, the HHA residents and the Hudson community at large.

There's actually more on Site B than a basketball court and a maintenance shed. There is also a gazebo and a grassy lawn, where people hang out, and a playground with a mural.

The parcels that HHA and its development partner persistently refer to as "City-owned land" are actually owned by Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA). They are located at Second and Columbia streets (what remains of the Community Garden), State and Front streets, and Warren and Front streets (what is currently an Urban Renewal era "park"). HHA has an option to buy the three parcels, for which HHA has been paying HCDPA $25,000 a year for the past couple of years.

The HHA Board of Commissioners meeting takes place on Monday, October 21, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

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News Confirmed

It has been rumor and insider news for a while now, but today it's official. It was reported this morning in the Albany Business Review: "Boutique hotel sold for $11 million, upgrades planned." The hotel in question is The Wick on Cross Street here in Hudson, which has been acquired by an investment group led by Ben Fain, president and CEO of the newly formed Nice and Weird LLC.

Photo: Donna Abbott-Vlahos | Albany Business Review

Fain, whose enterprises in Hudson include Kitty's Market and Restaurant, Grapefruit Wines, The Caboose, and the market, proposed in collaboration with Hawthorne Valley Farm, to be established in the former Kaz warehouse building, is quoted in the article as saying, "We want to try and create a campus, for lack of a better word, that is really synergistic and makes everything sing." He goes on to say, "The Caboose has been an incredible success for us, and it's surprising how much interest and activity we've had. It sort of took us off guard, because we got interest from people and groups that we never really expected. . . . We just hosted Art Omi's gala and the weekend before the Hudson Area Library's gala. It brought so many people down here and a lot of them were looking for a place to stay, so having the option of a hotel like the Wick makes that whole process more comfortable, more streamlined, and just a better overall experience."

Although it's not mentioned in the Albany Business Review article, the historic Robert Taylor House, the late 18th-century home of the tanner Robert Taylor, considered to be the oldest surviving building in Hudson, will also be part of the "campus" Fain envisions.

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Of Interest

The Common Council's decision to opt in to New York State's Good Cause Eviction Law was the topic of a report on News 10 tonight: "Hudson 9th locality to opt-in to Good Cause Eviction." The report includes comments from Vicky Daskaloudi, councilmember from the Fifth Ward.

Help Needed

Gossips has learned that one of the Youth Department vans was stolen. The van has been recovered, but help is needed in investigating what happened. If anyone on Warren Street or in the vicinity of the Youth Center, 18 South Third Street, has surveillance cameras that may have recorded what occurred, you are asked to contact Liz Yorck at director@cityofhudsonyouth.org.

The Outcome for Good Cause

Perhaps predictably, the Common Council passed the resolution adopting the Good Cause Eviction Law.

Because the Council Chamber and the lobby of City Hall were filled with people bearing signs urging the Council, in English and Spanish, to pass the law, Council president Tom DePietro suggested, after a presentation by Starr Whitehouse about plans for the Furgary, that they go directly to what he called "the main event": voting on the resolution to adopt the Good Cause Eviction Law. There was just one hitch: Dewan Sarowar (Second Ward) wasn't there in person. Because of what he described as "personal business," Sarowar was attending virtually. According to the law, councilmembers attending a meeting virtually can vote only if their cameras are turned on and they can be seen by the audience and other members of the Council. Sarowar's camera was not on, and he was not visible to the rest of the Council.

There were eight members of the Common Council present in person at the meeting. Rich Volo (Fourth Ward) and Vicky Daskaloudi (Fifth Ward), who had recused themselves from consideration of the Good Cause Eviction Law, were not present at the meeting. Dominic Merante (Fifth Ward), who also had recused himself from the issue, was present. Before the vote was taken, DePietro asked Merante to explain why he was recusing himself. Merante explained that because he was a renter he might benefit financially from the law, and for this reason he felt ethically compelled to recuse himself. For this, he was berated by the audience member.

Obviously, with just seven people present to vote on the issue, DePietro felt Sarowar's participation was critical. He determined the Council should postpone "the main event" and consider other matters before them while Sarowar tried to get his camera to work. When there were only three items left on the agenda, Sarowar's colleague, Mohammed Rony (Second Ward), managed to get an image of Sarowar on his phone. The vote was taken, with Rony holding up his phone so the other members of the Council could see Sarowar. Of the eight members who had not recused themselves, only one, Margaret Morris (First Ward) voted no, explaining as she has in the past that, although the intent of the legislation was good, she believed it would have a negative impact on renters. There was a smattering of boos from the audience when Morris cast her no vote.

The resolution needed six affirmative votes to pass; it got seven.

There were cheers from the audience after the vote was taken, with someone declaring repeatedly that the Council was "on the right side of history." The meeting was paused while the jubilant crowd made its way out of the building.

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Of Interest

In about thirty minutes, the Common Council meeting for October begins. About thirty minutes ago, thehudsonwail posted the following on Instagram. 

 

Between all the spam texts and social media ads in the post above, it's hard not to notice that Hudson is becoming a battleground for larger, big-monied interests. One method used is using autogenerated form letters to spam elected officials. Being that one can send a pre written letter with a click of a button (slacktivism), and more interesting, there is no way to confirm who is sending the letters. This means that any well motivated group can influence our representatives by autogenerated grassroots support (astroturfing). As an experiment, we sent two extremely exaggerated letters to the Hudson Common Council, each on opposite sides of the Good Cause Eviction debate: from one "Feather" and another from "John Q. Landlord."

Besides the laughs, I would hope that actual Hudson residents pay more attention to local government and get involved, because others will happily speak for you. Write your own letters, and if you feel strongly about it either way, you can attend the meeting tonight at City Hall, 6pm 

The letter from "Feather" can be found here. The letter from "John Q. Landlord" can be found here. The Common Council meeting is a hybrid. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

Almost midway into autumn, our glorious October weather has turned into something resembling damp, drizzly November. Things are expected to improve as the week goes on, but meanwhile, here is what's happening.

• On Tuesday, October 15, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m. The big event of the evening will be the vote on Hudson opting in to the state's Good Cause Eviction Law. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely. 
• On Thursday, October 17, Hudson Community Development & Planning Agency (HCDPA) meets at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• On Saturday, October 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., The Spark of Hudson is hosting a "celebration of the revitalization of Charles Williams Park" at Charles Williams Park. There will be food vendors, and the plans for the revitalized park will be on display.

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BEA Budget Workshops This Week

The BEA (Board of Estimate and Apportionment--the mayor, the Common Council president, and the city treasurer) has only two budget workshops this week. The workshops are hybrid, taking place in person in the Council Chamber at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click on the department name to find the link to join the workshop remotely.

• Wednesday, October 16
• 2:30 p.m.--Cemetery, Water & Sewer
• Friday, October 18
• 2:30 p.m.--Nondepartmental

What Gets My Goat

Gossips' post about plans for the Public Square, in particular for the fountain and its ornamentation, inspired posts on Facebook and Instagram questioning the appropriateness of goats in the fountain design. 

Image: Dan Seward | Facebook

Image: Hudsonwail | Instagram

Needless to say, the notion of goats raised some questions for Gossips as well and inspired me to take a closer look at this image of the fountain from the Evelyn and Robert Monthie Slide Collection at the Columbia County Historical Society.

Look closely at the ornamental frieze around the basin just below Venus. Although fish heads might have been more in keeping with the aquatic theme of Venus rising from the sea, those are the heads of goats.

The big question is why the city fathers back in 1883 decided to combine goats and Venus in the design of the fountain that would grace the Public Square. Unfortunately, the Hudson Evening Register in its description of the fountain, which appeared on September 11, 1883, is silent on this point.

Now that the beautiful fountain in Public Park is nearly completed and our citizens have enjoyed the sight of "Venus Rising from the Sea," exhibiting in the most effective manner the power of our water supply, and proving that it can be put to ornamental as well as useful purposes, it is proper to speak in detail of this work of art, and award credit to those who were chiefly instrumental in procuring it.

The total height of the fountain, including the foundation, is eighteen feet. The pan is a gurgoyle octagon, eight feet five inches above the base: diameter of pan, eight feet, eleven inches. The ground basin is twenty five feet in diameter. The foundation is of Coral Marble, handsomely cut, from the quarries of Supervisor Fred. W. Jones, and was donated by the energetic and public spirited gentleman.

The foundation is capped by a fine slab of Vermont marble, which was generously donated by Patrick Hoctor, of the Hudson Granite and Marble Works. From this rises the base surrounded by the figures, all in graceful proportion and artistic design. But to be fully appreciated, it must be seen when the water in full force is playing through its numerous jets and rising and falling in fantastic forms.

Mr. D. Martin Haviland is entitled to much credit for his persevering efforts in securing to the city not only this beautiful fountain, but the handsome park in which it is located. One of the most unsightly spots in the city has within a few years been converted into one of the most attractive. In this enterprise Mr. Haviland's efforts have been generously seconded by the Boston & Albany Railroad Company, and the action of our Common Council, by the contributions of citizens, and by the local press.

At the outset we said the fountain was nearly completed. It only lacks the finishing touches of the artist's brush. This, we understand, Mr. Silas W. Tobey, the veteran artist, has volunteered to do, and this assurance is sufficient guarantee that the work will be well done and in keeping with the fountain and its surroundings.

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