Community Development Block Grant
Back in March, the City held its first public hearing about this year's application for a Community Development Block Grant. Tomorrow night, Monday, May 9, at 6 p.m., the City will hold its second public hearing on the topic. In the grant process, the first hearing is meant to gather ideas from the public; the second is intended to inform the public about the idea that was selected.
At the first public hearing, Third Ward Alderman Ellen Thurston suggested that the City apply for a grant to make improvements to the plaza surrounding Washington Hose. Since then, a specific improvement has been settled on: a ramp to provide access to Promenade Hill for people in wheelchairs and scooters.
Morris Associates, the firm that created this rendering of the proposed "gateway park" at the fork of Route 23B and Columbia Turnpike, was recruited to create the plan for the ramp that will be submitted with the grant application. The location that has been suggested for the ramp is along the retaining wall north of the stairs, behind the playground, and would involve the removal of this row of conifers, probably planted when the approach to Promenade Hill was reconfigured in the 1970s during Urban Renewal.
Is there any way to get some kind of Promenade Hill master plan done before we start chopping away at it? Replacing a row of conifers -- even if planted in the ugly 70s -- with a wheelchair ramp seems a lousy solution. Carole, you've probably shown these before, but are there any early pictures of Promenade Hill when it was in something closer to an original state? Thanks.
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Who are Morris Associates and why are they suddenly rearing their ugly head of visionless 'design' in our town ???
ReplyDeleteVince--I just made "Morris Associates" a hyperlink so everyone can check out their website: www.morrisengineers.com. They have a office here in Hudson, on Green Street.
ReplyDeleteThey've been around for a long time, doing work for the City, usually DPW. It's probably a coincidence that they are now involved with two very visible--and for that reason controversial--projects.
Based upon their questionable design proposal for the "entranceway park" at the fork at 23b, I'd be very wary of anything this firm proposes- particularly something as historic and important as Promenade Hill.
ReplyDeleteI believe the placement of the ramp has been changed somewhat so that the entire line of trees would not have to be taken out, but I may be wrong. Come tomorrow night at 6 pm and find out. --Ellen
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