Matthew Frederick, on his blog Hudson Urbanism, used the drawing to generate a three-dimensional image of what the new building, sitting beside the rather brutally altered former church building, might look like.
We were assured then that the drawing had been created for the grant and did not represent what the actual building would look like. In August 2011, it was announced that Jane Smith, principal of the architectural firm Spacesmith and architect member of the Hudson Historic Preservation Commission, would be collaborating with Crawford & Associates to create the design for the building.
Last week, the Register-Star reported that the Common Council is contemplating exceeding the $550,000 the City has in hand for the building, all of which has come from grant money, by $268,000, which the City would have to raise by borrowing and other means not clearly defined. The original $550,000 would build a single story addition; $818,00 would buy an addition with a partial second story. But what will these two alternatives look like? The conceptual sketches below provide some idea.
The Youth Center is situated in a locally designated historic district and on a principal gateway to Hudson. Being in a historic district requires that new construction be compatible with the existing architecture. The test of compatibility involves three elements: mass--the proportions of new structure, especially height and width, should be similar to those of existing buildings; texture--the surface quality of the new structure's material should be harmonious with the predominant surface quality of the existing buildings; and continuity--which involves the placement of the new structure and its spatial relationship to the street and neighboring buildings, the relationship of solid and void (walls and windows) in the new structure and existing structures, the continuation in the new structure of the predominant lines found in existing structures, and roof shapes, window shapes, projections, and architectural details.
It's a challenge to imagine how the proposed building--either the one story or the partial two story version--can meet the test of compatibility, but perhaps that's not even a consideration. The challenge of meeting the program requirements for the building while keeping the project within budget may be so great that concerns about compatibility and the integrity of the streetscape have been set aside. The City, after all, is building the addition, and the City can flout its own laws, if it chooses to, particularly when it comes to historic preservation. Let us hope that is not the case.
Carole,
ReplyDeleteThere are clearly issues facing the addition to the B&G Club for the Senior Center -- financing and aesthetics being only the most public. It's important to remember that the renderings -- both in the grant application and the presentation materials -- don't reflect the design of the building as, to date, there is NO design. Until the Common Council determines if it should be 1 or 1.5 stories, the design work will not begin (which seems to make some kind of sense -- no budget, no design). Anyway I can assure you that at least one member of the CC is paying attention.
Thank you Mr.Friedman.
ReplyDeleteThe "City" is us.We do not have tax paid architectural ,engineering , demolition or construction units.We have a DPW,with limited and defined capabilities and a Bldg.Dept,for code enforcement and issuing permits.
We the "City "can not build anything.We have to bid it all out.There are codes and laws in Hudson how that procedure works.The CC must approve everything accordingly
In what ever budget WE have, all aspects of it must be competitively bid .Has Space Smith been hired?Have We already paid/or promised them?
Did we hire Crawford and Associates? Have We already paid/or promised them anything?
We the "City" have no "emergency contingents" on this project,that would supersede the Codes and Laws of Hudson.The purposed extension is being built in a Designated Historic District.
The only reason employees of the "City",our civil servants ,We elected,entrusted and paid to uphold the law...could "flout its own laws" ,is because WE, the CITY let them.
(or don't stop or even question these Civil Servants)They are our Laws.
How does a member of the HPC get hired to design an extension on a Historic Building,that needs restoration, in A Historically Designated Area?
That person is supposed to be the watch dog.
Who watches her?Who stops the Bldg. Dept on approving what she has designed?
Were other architectural and engineering firms designs submitted,that the HPC Architectural Representative reviewed?That HPC reviewed?
How was her company chosen?
I have so many questions,but I do know this:
I am very relieved that Mr Friedman has been elected to Common Council.
Has any other pre-existing building been researched to outfit as a Senior Center?
ReplyDeleteThis city prefers to either demolish or alter historic structures in preference to rehabilitating modern buildings that sit empty.
I am in agreement with Vincent, can't they find an existing bldg? We do not live in Hudson but visit there quite often, and correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there a huge surplus of vacant buildings to chose from?
ReplyDelete