COPYRIGHT 2013 CAROLE OSTERINK
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Contemplating the Fate of 900 Columbia Street
In February 2011, Gossips reported that the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties was planning to build a new facility behind the early 19th-century house in which it operates a group home at 900 Columbia Street. When the new facility was completed, the historic house would be demolished, and a parking lot created it its place.
Efforts to dissuade MHA from this course of action failed, as did appeals to the New York State Historic Preservation Office. The one hope for the house's survival seemed to be the Galvan Foundation. In May 2012, Galvan announced, on its now-defunct blog, the intention to move two historic houses in Hudson to different locations: the Robert Taylor House to the first block of Union Street and 900 Columbia Street to the 200 block of Union Street. The former proposal met with resistance from the Historic Preservation Commission and the community, but the latter, with some regret that the house could not stay in its historic setting at the crossroads of two historic turnpikes, was welcomed as the only hope for the doomed house. On May 25, 2012--almost exactly a year ago--the Historic Preservation Commission granted a certificate of appropriateness for the proposal to move 900 Columbia Street to a trio of contiguous vacant lots in the 200 block of Union Street.
In the past year, nothing has happened with this project, and not much has been said about it. The plan was to leave the historic house standing and occupied by the residents of the group home until new facility was ready for them to move in. Although months ago there were rumors about a building permit being issued, there was no sign of activity behind 900 Columbia Street until this week.
Gossips visited 900 Columbia Street this morning and found that the proposed building site has been cleared and leveled and is apparently ready for construction to begin. The historic house's time is running out. Its only hope of survival now seems to be moving it to a different location.
COPYRIGHT 2013 CAROLE OSTERINK
COPYRIGHT 2013 CAROLE OSTERINK
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Oh no, such a rotten decision on the party of the County.
ReplyDeleteThe Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties is not "the county." It's a not-for-profit: http://www.mhacg.org/
DeleteIf the MHACG can't see fit to save a historic building, part of Hudson's identity, it needs to have its head examined.
ReplyDeleteMHACG needs its head examined. What kind of mental health organization would undermine a community's identity by tearing out its soul, its history? I think this nonprofit's mission must be reviewed by the Attorney General, which oversees nonprofits. Tearing down this building is not in the best interests of the taxpayer -- or the group's clientele.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that C-M Hospital did the same just across the street for a parking lot.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone even considered how the construction & removal of the front building will change the living conditions for those that live next door?
This old out dated building of mine has seen better days.
ReplyDeleteMaybe i should demolish some of if for some needed garden space.
The obligation of the MHA is to provide the best possible services to its clientele; an objective performed via NYS public funding under supervision of the Attorney General. MHA does not exist for the preservation of historic buildings. Those whose first objective is historic preservation, as opposed to enhancement of human life, should certainly seek whatever avenues are appropriate to those goals. Gossips has not commented upon the current status of Galvan's proposal to relocate the structure in question.
ReplyDeleteThe MHA should not take on projects that cause stress, change the normal living conditions of neighbors & neighborhood, and/or alter the value of ones property.
ReplyDeleteI believe that MHA should knock on a few doors in its neighborhood & discuss the "enhancement of human life" with the taxpayers that are the source of public funds in NYS.