News of the Economic Development Committee

At the Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting last Thursday, several things of interest were discussed and decided. First, the committee voted to move ahead with establishing conditions for acquiring property at the next tax foreclosure auction, which is expected to happen sometime next month. To prevent people from buying property and warehousing it, a condition of the sale would be that the property have a certificate of occupancy and be returned to active use within 24 months. The resolution is expected to be presented to the full Council in October.

Google Street View: Saratoga Springs

The committee also voted to move ahead with legislation that would prohibit formula retail sales and service businesses--in other words, big box stores and chains--from locating in the City of Hudson. The intent of the law is stated in its title: "A Local Law to Preserve Community Character, Local Business Ownership, and Local Wealth." The exceptions recognized in the draft law are: "(a) federally or New York State chartered banking, savings and loan, and trust institutions, (b) pharmacies and drug stores, (c) stores where the overwhelming majority of the foods sold are un- or minimally-processed and intended for preparation and consumption by the purchaser at another location [in other words, supermarkets], and convenience stores that also sell gasoline." 

Although Stewart's Shops, being a convenience store that also sells gasoline, would be exempt from the proposed legislation banning formula businesses, the committee also decided that they would not pursue a zoning change to allow Stewart's to demolish two houses and expand their gas station and store at the corner of Green Street and Fairview Avenue. As Alderman John Friedman (Third Ward), who chairs the committee, explained, "Nobody in the neighborhood wants to see the expansion happen." He did note, however, that everyone wants to see the intersection improved, although it's not clear how that improvement might be achieved.

Also of interest, and related to the first item about conditions for the sale of foreclosed property, some months ago the Economic Development Committee was looking at a draft resolution that would place conditions having to do with future use on the sale of 427 and 429 Warren Street, the former police and court buildings.

Now it seems that, despite a Council resolution committing the City to using the income from the sale of these two buildings to pay down the debt incurred in creating the new police and court building, there is thought of keeping 427 Warren Street, the much maligned building alleged to have serious mold issues, and using it for the code enforcement office, which would be homeless were the two buildings to be sold. The sale of 429 Warren Street, the 19th-century building where the code enforcement office is currently located, could go forward. It should be noted that six months have passed since the police department and the court moved to their new digs at 701 Union Street.
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