The Beautification of Bliss
In the aftermath of the failed initiative, launched by Alderman Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward), to replace the mayoral appointees on the Hudson Housing Authority (HHA) Board of Commissioners, Council president Tom DePietro and the two Fourth Ward aldermen, Rich Volo and John Rosenthal, went to Timothy Mattice, HHA executive director, and asked what they could do to help improve conditions at the public housing project. What he told them was that he was planning to take down the metal fence along the perimeter of the property and would like help in planning and executing the installation of plantings to replace the fence.
Last night, Volo, who is heading up the landscape remediation project, appeared at the Conservation Advisory Council meeting, seeking the CAC's help in creating a planting plan and a budget. It was decided that three members of the CAC--Elsa Leviseur, Carol Smillie, and Holly Gardner--would form a committee to work with Volo to meet with the HHA board and residents and draft a project proposal. Meanwhile, the fence is scheduled to come down by the end of April.
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So the plan of the HHA to address tenant concerns regarding the interior of the buildings (some of which deal with security issues) is to remove a security fence and upgrade the landscaping. Seems to me there's a disconnect here between need and response.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone said that taking the fence down was meant to "address tenant concerns regarding the interior of the building." There are multiple issues with Bliss and I applaud Mr. Mattice for tackling them in a transparent and aggressive manner. The DRI proposal is a huge step forward and I encourage him to keep up the good work.
DeletePerhaps this is to make Bliss Towers look less like a jail and more like a home. i think it is a good idea to do landscaping of some sort. why not. they still have to do the inside.
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