Hudson House and the HPC
Gossips has been following the proposal to convert the former Home for the Aged at 620 Union Street into a boutique hotel since February, when the project was first presented to the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA). Since then, there have been a couple more presentations to the IDA, as well as a presentation to the Planning Board on Tuesday, May 12. This past Friday, the project came before the Historic Preservation Commission.
One of the goals of the project--beyond bringing the house, which was originally the home of Robert and Sally McKinstry, and the 1906 wing, added ten years after the house became the Hudson Home for the Aged, back to what they once were--is restoring the grounds to what they might have been like during the lifetimes of the McKinstrys. On Friday, landscape architect Dale Schafer presented the landscape plan, which is an integral part of the project.
The plan re-creates a formal garden at the front entry to the original house and a large open lawn along Union Street, with a series of terraced gardens to achieve "shelter and intimacy" and to screen the new addition to the hotel. There are also perimeter plantings. Schafer explained, "The intent is to keep all social activity closer to the building so that everything along Union Street is garden and parklike."
At the Planning Board meeting on May 12, it was suggested that there should be a "pull-in" for dropping off guests and unloading luggage. That suggestion evolved into the notion that there should be a port cochere, a covered entrance or porch where vehicles discharge passengers. Relevant to that idea, Schafer told the HPC they had considered a circular drive, but it destroyed all the landscape. He went on to say that in the 19th century a circular drive might have been appropriate for a house of this size in the country but it was not likely in an urban setting.
Michael Phinney, the architect for the project, talked about the "glass gasket" connecting the original buildings with the new structures, which is to be the main entrance to the hotel.
Phinney pointed out the use of some brick in the new addition to echo the brick of the original buildings, and noted that the height of proposed new building is less than the height of the original building and new building will be charcoal gray "to make it recessive."
HPC member John Schobel called the proposed project "stunning," calling it "a beautiful tribute to Hudson architecture and to this building." HPC chair Phil Forman called the integration of intent and landscaping "well connected." HPC architect member Chip Bohl called it a "wonder effort," declared the overall massing "in scale," and praised the "vision of the garden." He called the proposed project "a great benefit to the community" and commended all involved for "great vision and execution." HPC member Miranda Barry pronounced the proposal "really beautiful" and called the differentiation of the original building and the new construction "an example of how we can have both new and old."
Schobel opined that "something this large and transformational" merited a public hearing, and it was agreed that a virtual public hearing would be held on Friday, June 12.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK
As a footnote to the originl building, the main entrance used to be on 7th street where the protruding bay is now. The front door was recessed, for shelter, and the grand stair was probably white marble like the DAR building on lower Warren St. One can see where the door was in the house if one looks on the floor. the building was a true center hall building with a western door opposite the main entrance on 7th Street.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the later introduction of the coal fired train made the 7th Street entrance problematic and it was moved.
Also, the building did have shutters on every window and a grand balustrade on the running roof lines. I hope that the develpoer will consider those final architectural touches.
The preservation of the large trees and the green space in Hudson is a real plus for the City, having a park-like setting in the downtown. Indeed it was one of the biggest houses in town on one very large lot when it was first built in 1835.
Sure, the building and grounds may be stunning, beautiful and well-connected, but where the hell is everyone going to park? Will the nearby, small municipal lot with its meters be taken over? That might help a bit, but certainly not a panacea. Parking and increased traffic on narrow Union street should be a large part of the public hearing. Where will truck deliveries take place? This is not a smart location for a hotel and whatever else is planned for that building. I hope neighbors on Union are paying attention. B HUSTON
ReplyDeleteMost of the visitors to Hudson that stay in hotels or rent AIRBNBS actually walk around alot. they park in a lot, and walk, or come up by train.
Deleteclose by, within two blocks
walking distance of this location, there are 6 to 8 restaurants. the guests actually spend money and pay local sales taxes that defray the costs of maintaining the city. the restaurants and hotels employ people with real jobs.
Aren't jobs important ? do we want everyone to be on welfare ? do we want sales taxes to support the city ?? or do we want government grants that never seem to come ??
prior to 2014, the location of the proposed hotel had 27 people living there 24/7 being fed and housed. Deliveries were conducted daily for 100 years.
Hudson needs jobs and sales taxes, and real estate taxes or Pilots. the City was thriving until COVID, and it should again.
What benefit will this pilot bring to the city? Don’t we have enough hotels? Are we just going to have stranger come in and we give him a ton of breaks?
ReplyDeleteActually, this location has a fair amount of parking available nearby compared to other parts of downtown Hudson. The municipal lot across the street is sparsely used, particularly on weekends, when the hotel will be fuller. I live on Union Street about a block away, and I think that this proposal is great.
ReplyDelete