Attending every public meeting and staying to the very end can have its rewards. Such was the case tonight. At the end of a meeting of the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, which went on for two hours, Common Council president Tom DePietro, who also attends every public meeting, shared information he said would be of interest to the board, which is currently engaged in working toward a plan to redevelop HHA properties. He announced that, at next week's Common Council meeting, there would be a presentation by a developer interested in adapting the former John L. Edwards School as affordable housing.
DePietro did not name the developer but said, "They don't want a PILOT. They only want to add a floor or two."
Next week's Common Council meeting, which is the regular meeting for the month, takes place on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m.
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It's unfortunate that DePietro has not figured out what honesty and transparency mean, but the sale of JLE is certainly a welcome public service. I had helped start such discussions when I was on the school board in 2012, but politics derailed those talks. Hopefully, this new administration can eventually figure out how to do these kinds of things while being honest, transparent, and forthcoming. Peter Meyer
ReplyDeleteSounds like it's a sensible, professional developer (existing structure with parking, and the building process and final product would have little or negative impact on neighborhood). In other words, it is likely NOT GALVAN! B Huston
ReplyDeleteSo we are going to have a housing project up on 7th, a housing project at John L, an apartment complex at 1st and Warren, a housing project down by the Wick, then let's not forget the land behind the baseball field, I'd bet there are plans for a housing project over there, and room for a housing project at 4th and Columbia, 2nd and Columbia, new buildings across from Bliss Towers ... wow ... and how many job openings are there at Walmart and ShopRite for hundreds of new low income residents?
ReplyDeleteTen years from now there will be articles written, "The Self Destruction of Hudson, NY."
P. Winslow makes a valid point: this is a city of entrepreneurs with few traditional "jobs" that pay nearly enough to live in this area in a decent manner. Once here, how are these tenants to support themselves? And, as tenants, they will lack many of the structural safeguards and wealth-building attributes of property owners. Without the proper mix of low-income and market-rate units with at least some ownership methodology we are in jeopardy of seeing large, run-down rental properties dotting our small landscape. And without jobs paying living wages . . . disaster.
DeleteAnswer: cradle-to-grave entitlements.
DeleteIn our brave new world anyone who believes otherwise is pure evil.
There is so much talk about affordable housing that the other component of making housing affordable, increasing wages, gets lost in the shuffle. Giving Galvan a generous PILOT is an easier, splashier short-term solution that speaks to people's fears of housing security than working on increasing wages with boring, unsexy stuff like job training, infrastructure development, or, Heaven forfend, supporting collective bargaining, all of which speak to their long-term needs and would help support the growth of healthy middle-class.
ReplyDeleteRepurposing sturdy buildings like JLE is a win. Light years improvement compared to the Galvan Depot District. There should be a healthy mix of living opportunities such as rental and apartment ownership. Owning real estate encourages wealth building. Even lower income residents would have an opportunity to get started. Same goes for income opportunities. Hudson could use light, non toxic industry in building reuse. Furniture, glass blowing, ceramic wares, wearables, affordable professional office space and the like. Addresses issues of living wages, employment satisfaction, creativity/skill learning, less reliance on foreign imports. Revitalization isn't just about dining and boutique shopping in town bringing in tourists. The afformentioned can co-exist within the Hudson resort draw if done right. Actually, can add to it if they are businesses that have factory tours like Simon Pierce in Vermont. There are zillions of examples that work all around the country. Another is Traditions in Claverack.
ReplyDeleteAs much as the antiques dealers were trashed back in the day they did inspire different trades in town, furniture restorers, gilders, art restorers, carpenters,
ReplyDeleteupholsterers and so on. They may not have employed many people but they did give rise to lots of business in different trades. The point is well taken about job training and creative-skill learning. Very necessary.
A developer who is not Galvan wants to re- purpose a well located building on a appropriate lot for affordable housing ? Plus they don't even want a PILOT? I sure hope this is realistic and possible !
ReplyDeleteI sincerely ask that everyone take into account the standard of education in the HCSD and the fact tat our declining enrollment and City population is linked to its horrific academic ranking and performance. If you take school enrollment decline and declining taxpayer base together wouldn't it be recommended that a plan to fix things in unison be developed. How great it would be if there were jobs of all kinds supported by the ability to drop your kid off at a school that guarantees opportunity. The School District has been at the bottom of an academic volcano for 15 years and not holding up its part of the deal at all. I will keep repeating this till someone listens.
ReplyDeleteThat project looks great to me. Happy to see godawful 1950's - 60's architecture gain upper stories. And no PILOT request, as a bonus.
ReplyDelete