Friday, March 26, 2021

"Not Really a Big Deal"

Stephen Whitehouse and Chris Anderson of Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects presented the "scaled back" plans for Promenade Hill to the Historic Preservation Commission this morning. They told the HPC that the "geometrics have remained the same," but the stone materials have been "significantly reduced." Gone are the granite setts, the boulder seating, the limestone pavers, the stone slab seating, the bluestone entry stones. The only stone that remains are the bluestone steps leading up to the historic Promenade. The rest, if to be replaced at all, will be replaced with concrete--cement. A little city that two decades ago beat back the construction of a massive cement plant on its border is now to have the entrance to its finest historic public space paved with cement. 

In the first image below, the red annotations indicate what has been removed from the design. In the second image, the green annotations indicate the changes. (Click on the images below to enlarge.)

Although it is not called out in the annotations, comparing the two plans reveals that the "scaled back" plan calls for planting fewer new trees. Also (and this is noted), some of the tacky asphalt paving leading to the playground is to remain.

Whitehouse explained the reason why bids were much higher than anticipated: "People are now bidding downstate prices on concrete"the concrete needed for the foundation of the stonework. On the bright side, Anderson pointed out, that, since the primary goal, as established by Mayor Kamal Johnson, is to have the project completed by Winter Walk 2021, reducing the amount of "fine masonry work" will reduce the time needed to complete the project. 

Whitehouse and Anderson pointed out that the average bid on the project was $1.8 million. The changes in materials are estimated to reduce the cost of materials by $754,139 and the overall cost by $987,181 (since none of that fine masonry work will be needed), bringing the cost of the project down to less than $1 million. There are some "Add Alternate Options," should some wealthy individual or entity feel generous: $150,000 could bring back the granite sett plaza, instead of the scored concrete now being proposed; $150,000 could being back the stone block benches, now completely eliminated from the plan; $20,000 could bring back the bluestone paver bands; $50,000 could bring back the limestone plaza border; $20,000 could bring back the spray loop, instead of the less expensive ground spray now being proposed for the splash pad in the playground.

After the presentation, Phil Forman, who chairs the HPC, said, "Obviously, this is not where any of us wanted to be," recalling the HPC's delight with the original plans. After asking if there was anything the HPC could do to assist in securing additional funding, Forman said, "The best way to help you right now is to approve what you have presented." It was agreed that a certificate of appropriateness would be prepared to approval at the commission's next meeting on Friday, April 9.
COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK

24 comments:

  1. With no thought that extensive changes in the materials are tantamount to a change of the design?

    I reckon at this point there's nothing else anyone can do.

    I AM SO THANKFUL that the upper Promenade, "the walking mall," never entered into anyone's plans. That's because this outcome is exactly what happens.

    We must never forget that the Promenade was a gift from the Proprietors to the Common Council, intended as a walking mall only "and for no other purpose whatever."

    To anyone with any more big ideas: keep your fancy design plans away from the Proprietors' walking mall.

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    1. Thank you unheimlich for your so true comment. It’s time that ALL Hudson people, organizations, committees, etc, take notice that our founding Proprietors granted to Citizens of Hudson a walking mall and nothing more for the purpose to enjoy the grand view that nature offers to one and all and nothing more.

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    2. Thanks tmdonofrio.

      In fact, the design does intend picnic tables for the upper Promenade, which is wrong, wrong, wrong.

      Sadly, even though the City Charter commits us to respect the wishes of all grantors, our arrogance knows no bounds.

      Eight years ago I quoted the Proprietors' single condition for gifting the Promenade to a Common Council President, who replied "But that was over 200 years ago!"

      I wondered, was this individual even capable of knowing a principle, let alone defending it?

      The Promenade is Hudson's crown jewel, and the 11th oldest public park in the nation. To defend it, we'll need to take a stand against the self-serving rationalizations we hear all around us (e.g., how could the HPC ignore the past in this way?).

      We should reject our contemporaries' arrogance towards the wishes and wisdom of the 18th century figures who gave us this park.

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  2. To beat a dead horse, obviously not an ideal situation to be in. HOWEVER, having much experience over decades with the unpleasant “value engineering” routine for over-budget projects, I think the landscape architects took a very reasonable, professional approach. It’s usually better to keep the overall design concept and substitute less expensive finishes and details first. If there are folks out there (regrettably not me!) with deep pockets to fund the deleted embellishments and goodies, then these - rightly - should be “naming” opportunities for donors. Wouldn’t be the first time.

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    1. Completely backwards in my opinion: put the mayor’s and council members, names on it all ala :”this pile of second rate hardscape sponsored by the collective incompetence of Mayor Jamal “not my job” Johnson, Common Council President Tom “ideas?! We don’t need no stinkin’ ideas!’ DePietro and the collective mindlessness and incapacity if the ‘20 - ‘21 Council. “. Credit where credit is due..

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  3. It seems like City Hall has so much on its plate that anything that is accomplished is an inferior version of the plan, a compromise, even a race to the bottom. Throw up their hands, they seem to do, give us your best, they say. And the results are undetwhelming at best and detrimental in the long term at worst. City Hall has always been run by amateurs, but now the stakes and pressure are too high. The cracks are apparent, as will the cracks be in the concrete soon enough at Promenade.

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  4. Naming indeed! Let's start with the kids water hoops. Sad to see that go, and in the scheme of things "only" 20k. A wonderful gift to the children of the city, and worthy of forever association with a generous donor.

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  5. I should think that there are now a lot of people out there, newly invested in Hudson, with deep pockets who might want to help the City keep the beautiful design touches of stone and masonry in the Park, the most beautiful view and promenade for miles around. Shame to do concrete, and do away with trees. Galvan likes giving away trees maybe they would divvy up, good pr move for them.

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  6. gofundme? Contribute a little, contribute a lot. Everyone pitches in.

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  7. “Donate to save our incompetent government.” Pathetic. No skills, no knowledge, no experience, no gumption.

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    1. @John, yeah, I hear you. But I'd kick in thinking about the rest of us. This city has completely convinced itself that it can't have nice things, doesn't deserve them. Or even that nice things are somehow EVIL. It's growing pretty tiresome.

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    2. You're both not wrong. If citizens want a Promenade Park entrance that can be a point of pride for Hudson residents for generations to come, they should organize to fundraise the remaining amount. Otherwise we're saddling the next generation with underwhelming public spaces and increased maintenance costs.


      Hudson residents who are taking on this extra work and expense (and honestly anyone worried about responsive and responsible government) should also insist that the Common Council pass a resolution calling for DRI Committee meetings to be held under Open Meetings Laws.


      Chameides and his backroom shenanigans, and DePietro's condescending response to the constellation of concerns raised by members of the community on this topic have further degraded the public's trust in our institutions.


      Whether or not the failure here could have been prevented, City Hall's obfuscation has eroded its credibility as it attempts to (in this case quite literally) pass the buck, and we should demand better.

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  8. So the H H C rubber stamps the changes which are significant, while other times they make applicants jump through hoops for approval.Concrete V Stone . Where was the pontificating mouthpiece on the committee that loves to dictate what appropriate and whats not, regardless of the applicants budget. This approval does not help the H H C in any way. I can see future applicants bring up this action to their advantage. It look like the entire project from the start was a fiasco. A budget is a budget, what part did the project management get. Of course the more it costs the more they get. Drop Anchor, and start again, because its never going to be right.

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  9. Applicants for PILOTS should resort to a "gofundme" so theres actual money in the coffers to pay for the citys maintenance and improvements.

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  10. why not start a gofundme for this project?

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  11. I think characterizing this as not a significant design change is inaccurate. The removal of the seating in particular will change how the space is used -- a significant change in design and intent

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  12. I think it's a shame to sacrifice getting it right in the name of hurrying to finish.
    It's a waste if it will look worn and run down again in 10 years....

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    1. Yes! How about some more creative funding solutions rather than rush to finish. Get the original design funded. Don't settle for concrete, no seating, poor use of important space. Get the wish list accomplished. Make this a model new park for the others which need to be created in the future. Gofundme is absurd, use leadership and find the money.

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  13. Hold on there you kids....in the beginning The Proprietors established a Market Place and A Stock or Pillory with a Whipping Post near the Parade Hill. It then became West Warren Street with concrete sidewalks and brick pavers, later blacktop. The concrete steps up to Parade Hill still exist today. And let’s not forget that Residential Buildings did exist on the North and South sides of West Warren. The wrought iron fencing that at one time was at the top of the entrance still exists in Hudson. One section is owned by the City and is located at the walkway between Prison Alley and Warren across from the Municipal Parking Lot on Columbia St. in the 500 Block. A larger section of the fence is privately owned and located on Green St. opposite the Bodega on the corner of McKinstry Place. What is happening now is an idea to incorporate too many options into an entrance to a Grand Promenade that was created to be nothing more than one of if not the best view of The Catskills and The Hudson River for the Citizens and Visitors of Hudson. So let’s keep it basic. A few Architectural trees, rows of boxwood, park style benches and simple pea stone with a stone border. The Proprietors wanted the View to be the reason one would promenade there and nothing more.


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    1. True.Warren Street led to a grand staircase leading up to the Promenade and the best view in the Hudson River Valley.

      Its amazing the original fencing still exists.

      Simple and Direct Design

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  14. Actually now you can see how urban renewal shrunk the staircase - bring back the grand entrance again !!!

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