A week ago, Council president Tom DePietro suggested that the cement blocks being used as barriers on Warren Street could be painted, to make them more like these barriers in use in the New York City.
I will be painting 3 parallel lines of reflective paint on the blocks in the way of oncoming traffic. I will be doing that this weekend. If you have issues or concerns, please contact me. Otherwise, the blocks are not allowed to be painted.
Driving down Warren Street, I haven't noticed any lines of reflective paint on the blocks, but the lines are probably only visible at night in a car's headlights. Last night at the Tourism Board meeting, Purnhagen said that reflective cones will be placed atop the concrete blocks "to prevent cars from not noticing the barriers." Several of these cones are already in place.
The ‘Maginot Line’ Comes to Hudson.
Those of us who are old enough to remember World War 2, are probably aware, or at least have heard, of the Maginot Line. These were structures of cement and stone built by the French between the two World Wars. They were not known for their architectural beauty but rather were meant to intimidate. Each installation was heavily fortified.
Imagine my surprise a few mornings ago, when I took my daily drive up Warren Street. For a split second, I thought the ‘Maginot Line’ had been re-created and I wondered why we were being protected by our own Maginot Line of cement. Where was the threat coming from? Did the City Fathers and Mothers fear an invasion from Chatham, or perhaps Kinderhook? Soon, I learned that the purpose had to do with making a safe place for restaurants for their outdoor diners. Today I noticed that these battlements were not being used by the intended recipients, that is the merchants, particularly restaurant owners on Warren Street. At least 40 parking places, likely more, were sacrificed to this ill-conceived exercise. Delivery trucks could no longer get to the curb and had no choice but to park in the middle of Warren Street, worsening the traffic, and guaranteeing traffic jams in the summer and fall. I would like to know more about the planning and execution of these structures. I noticed that one of the blocks had already been dislodged by a car running into it. I eagerly await further information.At last night's Tourism Board meeting, Purnhagen also reported that twenty-three of the blocks will be moved early next week. Some retail shops decided they didn't want the barriers after all, so they will be given to businesses that did not make the deadline for requesting them and were put on a waiting list.
COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK
let's give Gary a chance here. He inherited this mess. He is making every effort to make the barriers visible and to increase safety.
ReplyDeleteHe is open to feedback and responds to emails. I doubt they will be removed so someone who is trying to make a silk purse out of pig's ear deserves our support. He may have to settle for cotton purse.
These blocks detract from the streetscape. What is the point ? No-one likes them and they are too short.
ReplyDeletethe method last year seemed workable and impromptu. However, clearly no one in Hudson likes anything simple and uncomplicated.
Lets get rid of them as soon as possible
We have to remember the significant difference between this year and last year. Last year Warren Street was effectively closed to through traffic. Drivers were encouraged to stay off the street or, if they entered, to go no faster than 5 mph. This year, the street is not being closed or limited for vehicular traffic. Cars will be zipping along at 30 mph, so greater protection for people dining along the street is needed.
DeleteCarole,
Deletewhat was right with last year was the one lane of traffic and the simplicity of the Open Streets program. It worked and was fun --plus it looked great.
Overthinking, and wasteful spending produced what we now have.
Keep it Simple -- a better way to go. and more fun.
Gary’s doing what he can with a program that was clearly never thought through in any sense by anyone in any “leadership” role. Once again, and as always, both the current administration and council lack any actual leadership skills or abilities. Nor do they seem to either care or learn from their past failures.
ReplyDeleteAlbert's comment is borderline alarmism. The Maginot Line was meant to protect from invaders - what are you trying to hint at, Albert?
ReplyDeleteLike Carol mentioned in one of the comments here, these concrete blocks are to protect people dining on the streets since car speed won't be restricted on Warren Street like last summer. Even more, those areas could not be used up until today!
Let's give our restaurants and cafes the opportunity to serve people who aren't yet comfortable dining inside.
You have to dig pretty deep to find anything in the above comments that might rise to the level of 'alarmism.'
DeleteYou only have to look with your eyes in the front of your skull to see how unattractive these things are.
You might not be able to look with the eyes in your skull if you are sitting in your car and see the unattractive blocks, which has been demonstrated by numerous collisions to be a safety hazard, as they sit out of the field of vision of drivers, whose eyes are positioned in the front of their skull.
You do have to wonder with the brain in your head that is near to the eyes in the front of your skull how, if these barricades are shifted during collision (which they have been) they are keeping anyone safe, since drivers can't see them and they may give diners a false sense of security.
And yes, we should give Gary Purnhagen full, if guarded, support. He inherited this mess from the Tourism Board, who have as a body demonstrated virtue signaling and cronyism as higher priorities than making Hudson an attractive place for visitors.
The entire Tourism Board should be asked to resign. They've wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars at this point and diminished the community's trust in City government to perform its duties with integrity.
No one likes them? Then why did so many business opt in? And delivery trucks almost never pull over to the curb, no matter how many parking spots are empty. Definitely not aesthetically pleasing, and not well thought through as JKF said, but what's done is done, so get out there, support Hudson businesses, and vote in new leadership!
ReplyDeleteThis is the nuanced point that is mine as well. They didn’t want to shut down Warren on weekends because people complained, so this is what was done. Not a well thought out plan, and surprise, people complain anyway. We can spend all day complaining with the bitter mob on Facebook, or we can fix the safety and aesthetic issues and move on and support our businesses. And, yes, vote in new leadership. Gary is doing a thankless job, with little pay and praise, trying to fix this turd he inherited. If he runs for council like he says he’s thinking about, he’ll get my vote. It’s refreshing to see someone prepare themselves for city government by getting their hands dirty, rather than just spouting off the current woke catchphrase.
DeleteAgreed, Gary seems to be calmly trying to sort out the mess he inherited. However, walking down the 700 block yesterday at least half the block on both sides had a 'Maginot Line' of blocks and every single one of the stores were closed. No one was using the spaces. I hope those blocks will be the first removed. The only one utilizing the blocks fairly well along with his own black painted and freshly planted planters that looks good is FOOD STUDIO.
ReplyDeleteOnce again a MAJOR FAIL on the part of the incompetent 'so called' Tourism Board. As noted above they have wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars (mostly on projects having NOTHING to do with tourism) and COMPLETELY diminished the community's trust in our current City government to act in an ethical manner in fulfilling their duties. This group should be disbanded immediately and their shady activities reported to the state attorney general for a full investigation.
ReplyDeleteTwo concrete blocks on either side of the street at the entry to each block with a big SLOW and 5mph painted on them. Kind of like the planters last year, but more permanent. That would be great.
ReplyDeleteMaginot Line ... historically a complete failure for its intended purpose but a good metaphor for this topic.
ReplyDeleteOur main street is starting to look like a county truck maintenance facility.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing lack of vision - in more ways than one .
ReplyDelete