An article appeared in The Columbia Paper on Sunday that should be of interest to us here in Hudson, where there is the possibility that the number of apartments managed by the Galvan Foundation may increase by 138 with the construction of two apartment buildings on North Seventh Street: "Subsidized housing faulted by some tenants."
COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK
Warnings of what’s to come. Of course this is Galvans model for profit at little effort. It’s happening in NYC. Now he’s influenced Us to take his BS. Columbia County could be smarter but it would rather ignore reality.
ReplyDeleteThree words, Vince: Galvan Welfare Motel.
DeleteAfter taking over Housing Resources Galvan proceeded to eliminate most if not all of the once robust first-time homebuyers program. No more first-time homebuyers classes and no more downpayment assistance grants (which offered $4 for every $1 saved, up to $7500).
ReplyDeleteThe take-over of Housing Resources was a total land grab. Galvan got control of millions of $ of property for chump change that they put in, said to have been $175,000. The people of Columbia County are all the worse for it.
With an active housing agency like RUPCO working across the river in Ulster and Greene, it puts Columbia County's only housing agency to shame. Galvan should do Columbia County residents a favor and shut the whole thing down and give it to RUPCO to manage since they actually know what they are doing and they get results.
The fact that Galvan has been sitting on housing, some of it for well over 10 years, doesn't seem to phase our city leaders. Why are new projects entertained (with PILOTs, no less) with cries of "We need affordable housing!" when he is sitting on so many houses and units that should be available. There is only one reason I know of why the council members and city leaders don't complain....
ReplyDeleteCarole . I wish Gossips comments had a “like” feature !
ReplyDeleteAnd for the historical record, there were many people, considered at the time, to be among the "Who's Who" of Hudson, who sat on all of the Housing Resources' Boards who never questioned the direction or management of the organization, when approached by Staff (Who were told essentially to "Sit down and shut up".) with legitimate concerns; when local media, (the former Independent newspaper) did deep dives exposing critical issues within Housing Resources; and when tenants began to complain about slight declines in service.
ReplyDeleteThe Board Members, many of them county employees, local bankers, accountants, and attorneys, all should have known better, and probably did, allowed for the internal chaos to continue until Housing Resources was ripe was picking.
A community shame.
Susan
Galvan's properties are spread like a web all over. How about a complete listing of ALL the properties affiliated with Galvan? Perhaps you already have provided that information? Thank you for being a reliable source of this information.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I live across the street from a Galvan building, a 2 unit. The upper apartment has been vacant for 2 years, I have no idea why. Great location, nice building. The other unit moved out 2 weeks ago and there it sits.
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