Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

Memorial Day Weekend has come to an end, and it is now unofficially summer. In the first week of the unofficial new season, here's what is happening.

• On Tuesday, May 31, the Common Council holds a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. to consider the recommended ward boundary adjustments to maintain five wards of equal population after the 2020 census. The meeting will be a hybrid--taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Wednesday, June 1, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets at 4:00 p.m. At the last meeting of the IDA, it was agreed that there would a pause on making decisions about hotels until the IDA has adopted guidelines for considering applications and a community benefit agreement framework. Given that, although no agenda is available for the meeting, it can probably be assumed those guidelines and framework will be topics of discussion at the meeting. The meeting will be a hybrid--taking place in person at 1 City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom. No link to the meeting has yet been made public.

Update: The link to this afternoon's IDA meeting has now been published. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1, the Common Council Legal Committee holds its monthly meeting. No agenda for the meeting is available. The meeting will be a hybrid--taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
• On Friday, June 3, at 6:00 p.m., Starr Whitehouse, the landscape architects chosen to assist with the restoration of the Public Square, a.k.a. Seventh Street Park, will present the first design options for this historically significant public space. The presentation will take place in person at 1 North Front Street.

• On Saturday, June 4, the OutHudson LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade steps off at 2:00 p.m. The parade is the centerpiece of a lineup of events that begins on Wednesday, June 1, and continues through Sunday, June 5. Click here to learn about them all.

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Observing Memorial Day

If you missed today's Memorial Day observance in the City of Hudson, Lance Wheeler's video of the event can be found here.

Prepare for August 23

As noted before, a couple things will be happening on August 23. First, there is the special election to determine who will finish out Antonio Delgado's term and represent NY19 in Congress for the rest of the year. The candidates in the special election are Pat Ryan, Ulster County Executive (Democrat), and Marc Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive (Republican). 

Also, on August 23, there is the congressional primary to determine the candidates who will be on the ballot in November to represent the newly redrawn NY19 in Congress beginning in January 2023.

Last week, Gossips was aware of two candidates vying to be the Democrat candidate: Ọṣun Zotique and Jamie Cheney  

Since last week, Gossips has learned of a third candidate: Josh Riley, who lives in Ithaca, at the other end of the 19th Congressional District. You can learn about Riley here. 

Also of relevance to this primary race, over the weekend, Assemblymember Didi Barrett endorsed Cheney with this statement:

"I am pleased to endorse Jamie Cheney for Congress because she will be a fresh and strong voice for our rural New York State communities in Washington," said Assemblymember Didi Barrett. "As a mom with school-age kids, a farmer, a small business owner, Jamie has the knowledge, experience and commitment to fight for the working people and upstate communities of CD 19 and we need her leadership now more than ever."

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The More Things Change . . .

The current discussion of replacing Bliss Towers reminds me of one that took place almost exactly twelve years ago. This post about it, published on June 14, 2010, deserves rereading: "The Future of Bliss Towers." 

At that time, what was being put forward was a four-phase plan. Phase One was the construction of a 37-unit building for seniors. (At that time, 30 percent of the residents of Bliss Towers were senior citizens.) The post from 2010 doesn't indicate where this building was to be constructed, but I seem to recall Columbia Street across from Providence Hall mentioned as a possible site.

Phase Two, which it was suggested could happen concurrently with Phase One, was creating temporary housing for the tenants in the remaining 95 units of Bliss Towers at various locations, none of which was actually identified.

Phase Three was demolishing Bliss Towers, and Phase Four was building 22 duplexes on the site.

The problem then, as it is now, was where to site all those units that had to be built to relocate the tenants before Bliss Towers could be demolished. Then as now, the Hudson Housing Authority (HHA) looked to the properties owned by Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA). In 2009, Jeff First, who was then the executive director of HHA, compiled a "wish list" of properties he had identified as "replacement sites" for Bliss Towers and presented that list to the Common Council in August 2010. It is interesting to take a look at what was on that list.

202, 204, 206, 208 Columbia Street  In 2010, this was a flourishing community garden. Today, only half of the garden remains. The other half is the site of two passive houses build by Habitat for Humanity in 2013. 

What remains of the site, which is once again being used as a community garden, is one of the sites now being sought by HHA.

234, 238, 240, 242-244, 248 Columbia Street  These lots, vacant in 2010, once comprised something familiarly known as "Diamond Park." Some were owned by HCDPA; others were owned by the City of Hudson. In January 2011, the Common Council voted to transfer ownership of the three lots owned by the City to Habitat for Humanity, and today those lots are the site of two duplexes, built by Habitat for Humanity--240-242 completed in 2012 and 244-246 completed in 2013.

The lot at 238 Columbia Street, owned by HCDPA, is still vacant and is one of the parcels HHA hopes to include in the RFP for new development.

444 & 446 Columbia Street  These two parcels were on First's wish list in 2010, but they had, at that time, already been given to Habitat for Humanity. In September 2010, when the picture above was taken, the foundations were being poured for the two houses now on the site.

213 Columbia Street  This lot, considered in the city code to be too narrow to be "buildable," was sold by HCDPA in 2018.

214 Prison Alley  On First's wish list, this was listed as a separate parcel. It abuts 213 Columbia Street and was sold along with that parcel.

16 North Second Street  In December 2009, when Jeff First assembled his wish list, this parcel, which is actually two lots --16 and 18 North Second Street--belonged to HCDPA. Tax records show that in January 2010 both lots were sold to North Second Street LLC for $2,500 each. In November 2009, North Second Street LLC had acquired 20 North Second Street, which was also on First's wish list.

20 North Second Street  This historic house, along with the two vacant lots beside it, were acquired by Digital Fabrication Works in January 2021 for $240,000. The plans for the site involve the demolition of the existing house and the construction of three new single family dwellings. The proposed project went before the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board last fall and was approved by both regulatory boards. Because the historic district ends at Prison Alley, the project did not come before the Historic Preservation Commission.

6-10, 10, 12, 14 State Street  This parcel along the lower end of State Street remains one of the parcels owned by HCDPA that HHA is hoping to include in its RFP for new development.

1 Lombard Street  When I took the picture above in 2010, I was guessing at the location, because Lombard Street no longer exists. I don't know if First knew the location or not. This parcel may be contiguous with the lots along lower State Street. If it is, HHA may be interested in this property in addition to the lots along State Street.

Corner of North Front & Dock Streets  Back in 2010, it was believed this parcel belonged to HCDPA. Today, it appears to be owned by Kite's Nest, and it is the site of their new greenhouse.

Mill Street  In 2010, I took the item "Mill Street" on First's list to refer to the former playing field of Charles Williams School, which had been officially designated as parkland in 2007. It turns out HCDPA does own a parcel on Mill Street, which is identified in the tax rolls as 48-54 Mill Street. The actual location of that parcel remains a mystery.

Back in 2010, the need to relocate the tenants in the Housing Authority's 135 units seemed an insurmountable challenge. Today, the challenge seems even greater. Of the eleven parcels on First's wish list, only one, half of another, and about one-fifth of another are still available for development.

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HHA "Pivots"

At the last meeting of the Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA), which took place this past Wednesday, Nick Zachos, interim director for Hudson Housing Authority, and Brian Lawlor, attorney for HHA, were present to make the case for HCDPA allowing HHA to include its properties in an RFP for new development. Zachos told the HCDPA board that the housing authority was "undergoing a pivot." Zachos said the plan to maintain Bliss Towers for another 10 to 20 years was not viable, and they were moving forward on looking for developers. Zachos then turned the floor over to Lawlor, the attorney. 

Lawlor talked about the severe shortage of affordable housing in Hudson and said, "The challenge extends beyond the Hudson Housing Authority." He called Bliss Towers, which was constructed in 1973, an "obsolete building" and claimed the amount of money and resources needed to maintain it is outside the realm of possibility. He reported that a "summit" convened to assess Bliss Towers had determined that the tower had to come down. He acknowledged what was discovered in 2019, after a plan had been explored to construct two new buildings across the street: the land there, owned by HHA, will not support 120 units. (That plan, developed in 2018, shown in the rendering below, also involved extensive renovation of Bliss Towers.)

Lawlor asserted that "in order to truly replace Bliss, we need additional sites." Those additional sites are the parcels owned by HCDPA. Lawlor spoke of a "comprehensive plan to address Bliss" which would "deconcentrate poverty" and "expand the supply of affordable housing" in Hudson. He stressed the "critical importance of having these sites as part of the plan."

There are four parcels owned by HCDPA that have been under discussion: 238 Columbia Street (a single building lot), 202-206 Columbia Street (what remains of the Community Garden), 2 to 12 State Street (land that has a steep drop-off), and 2-4 Warren Street (a vacant lot now used as a kind of park).

In March, Zachos talked about the need to "maximize every property around them" in order to carry out a relocation plan. At that time, 202-206 Columbia Street and 2 to 12 State Street seemed to be the parcels that were most desirable to HHA, and there was little interest in 2-4 Warren Street. On Wednesday, Revonda Smith, who chairs the HHA Board, declared, as she has many times before, that HHA wanted to include all the HCDPA parcels in the RFP and "let the developer decide which they want."

Lawlor, from the firm of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, only recently became the attorney for the Hudson Housing Authority. The firm's website provides this information about him:

Brian Lawlor's practice focuses on affordable housing and housing finance to which he offers deep industry knowledge and contacts as well as firsthand government experience. He has advised and represented private developers, not for profit organizations, state and local governments across the nation. . . . Previously, Mr. Lawlor was the Commissioner/CEO of all New York State's housing agencies, collectively known as New York State Homes and Community Renewal. He successfully designed and led the initiative to consolidate all housing finance, development and regulatory agencies and policies under a single management structure in order to align resources and streamline the delivery of housing services and financing throughout the State.

At Wednesday's meeting, Lawlor spoke of the plan to deconcentrate and expand low-income housing in Hudson as a "collaboration of the Hudson Housing Authority, the Common Council, the mayor's office, and the State."

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Where Are the Blocks?

It's Memorial Day Weekend, and, after witnessing lengthy discussions about Warren Street Shared Usage 2022 in the Common Council Tourism & Events Committee and reporting on the recommendations the committee made to the mayor's office, Gossips expected to see the Department of Public Works out Thursday and yesterday positioning the cement blocks for outdoor dining in the parking lanes on Warren Street. That didn't happen.

An article in the Register-Star today explains why: "Street barriers will return June 20." It appears from the article that the mayor's office couldn't simply accept the carefully considered recommendations of the Tourism & Events Committee but found it necessary to rethink the whole situation, including researching and debating what constitutes a restaurant having its own outdoor space. 

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 15 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 11 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 26 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 fewer county residents hospitalized today than yesterday, and 2 fewer are in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, May 16.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 3 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 4,243, and the number of active cases was 30. There were 52 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 5 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 94.

Should You Ever Lose Your Way on the River . . .

it appears there is now a sign to help you recognize when you have found your way home.

Could this be the first step in the upgrades being planned for the Hudson State Boat Launch in the state's Hudson Eagles Recreation Area initiative?

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Saturday Event Rescheduled

Saturday was to be Part 3 of the Oakdale Rewilding Project, but because the weather forecast is for thunderstorms tomorrow, the final phase of this effort to improve and rejuvenate the park around Oakdale Lake will take place on Sunday, May 29, when it is expected the weather will be sunny.

The Story that Continues to Interest

This morning, an article by Clio Chang on a Hudson topic appeared in New York Magazine's Curbed: "An Anti-Airbnb Activist Rented Her House on Airbnb." 

I will immodestly note that twelve years ago, Gossips got some attention in New York Magazine. Today, it happened again.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health released its numbers earlier today. Since yesterday, there have been 14 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 16 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 30 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 more county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, and 2 more of those hospitalized are in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, May 16.  

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 2 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 4,240, and the number of active cases was 33. There were 57 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 6 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 94.

Of Interest

Yesterday, Gossips published an image found on Marc Molinaro's Facebook page to illustrate the post about the special election and the congressional primary scheduled for August 23: "Consequences of Resignation and Redistricting." The picture showed Billy Hughes, a former Hudson supervisor and a current member of the Hudson City Democratic Committee and the state Democratic Committee, with Molinaro. That image, which was also posted on Molinaro's Twitter account, was the cause of some consternation for Hughes, which Roger Hannigan Gilson reports about today in the Times Union: "Local Democratic leader angered to be in Molinaro ad."

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 29 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 11 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 18 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 more county resident hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, and 1 more is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, May 16.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 2 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 4,238, and the number of active cases was 35. There were 44 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 5 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 94.

Can Beer Be Far Behind?

Last night, at a special meeting, the Planning Board reviewed the latest site plan for Phase 1 of the Depot District project: the renovated Hudson Upper Depot. 

Walter Chatham, speaking for the Galvan Foundation, maintained that only substantial change from the site plan approved previously was that there is no longer a curb cut on State Street. What got the most attention from the Planning Board, though, were the movable planters that were rolled into place yesterday. The planters which are positioned along the railings on the east side of the depot are meant to be a barrier between patrons and the railroad tracks. Planning Board member Larry Bowne asked, "What's to stop people from removing or moving the planters?" Victoria Polidoro, legal counsel to the Planning Board, suggested they add to the resolution approving the site plan "something that indicates the planters must remain in place during hours of operation." That settled, the Planning Board unanimously granted site plan approval to Phase 1.

Today, a small army of workers was busy painting the railings. 

Whether the gray substance being applied is a primer or paint is not known. The historic depot constructed in 1871 on the Hudson & Berkshire Railroad, the first railroad in Hudson, established in 1838, is to be the location of Upper Depot Brewing Co.

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Market Tonight

The Hudson Wednesday Market, formerly the Upstreet Market, begins its season today!

Starting today and continuing through October 26, the midweek farmers' market will be open every Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Seventh Street Park. For more information, visit upstreetmarket.wixsite.com/hudsonwedmarket.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health was released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 34 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 13 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 21 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 4 fewer county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, and 1 fewer (or none) is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, May 16.  

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 1 new case of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 4,236, and the number of active cases was 36. There were 39 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 4 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 94.

Consequences of Resignation and Redistricting

Tomorrow, Wednesday May 25, Antonio Delgado is to be sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of New York, leaving the 19th Congressional District (that's us) without a representative in Congress.

Last week, the map of the newly redrawn congressional districts was released--the third version of the redistricting that will take effect in January 2023. 

On August 23, there is to be a special election to fill the remainder of Delgado's term as member of the House of Representatives from the current CD19. In the special election, the Democratic candidate is Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, and the Republican candidate is Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

August 23 is also the congressional primary to choose the candidates who will be on the ballot in November to represent the new CD19 in Congress, for a term beginning January 2023.

So far, those who have declared interest in representing the new CD19 in Congress, those Gossips knows of at least, are Ọṣun Zotique and Jamie Cheney--both Democrats, both from Columbia County. There may be more intending to enter the primary to be the Democratic candidate.

Republican Marc Molinaro, who in September 2021 announced his intention to challenge Delgado, appears still to be pursuing the CD19 seat despite the fact that Dutchess County is no longer part of CD19. (The U.S. Constitution requires that members of the House of Representatives live in the state they represent though not necessarily in the same district--Article I, Section 2, Clause 2.)

Photo: Marc Molinaro | Facebook

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since Friday, there have been 65 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 48 fewer than on Friday, from which it can be inferred that, since Friday, 113 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 more county resident hospitalized with COVID-19 today than on Friday, but the number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, May 16.

A year ago today was a Sunday, and the CCDOH did not report COVID numbers. On the previous day, Saturday, May 22, 2021, the CCDOH reported 0 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 4,235, and the number of active cases was 46. There were 69 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 4 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 94.

If at First You Don't Succeed . . .

Yesterday, MidHudson News shared the news that Ọṣun Zotique, who last week, running as a write-in candidate, failed to win a seat on the Hudson City School District Board of Education, is now seeking to represent the 19th District in Congress: "Transgender non-binary Democrat announces run for Congress."

A press release received by Gossips states: "Zotique aims to advance efforts regionally and nationally towards shattering glass ceilings and barriers to entry in political representation, particularly for young and queer leaders. . . . In seeking higher office, Zotique wishes to elevate the visibility of the city of Hudson, in addition to teaching our local queer youth that their leadership and their voices are essential."

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

In this week leading up to Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, here's what's happening.

• On Tuesday, May 24, Hudson Development Corporation (HDC) holds its regular monthly meeting at noon. At the meeting, the board will continue to discuss the strategic plan for the future of HDC. The meeting takes place in person only at 1 North Front Street.
• Also on Tuesday, May 24, the Planning Board holds a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of the special meeting is to consider the phasing plan at 708 State Street that would allow the code enforcement officer to issue a certificate of occupancy for Hudson Upper Depot so that the brewery that is to occupy the building can begin operations. The meeting will take place virtually. Click here to join the meeting. 

• On Wednesday, May 25, Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) holds a special meeting at 4:00 p.m. The purpose of the special meeting has not been announced, but chances are it has to do with HCDPA properties that the Hudson Housing Authority wants to include in its RFP (request for proposals) for new construction to replace Bliss Towers. The meeting will take place virtually. Click here to join the meeting.
• Also on Wednesday, May 25, the Common Council Technology Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. There is no agenda available for the meeting, which will be a hybrid--taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
• On Thursday, May 26, the Board of Assessment Review--Matthew Parker, Philip Osattin, and Dorothy Heyl--will meet from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. to hear and determine complaints in relation to assessments. Grievances will be heard on Zoom by appointment only. Contact the assessor at 518 929-3845 to schedule an appointment and presumably get the link to the Zoom meeting. A publication containing procedures for contesting an assessment can be found online at http://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/orpts/grievancebooklet.pdf. 
• On Friday, May 27, according to the city calendar, the Historic Preservation Commission holds its second regular meeting of the month at 10:00 a.m. At the HPC meeting on Friday, May 20, Victoria Polidoro, legal counsel for the HPC, indicated that the next meeting would be held on June 10. It was also indicated by HPC chair Phil Forman that, at the next meeting, there would be a public hearing on new construction proposed for First Street and Cherry Alley, as an accessory building to 102 Union Street. Gossips will confirm if HPC's next meeting and the public hearing take place on May 27 or June 10, and report it here.

Update: It has been confirmed. The Historic Preservation Commission will meet on Friday, May 27. The meeting will be held virtually. Click here to join remotely.
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The HPC and the "Depot District"

The Register-Star published an article yesterday by Noah Eckstein about Friday's special Historic Preservation Commission meeting: "Panel weighs Depot District options." The article seems intent on portraying the concerns of the HPC as impediments to the noble goal of creating more low-income housing in Hudson. It repeats the claim made by Dan Kent, vice president of initiatives for the Galvan Foundation, that without the demolition of the house and outbuilding located at 65-67 North Seventh Street, both contributing structures in the National Register Hudson Historic District, the building planned for the west side of North Seventh Street could only be 35 units instead of the 75 units now being proposed.

  

Much that happened in the meeting was not touched on in Eckstein's report. First was the discussion of the alternatives analysis, which was submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to justify the demolition of the two structures. Gossips recently read that document and found this rather extraordinary paragraph:

Galvan Foundation is currently rehabilitating the existing structures at 61 N. 7th Street and 622 State Street, which are currently vacant and derelict. The retention of the smaller structures along State Street, and parts of N. 7th Street will screen the larger proposed buildings, creating a screen along the urban streetscape, and providing a transition between the various sized buildings along these corridors. The landscape around the Upper Hudson Depot will be revitalized for community recreational and market use (i.e. farmers market, craft fair, etc.) further incorporating the varied elements of community into the overall project. The proposed height of the buildings is consistent with the historic elements in this portion of the city, and facilitates a visual transition to the urban street scape along State and Columbia Streets. 

For those for whom an address doesn't instantly conjure up the mental image of a building, this is 61 North Seventh Street:

It is not clear what is meant by 622 State Street. The now lost Hudson Orphan Asylum building, demolished by Galvan in 2019, had the address 620 State Street. 

Perhaps 622 State Street is meant to refer to this house, which Galvan acquired in 2017. The actual address of the house is 618 State Street.

Interestingly, the alternatives analysis speaks only of the house that is to be demolished and does not mention the accessory building on the parcel which is identified in the 1985 National Register inventory as an "ice house." At Friday's HPC meeting, Beth Selig of Hudson Valley Cultural Resources Consultants, who wrote the alternatives analysis for Galvan, presented Sanborn maps from 1895, 1903, and 1911 to demonstrate that the structure called the "ice house" did not exist in 1895. (In my post about the buildings to be demolished, I suggested it was likely this structure was already there when the property was owned by the Hudson Orphan Asylum. The 1895 Sanborn map shows that was not the case.)    

Selig questioned identification of the structure in the 1985 inventory as an "ice house," saying there was nothing in the Sanborn maps to suggest it was an ice house and commenting that ice houses were typically underground.

Since most of the members of the HPC attested to having never seen the alternatives analysis, the discussion of the document was postponed in favor of discussing the materials being proposed for the two buildings. That discussion was introduced by Walter Chatham, who asserted that the proposed site was "the only area in Hudson where this kind of building could occur" and assured the commission, "Our intention is to do no harm." He went on to say of the buildings, "This could be a big box with a flat roof, but hopefully it doesn't look like that to the average person." Responding to HPC architect member Chip Bohl's appeal at a previous meeting that the buildings be handsome, Chatham told the commission, "I have tried to make this handsome. . . . Our intention is to build some big buildings that don't look like they were built yesterday. We want to work with you all to create a charming neighborhood and provide much needed housing."

The materials for 76 North Seventh Street (the building proposed for the east side of the street, formerly identified as 708 State Street) include a black standing seam metal roof, black synthetic slate on the mansard roof, aluminum clad wood windows, and a cornice that appears to be wood but isn't. 

Most of the building's facades will be brick, a type of that is not perfectly rectangular and is meant to look old.

Because they are struggling to meet the energy requirements with brick, they are proposing to cover the less visible facades of the building, those that face the railroad tracks, with a synthetic stucco known as Exterior Insulating and Finish System (EIFS). (The acronym seems to be pronounced "e fuss.")

The building across the street--75 North Seventh Street--has gotten a $1 million NYSERDA award and is being planned to be an all-electric passive building. Because, as was explained by architect Jorge Chang, "full brick and thin brick are not approvable for a passive house," the lower floors of the building will be engineered brick called "NewBrick" and above that, where it is less visible from the street, "rigid insulation made and formed to look like brick" would be used. It is Gossips' understanding that, in the elevation drawing below, the darker pink represents where NewBrick would be used and the lighter pink where the insulation made to look like brick would be used.

Regarding the brick made from rigid insulation, Chang explained that the faux bricks are applied "pretty much like real brick, and then mortar is added in the grooves."

All of the proposed synthetic material gave the HPC pause. Phil Forman, who chairs the HPC, questioned the durability of the faux bricks made from insulation. Bohl said he had serious reservations about the product, expressing the opinion that freeze/thaw in our climate would be destructive. "There is an authenticity to buildings in Hudson," Bohl maintained and urged the architects to look at "an authentic material that has durability." He expressed the opinion that the siding solution didn't have to be brick.

Forman said he recognized the intention was not to disrupt but said he would accept disruption over lack of authenticity. He said in weighing compatibility and authenticity he valued authenticity the most.

Kent responded by saying, "We don't want 75 to stand out." (It will be remembered that 75 North Seventh Street is meant for households with incomes that are 40 to 80 percent of the area median income [AMI] and 76 North Seventh Street is meant for households with incomes that are 80 to 130 percent of the AMI.) He went on to say, "We are sensitive to the fact that we are creating a mixed income neighborhood where there is not an obvious difference between the two buildings." Kent promised to come back with more information about durability.

HPC member John Schobel asked rhetorically, "What's the case for this being appropriate? What is the alterative?" He then posited, "The ideal solution would be that we can be convinced this will work," adding, "You don't want to build something that everyone hates in fifteen years."

Chatham promised, "We will go back to the drawing board and find something better, or put a sample of [this] on City Hall so you can all see it." 

The discussion concluded with Forman telling the Galvan people, "You guys will get back to me when you want to meet again."   

When public comment was invited, only Mayor Kamal Johnson spoke, telling the HPC, "I hope we can make a decision soon."

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