Two Hotels Before the HPC

This morning, Walter Chatham returned to the Historic Preservation Commission with a revised design for the hotel being proposed by the Galvan Foundation for the corner of Warren and North Fourth streets--the Hudson Public. Gone is the mansard roof on the infill building on Fourth Street, in favor of a roofline similar to that found on the pair of rowhouses. Gone also is the added late 19th-century ornamentation on the building at the corner.

Chatham explained that further study of the historic photograph of the building and of the building itself had caused him to "agree with people I don't normally agree with" and conclude that the ensemble of buildings were all of the same earlier period. Hence it was decided that the brackets on 402-404 Warren Street would be removed, and the cornice would be returned to something that resembles what appears in this historic photograph.

The design for the storefronts along Warren Street has also been revised to restore the stone columns and the tablature of the original building.

The revised design got a favorable reception from the HPC. John Schobel declared, "This looks excellent," adding that it "remediated all our concerns." Jeremy Stynes told Chatham, "Through a collaborative effort, you've produced something amazing." Miranda Barry said the new design "calls out the early history of Hudson."

Although supporting the overall concept, architect member Chip Bohl had reservations about the infill building on North Fourth Street, suggesting it might be beneficial to explore some other type of cornice rather than replicating the attic windows found on the two rowhouses. He also suggested that the infill building might step down rather than being level with the roof of the larger building beside it. Commenting on the proposed design for the Warren Street side of the building, Bohl expressed the opinion that the storefront of the infill building on Warren Street (406) should not be an extension of the storefront on the larger building (402-402). "It confuses," he said, explaining that the new building should "look different so it doesn't look like something that was built at the same time" as the original building.

Chatham was seeking a green light from the HPC so his team could move forward and "do the forensic work." This he received from the HPC. The members voted unanimously to approve the concept plan for massing and form. 

Also at this morning's meeting, the plans for converting 601 Union Street, the Italianate mansion that was for many years the Hudson Elks Lodge, into a 41-room hotel were presented to the HPC. The architect for the project explained the plan for the mansion was "repair and preserve" and for the lodge, the major addition constructed after the Elks had acquired the building in 1936, was "clean it up and quiet it down." 

The plans also involve the construction of additional guest rooms, a gym and spa, a bar and kitchen, an outdoor pool, and event space behind the existing building.

Reacting to the initial presentation, HPC chair Phil Forman declared, "Great! It's beautiful," and suggested that the next step was to schedule a public hearing. A date for that hearing was not determined. The applicant indicated that the project was scheduled to go before the Planning Board on March 14.

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