The Gossips of Rivertown: March 2023

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Addenda to the Meetings List

Here's more of what's changed since we published the list of the week's meetings on Sunday night.

On Thursday, March 30, Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) holds a special meeting at 9:00 a.m. The agenda for the meeting can be found here. The purpose of the meeting seems to be to accept the audit report and review the agency's investment policy. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
The meeting of the Common Council Events Committee, originally scheduled for Thursday at 6:00 p.m., has been rescheduled for Friday, March 31, at 4:30 p.m. At the meeting, the committee will be parceling out $30,000 to "events and projects that encourage the marketing of Hudson as a destination for overnight and day-trip visitors." The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

In a comment on the post "Taking Nothing for Granite," which reported that the Historic Preservation Commission had granted a certificate of appropriateness to the plans to convert the buildings at Fourth and Warren streets into a hotel to be called the Hudson Public, Steve Walsh pointed out that one of the buildings, 402-404 Warren Street, had been a hotel before, the Plaza Hotel. That reminded me that there was a photograph of the Plaza Hotel, taken in 1951 by Howard Gibson, in the collection PhotobyGibson.com. This is that photograph.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Happening Tomorrow

Here's a meeting that was left out of Gossips' weekly list. Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 29, the Columbia County Housing Task Force meets at 4:00 p.m. The meeting, which is open to the public, takes place at Columbia-Greene Community College, 4400 Route 23, in Room 612 of the Professional Academic Center. The meeting can also be accessed on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

The Columbia County Housing Task Force is co-chaired by Brenda Adams, Town of Canaan supervisor and former executive director of the Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, and Ron Knott, Town of Stuyvesant supervisor. The members of the task force are Dan Barufaldi; Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works in Hudson; Robert Gibson, commissioner of the Columbia County Department of Social Services; Tim Stalker, chair of the Columbia County Planning Board; Bill Hughes, former Fourth Ward supervisor; Kelly Sweet, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; Meredith Kane, Roe Jan Housing Task Force; Dennis Wedlick, architect; Brandon Mullins, building inspector; and Chris Brown, Columbia County housing development coordinator.

The goals of the task force have been defined as:

Preserve and expand housing affordability. attainability, and availability throughout Columbia County.
Engage and energize communities and stakeholders to increase awareness of and create responses to housing issues.
Develop and provide to towns and villages resources to help them achieve their housing goals.

The agenda for the meeting on Wednesday includes a presentation on housing initiatives in the City of Hudson by Michelle Tullo, Housing Justice Director.

The Evolution of an Educational Center

In 2015, the Hudson Sloop Club proposed the idea of the Everett Nack Estuary Education Center, to be constructed from a repurposed shipping container. The next year, a grant of $91,780 was received from the Hudson River Estuary Program to construct the center. In the beginning, this was the rendering of what was being proposed.

In 2017, the Nack Center, its design having evolved a bit, became part of a larger project, called "Railroad Point Pier," proposed for DRI (Downton Revitalization Initiative) funding. Although it started out as a priority project, Railroad Point Pier ended up not getting funding, but the Nack Center was to proceed on its own.

Last April, the Hudson Sloop Club announced another change of plan for the Nack Center. Instead of being in a fixed location, the Everett Nack Estuary Education Center will be mobile.

This weekend, the Hudson Sloop Club is initiating Spring Saturdays, a series of events at Railroad Point, the area around the originally proposed site of the Nack Center, so named for the remnant of the 19th-century railroad trestle found on the site.

What follows is the press release announcing the event.

The Hudson Sloop Club is excited to invite members of the public to join for the first of our Spring Saturday series at Railroad Point--a beautiful site that many people are not aware of. This Saturday, April 1, from 1 to 5 p.m. we will set out to improve the trails by clearing brush and spreading donated shavings so that we can enjoy them all year long. Participants will also be able to take part in hands-on activities to help improve the trails, such as planting trees and clearing debris.

To sign up, please visit the Hudson Sloop Club's website or reach out on social media.

Recently, Build Hudson installed this kiosk, previously used by the Columbia Land Conservancy, on the site.

The Hudson Sloop Club plans to activate Railroad Point, the space next to Rick's Point at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, and use it for educational programming throughout the year. The event this Saturday, April 1, is the first of the events to take place on the first Saturday of each month this spring.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Common Council Watch

We won't know for sure who's running for seats on the Common Council until designating petitions are filed, which will happen between April 3 and April 6, and maybe not even then, but today two candidates announced that they are stepping up to run in the Fourth Ward: Jennifer Belton and Rich Volo. The announcement provided this information about the candidates.

Jennifer Belton grew up in central Virginia, along the James River. After frequent visits to Hudson, she and her husband Dave, a master plasterer and cabinetmaker, felt it was the perfect place to settle and make their home, as it was reminiscent of the place where she grew up. After nine years in Hudson, she decided to enter the race for Fourth Ward councilmember.

A professor for more than twenty years, Jennifer has taught at Albright College, Marist College, and Parsons | The New School for Social Justice. As a leading member of UAW Local 7902, she helped to organize strike duties, attended collective bargaining meetings, and relayed information to the 1,600 members of The New School's part-time faculty.

She served as secretary of the Flag Day Committee in 2018, a community event that is close to her heart.

The things that are important to her are community, the environment, and making sure the decisions made by our city government reflect the desires of its constituents.

Jennifer has worked at small businesses and nonprofits in Hudson and understands the challenges that these businesses and the community members who own and work for them face. She feels a close connection and a deep warmth to the city of Hudson and especially to her neighbors in the Fourth Ward. She will make a spirited and dedicated councilmember if elected.

********

Rich "Trixie" Volo served as Fourth Ward alderman for two years, 2018-2019. As alderman, Rich obtained for the City $45,000 in grants from New York State and National Grid for the electric car-charging stations behind City Hall, as well as $35,000 from NYS Climate Smart Communities for completing the first four high-impact climate actions.

Rich organized the first Pride Parade in Hudson in 2010 and was involved in the next ten years of Pride Parades.

In 2015, Rich set up a small computer support team in Hudson which still employs several Hudson residents.

Rich currently manages the website Trixie's List, an event calendar, and the accompanying walking map of the city of Hudson. He also serves as chair of Hudson's Conservation Advisory Council.

You can find Rich selling cookies fresh from Trixie's Oven every Saturday at the Hudson Farmers' Market.

Today's the Day

The sidewalk law, which establishes a citywide sidewalk improvement district and levies an annual maintenance fee on all properties whether or not they are exempt from property taxes, was subject to a permissive referendum. To trigger a referendum, a petition protesting the law had to be filed with the city clerk within forty-five days after the law was enacted. The number of signatures required on the petition had to be equal to at least 10 percent of the total number of votes cast for governor in Hudson in the last gubernatorial election. In this case, that number was calculated to be at least 204 signatures.

According to Gossips' calculation, which was confirmed by the city clerk at the last Council meeting, the forty-five days is up today. So far, there has been no word of a petition being filed or of a petition being circulated.

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

The week ahead, the final week in March, culminates with April Fool's Day. In the meantime, here is what's happening.

On Monday, March 27, the Housing Trust Fund Board meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
On Tuesday, March 28, Hudson Development Corporation (HDC) holds its annual meeting at noon. The meeting takes place in person only at 1 North Front Street.
On Wednesday, March 29, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) holds a special to review and consider the annual audit and other annual compliance documents. The meeting, which is a hybrid, takes place at 9:00 a.m. in person at 1 City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
Also on Wednesday, March 29, the Columbia County Housing Advisory Board is hosting a Landlord/Tenants Rights Forum from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the library at Hudson High School, 215 Harry Howard Avenue. The topics to be covered are:

Landlord/tenant law
Landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities
Eviction process and small claims court
Section 8 housing voucher choice program
Rental and landlord insurance
Health and safety issues

On Thursday, March 30, the Common Council Events Committee, whose only reason for existence is to dole out $30,000 to "events and projects that encourage the marketing of Hudson as a destination for overnight and day-trip visitors," meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

Photo: David McIntyre | Chronogram

Update: The meeting of the Events Committee has been rescheduled for Friday, March 31, at 4:30 p.m.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CAROLE OSTERINK

Improving the Water Quality in Oakdale Lake

Last year, Friends of Oakdale Lake presented the findings of a two-year water quality assessment project that had been carried out by the ecological consulting firm Great Ecology. The report, which can be found here, identified phosphorus, which is contributing to the growth of unwanted vegetation in the lake, as a major problem for water quality and recommended three short-term actions, to be implemented within the next year. Two of those actions--harvesting submerged vegetation and air diffuser aeration--have already been carried out. The implementation of the third--barley straw application--began today.

Today, David Yozzo, chief ecologist for Great Ecology; Cate Collinson, project director; and Tamar Adler, director of Friends of Oakdale Lake, suspended the first nine bags of barley straw in a small project area of Oakdale Lake. The bags were placed as a trial run. The remaining 30 pounds of barley straw will be suspended in the lake by a group of Hudson High School students on April 18, assisted by ecologists from Great Ecology and members of Friends of Oakdale Lake.

The barley straw is packed into red plastic onion bags, which will be collected and reused. The bags are then suspended by durable rope and held in position with mushroom anchors. Friends of Oakdale Lake wants the public to understand that the bags are not garbage. They are a planned and agreed-upon ecological intervention. The expectation is that, over the course of several months, the barley straw will inhibit the growth of algae in the lake. If the project is successful, it offers a chemical-free, low-cost way to decrease unwanted vegetation in the lake without interfering with summertime recreation.

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Why Not Here?

This past Monday, the City Council of Beacon unanimously passed legislation to ban the use of fossil fuels and require that, starting in 2024, all new buildings and major renovations be entirely electric. Gossips learned the news from an email from Food & Water Watch. Beacon is the first city in the Hudson Valley to adopt such legislation, and the third in the state to do so, after Ithaca and New York City.

Given all the new residential buildings being proposed or contemplated for Hudson--the two buildings Galvan has proposed for the "Depot District," the three buildings proposed by the Kearney Group, and whatever new construction the Hudson Housing Authority eventually decides on-- it's curious that it hasn't occurred to anyone to push for a similar law in Hudson.

Also on Promenade Hill

Thursday's Gossips post about the plans to repaint the fence on Promenade Hill inspired John Cody to share a picture he'd taken that morning of St. Winifred, the sculpture that graces the promenade, and a news item reporting the unveiling of the statue on September 28, 1896. Because, on this fifth day of spring, it's raining and dismal and we could use some cheering up, I share the photo and the clipping here. Imagine 5,000 people turning out to witness the unveiling of St. Winifred!

Photo: John Cody

Friday, March 24, 2023

Taking Nothing for Granite

This morning, the Historic Preservation Commission granted a certificate of appropriateness to the plans for converting the buildings at Fourth and Warren streets into a hotel to be called the Hudson Public. The review by the HPC has been going on since the beginning of the year, and the design for the hotel has evolved in that time. It's useful to compare how it started with what it is today.

What was originally proposed

What was approved today

The certificate of appropriateness was granted with these ten conditions:

Any new mortar will be matched to existing mortar in color, composition, and substance on existing buildings.
The original patina of the brick on existing buildings shall be maintained and any cleaning that is done shall be nonabrasive and not debride the finish.
The applicant shall return to the Historic Preservation Commission for approval of specifications and details for all windows, doors, and light fixtures.
The applicant shall return to the Historic Preservation Commission for approval of sign materials and details.
The applicant shall return to the Historic Preservation Commission for approval of cornices over windows on the two new infill buildings. The applicant shall consider a projection of at least 2 inches from the face of the brick to create a shadow.
Materials for stone lintels on infill buildings shall match those on existing buildings.
Building gutters shall be integral; any exterior gutters require approval of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Roof shingles will be asphalt timberline shingles.
The water table on the north elevation is stucco on masonry.
Corrugated metal on new construction at rear shall be unpainted galvanized or ungalvanized metal.

Now for the part of the report that explains the title of this post. At the last HPC meeting, Walter Chatham, the architect for the project, said he thought the surviving stone on the facade of 402 Warren Street was granite, and hence all new stone needed to restore the colonnade on the existing building and for the lintels and sills on the infill buildings would be granite.

Matt McGhee, steadfast observer and critic of the HPC, maintained that the stone was marble and suggested that it was the same type of marble found on 260 Warren Street, the current location of Lawrence Park.

Photo: Monthie Collection, Columbia County Historical Society

After that meeting, Chatham investigated further and concluded that the stone was indeed marble, an opinion he said had been confirmed by the sixteen people with stone expertise he had consulted. Based on his investigation and research, Chatham posited that the marble on the building was from Danbury, Maine, a specific type now known as White Olympian Danbury marble. According to Chatham, that is the marble that was originally used for the building and that is the marble that will be used to restore the colonnade of the existing building. The columns and entablatures of the infill buildings, as well as the lintels and sills, will also be marble.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

The Date of the Auction Has Been Announced

In February, the Common Council passed resolutions to sell two City-owned properties: 10-12 Warren Street and 429-431 Warren Street. Today, the date of the auction was finally announced. It will take place on Tuesday, April 25, at 3:00 p.m., at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street.

The minimum bid for each property has been set as the value determined by the most recent appraisals of the buildings: $895,000 for 10-12 Warren Street and $595,000 for 429-431 Warren Street. The sale of each building will be subject to a $100,000 penalty in the event that it is not developed for a commercial use within three years of the conveyance of title or if all or any portion of the property is sold within three years of the conveyance of title.

For more information, click here.

Who Wants to Serve on the Common Council?

Last night, Amber Harris, councilmember representing the Third Ward, released the following statement:

It has been not only a pleasure, but also an eye-opening learning experience to serve as Alder representing the City of Hudson's third ward. I want to thank all of my supporters and mentors that helped bring me this far. In order to allow time for another brave soul with a fresh set of eyes to step up and represent the third ward and the City as a whole, I am announcing that I will not be seeking a second full term this November.

Thank you all for entrusting me to serve in such an important capacity.

The process of getting signatures on designating petitions is now underway. According to the 2023 Political Calendar published by the Columbia County Board of Elections, the dates for filing the petitions are April 3 through 6. There is still time to get petitions signed, and the field appears to be wide open.

In the First Ward, Margaret Morris is gathering signatures to run for reelection, but Art Frick, because of the boundary changes made to maintain wards of equal population, now lives in the Third Ward and cannot run again in the First Ward.

In the Second Ward, it seems Dewan Sarowar, who was first elected in 2017, will be seeking reelection, but it is not known if Mohammed Rony, now serving his first term on the Council, will run again. Last week, the Register-Star reported that Kevron Lee intends to run in the Second Ward, with the support of "the HCHC Collective, the C4 arm of the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition." "C4 arm" presumably is a reference to a 501(c)4 organization.

In the Third Ward, Amber Harris has announced she does not intend to run. Whether or not Ryan Wallace will run again has not been confirmed.

In the Fourth Ward, Malachi Walker, who is in his second term on the Council, has said several times in public meetings that he does not intend to run again. Gossips has heard that Theo Anthony, now serving his first term on the Council, may not be seeking a second term, but that has not been confirmed.

In the Fifth Ward, the word is that both current councilmembers, Dominic Merante and Vicky Daskaloudi, intend to seek reelection.

It appears there may be lots of open seats and lots of opportunities for anyone interested to serve the community.

News About the News

It was reported today that Johnson Newspaper Corporation is selling the Register-Star, the Daily Mail, and the website HudsonValley 360.com to the Daily Gazette Holding Company, which publishes the Daily Gazette in Schenectady, the Gloversville Leader-Herald, and the Amsterdam Recorder.

Improvements at Promenade Hill

Last October, after seventeen months of construction, the newly redesigned approach to Promenade Hill was officially opened, and once again folks had access--now universal access--to the bluff that in 1795 had been set aside as a public space for viewing the river and the mountains beyond. This was the view restored to us on that day.

Photo: Sarah Sterling

In recent weeks, workers from the Department of Public Works have cleared the brush from the escarpment, and this morning, they were scraping the old paint off the fence in preparation for repainting it.

According to Rob Perry, DPW superintendent, the repainting will be done when the weather is a little warmer.

Although Promenade Hill was established as a public park in 1795, nearly 80 years passed before the fence was erected. This painting by Henry Ary, done in 1854, shows Promenade Hill before there was a fence.

According to Anna Bradbury's 1908 book, History of the City of Hudson, New York, the fence at Promenade Hill was erected in 1878.

In the same year, 1878, the authorities took measures to improve the Promenade Hill, by the erection of an ornamental fence along the full length of its dangerous frontage, and by increased attention to its walks and lawn.

The minutes of the Common Council indicate that the Council voted to pay for the fence on Promenade Hill on April 25, 1872.

Somewhere between 1872 and 1878, the fence was erected, so around this time, it is celebrating its sesquicentennial. Hence, it is very appropriate that the fence is getting some attention now.

On a related topic, at the informal meeting of the Common Council last week, Rob Perry explained why the new stairs leading to Promenade Hill are cordoned off when it snows with signs directing people to use the ramps.

The stairs are made of quarried stone, which cost $400,000. It will last and look beautiful for a long time, but it does not react well with salt. As a consequence, to protect the stone stairs from being damaged by salt, when it snows, people are directed to use the ramps, which are made of composite stone and concrete and can be cleared and salted.

A Vision of Hudson

Back in April 2022, the City of Hudson entered into an agreement with CGI Digital to be part of a Community Showcase Video Program "to create a series of videos highlighting businesses, organizations, attractions, natural resources, and communities within Hudson." Gossips reported on the project in July 2022.

Yesterday, the videos were released, four of them, with the titles "Welcome," "Parks and Recreation," "Food and Entertainment," and "Organizations." All four of them can be viewed here. A link to the videos is also on the landing page of the City of Hudson website. Appearing in every one of the videos, sometimes more than once, is this stretch of Warren Street.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

A Uniquely Hudson Sign of Spring

City Hall has announced that, beginning this weekend, at midnight Friday, March 24, alternate side of the parking rules are suspended on weekends. This means that from Friday night to Saturday morning and from Saturday night to Sunday morning cars can be parked overnight on either side of the street without risking being ticketed. The rules are suspended "until further notice," which usually means until winter is approaching and snow is a possibility.

Special Meeting Tomorrow

There is a special meeting of the Common Council tomorrow night, Thursday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m. According to the official call of the meeting, its purpose is "to consider a resolution(s) to pay contractors related to City Hall renovations."

The original plans for the renovations to achieve ADA compliance and satisfy the terms of the settlement agreement with the Department of Justice involved removing 53 feet of pipe wrapped in asbestos. At last night's meeting of the Common Council, Peter Bujanow, Commissioner of Public Works, told the Council that there were 415 more feet of asbestos-wrapped pipe in the cellar of the building, and, while the asbestos removal team was on site and the building was vacated, the Council should consider having that removed and replaced as well. The additional cost would be $51,117.

City Treasurer Heather Campbell warned the Council that this expense would use up most of the contingency written into the budget for the inevitable change orders. Consequently, there would need to be something else in place to cover unanticipated costs.

In January, it was revealed that the total cost of the project is $669,500. A reserve of $435,000 had been established, of which, at that time, $331,567 remained. In January, the Council passed a resolution authorizing the loan of $337,933 from the General Fund to make up the difference. The amount was to be repaid to the General Fund when the proceeds of a bond authorized in May 2021 were received.

The special meeting will be a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

Recognizing Achievement

Photo: Jim Franco | Times Union

Last night at the Common Council meeting, Mayor Kamal Johnson acknowledged the achievement of the Catholic Central boys' basketball team which "just made it to the state championship." Catholic Central is in Troy, but its star player, freshman Darien Moore, is from Hudson. Presenting a certificate of commendation to Moore, Johnson said, "A lotta times we make a lotta noise when our young people are doing the wrong things in our community, so I want to make sure we highlight and acknowledge when they do amazing things, and he has done an excellent job representing the City of Hudson."

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

A Development Partner for HHA

The responses to the RFQ (request for qualifications) for a development partner for the Hudson Housing Authority are currently being reviewed. The plan is to build new housing to replace Bliss Towers and Columbia Apartments and to demolish those structures, built in the early 1970s. There is no word on how many proposals were received or by whom they were submitted, but some insight is offered by the sign-in sheet for the site tour that took place on December 12, 2022.

The original schedule, outlined in the RFQ, called for the announcement of the chosen development partner to be made on April 3. At last night's meeting of the HHA Board of Commissioners, Jeffrey Dodson, HHA executive director, said that the announcement would be postponed until the board's next meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 17.

The Unveiling Continues

In January, Gossips reported that the metal siding sheathing the 1856 Gifford Foundry Building was being removed.

Photo: Peter Jung

Today, stucco is being removed to expose the original brick.

Photo: Win Jackson

The Historic Preservation Commission granted a certificate of appropriateness to remove the metal siding and restore the brick beneath back in July 2021. At the time, Gossips commented, "It will be interesting to watch this reveal." Who knew the process would take so long?

The building, which is seen in the historic photograph below, has been owned by the Galvan Initiatives Foundation since 2014.

Monday, March 20, 2023

Movies, Movies, Movies

There are no actual movie theaters in Hudson, but that doesn't mean there are not places to watch movies. Hudson Hall is soon to launch a series called Movies on Mainstreet with a screening of the 1986 neo-noir film Blue Velvet. The mystery thriller is set in a small town in North Carolina, and its screening at Hudson Hall may solve a uniquely Hudson mystery: Who is the creator of The Hudson Wail? The Hudson Wail is hosting the screening of Blue Velvet, which takes place on Wednesday, March 29, at 7:00 p.m., and possibly, if you pay your $5 and go see the film, you'll get to find out who's the mind behind the Instagram account. Click here to purchase your tickets.

The Hudson City School District is also planning on screening some films as part of its "Hudson Has Heart" initiative. The films will be shown in the Junior/Senior High School Auditorium.

On Thursday, March 30, at 6:00 p.m., the film is Miss Representation, which "exposes damaging, sexist media messages that inhibit young women's happiness, ambition, and leadership." A trailer for the movie can be viewed here.

On Monday, April 17, at 6 p.m., the film is The Mask You Live In, which follows boys and young men "as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America's narrow definition of masculinity." The trailer for this movie can be viewed here.

Admission to both films is free and open to the public, but parental permission is required for anyone under the age of 18, which is most of the students in junior and senior high school. For more information, click here.

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

Tomorrow, at 5:24 p.m., the vernal equinox happens. According to legend, at the exact moment of the vernal equinox you can balance an egg in an upright position, because of Earth's position relative to the Sun. You'll have time to try this before you need to turn your attention to the week's meetings.

On Monday, March 20, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners holds its monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m. It's possible some information about the responses to the RFQ (request for qualifications) for a development partner to create new public housing to replace Bliss Towers and Columbia Apartments (the low-rise) may be forthcoming at this meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

On Tuesday, March 21, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and in Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
On Friday, March 24, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. No agenda for the meeting is as yet available. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
On Saturday, March 25, the Robert Jenkins House, chapter house and museum of the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), will be offering tours from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The house is located at 113 Warren Street.

It Happened on St. Patrick's Day

Speeding is a concern in our city. In 2021, the speed limit on Union Street and Glenwood Boulevard was reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph. The Common Council Legal Committee has started work on reducing the speed limit to 25 mph throughout the city. But will reducing the speed limit be enough?

On Friday night, at about 11:30 p.m., residents of the 300 block of State Street were startled by "a loud boom and the crushing sound of metal on metal." One of those residents described the incident for Gossips: "A car had completely flipped over and taken out several other vehicles in its path. . . . The incident was a stark reminder of the dangerous conditions we often see on this street by people speeding." That resident also provided these photographs.

Traffic calming is a serious concern for us in Hudson. Received wisdom maintains that enforcement cannot be relied on to curb speeding, but rather the solution is to "create spaces in which it is physically uncomfortable or impossible to drive a vehicle quickly." This solution may seem to make sense when applied to State Street, which is probably the widest street in Hudson, but people also speed on narrower streets. In Gossips' recollection, parked cars have been totaled by speeding vehicles on lower Allen Street and lower Union Street, where the width of the streets should make speeding "physically uncomfortable." Perhaps we need an ad hoc committee, of the Common Council or of private citizens, tasked with studying the issue of traffic calming, researching best practices, and recommending solutions.

An Appeal to HBBs (and Others)

In 1975, there was an initiative to support Hudson businesses appropriately called SPOUT, because of Hudson's whaling roots. SPOUT is an acronym for Society to Promote Our Unique Town. This page from an event program provides insight into SPOUT's mission.

The History Room of the Hudson Area Library is planning an exhibition dedicated to SPOUT and this era in Hudson history. The exhibition is scheduled to open in early May. If you any souvenirs or memorabilia of SPOUT that you are willing to lend to the library for the exhibition, please contact Brenda Shufelt, History Room coordinator.

Gossips Note: HBB stands for Hudson By Birth.

Friday, March 17, 2023

St. Patrick's Day in Hudson, 1873

According to this item from the Hudson Daily Register for March 17, 1873, there was a St. Patrick's Day celebration in Hudson 150 years ago that included a service at St. Mary's Church and a procession through the city, involving more than 200 people, organized by the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society. The Daily Register declared the celebration "highly creditable to our adopted citizens who took part in it."

In 1873, St. Mary's Church, which became familiarly known as the "Irish Church," was located at Third and Montgomery streets.

According to the Hudson city directory for 1873, the Father Matthew Total Abstinence Society met at St. Mary's Hall, which was located at Third and Allen streets.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Following Up

On Tuesday, Gossips shared the press release announcing the launch of HudsonDots, the affordable housing program initiated by The Spark of Hudson. Yesterday, Roger Hannigan Gilson reported in the Times Union that The Spark of Hudson is purchasing and renovating the last of the properties that made up Phil Gellert's Northern Empire in Hudson: "Major Hudson landlord bought out, but current tenants can stay."

Over the years, Gossips has done a few posts about Gellert and his holdings in Hudson. In 2010, he owned twenty buildings, which Gossips inventoried in a post called "Gellert Gallery." In 2016 and again in 2018, Gossips revisited some of the Gellert properties that then had new owners. An example of a Gellert survivor is 514 State Street, which Gellert sold (not to The Spark of Hudson) for $485,000 in July 2018.