Housing in Hudson

In October 2019, Kamal Johnson, at that time the mayor presumptive having won the Democratic primary, was interviewed on Channel 10 News. The major topic of discussion was housing and the diminishing amount of affordable housing in Hudson. In that interview, Johnson announced he had a "huge plan for housing," which he said he had been working on "for about a year now."

The "huge plan for housing" turned out to be the Galvan plan for North Seventh Street, which evolved from a 77-unit apartment building at 75 North Seventh Street . . . 

into a pair of buildings, one on each side of the street, the one on the west side "permanently affordable," the one of the east side "workforce," for a total of 138 units. 

The plan for the "Depot District" has had all the necessary approvals, including PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements, for a year now, but, although demolition at the two sites has been carried out, no construction has begun.

There are a few plans being pursued for creating new low-income and affordable housing--the Kearney Realty plan to build new housing on three City-owned parcels, the ambitious Hudson Housing Authority plan to replace Bliss Towers and Columbia Apartments with new construction, and HudsonDots, the Spark of Hudson's project to acquire and renovate multi-family buildings as affordable housing--but, sadly, in the past four years, Hudson has not seen an increase in the number of apartments available at rents that are below market rate.

What Hudson is seeing is new market rate apartments. Just a few examples are:

514 State Street, a former Gellert building, was renovated into market rate apartments around 2019-2020.

356 Union Street was renovated by Galvan over a period of time starting in 2018. In March 2018, the building was a part of a commitment by Galvan, memorialized in Hudson's Strategic Housing Action Plan, to develop 29 new units of affordable housing. Seven of those 29 units were to be in this building. In 2021, when the renovation was complete, Galvan sold the building for $1.1 million. The apartments--there are five not seven--are being rented at market rate.

The renovation of 223-225 Allen Street, another former Gellert building, was completed at the beginning of the year, and its six apartments are now being rented at market rate. The monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the building is $2,295.

The renovation of 207-207 Warren Street is nearing completion, and its residential units will be rented at market rates.

The renovation of 510 State Street, another former Gellert building, is underway. The plan, as presented to the Planning Board, is for the building to have eight residential units, which will be market rate.

At the Planning Board meeting on Tuesday, the board heard proposals for two projects that create new market rate apartments. The first is the proposal to build a pair of buildings on Fairview Avenue between Parkwood and Oakwood boulevards, which will have a total of 20 one- and two-bedroom apartments, to be rented at market rate.

The other project is the renovation of 241 Warren Street, to create two commercial spaces on the first floor, without altering the facade, and four one-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors. Those apartments will be rented a market rate.

It seems righteous intentions cannot compete with market forces when it comes to real estate.

Addendum: A reader reminded me of another project to create market rate apartments, which I should not have overlooked: 260 State Street.

The building, once upon a time a single family home and most recently a guest house called 3rd State, is being renovated to provide eight market rate apartments.

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