Hudson's Midcentury School Building

Last week, the Hudson City School District (HCSD) signed a contract for Hudson Development Corporation (HDC) to purchase John L. Edwards, the elementary school building HCSD vacated in 2018. Last week too, the Common Council passed two resolutions in support of grant applications being submitted by HDC for the adaptive reuse of the building. The first resolution was in support of an application for a $675,000 matching grant from the Environmental Protection Fund; the second resolution was in support of an application for a $300,000 grant from Homes and Community Renewal in the category Downtown Anchor Project. 

This morning, the Historic Preservation Commission agreed to submit a letter of support for HDC's application for a third grant: $100,000 from Empire State Development in the category Strategic Planning and Feasibility Studies. A paragraph from that letter defends the architectural significance of the building.

Completed in 1963, this 80,000 SF school building was designed by the architectural firm of Sargent, Webster, Crenshaw & Folley, a firm noted for their expertise in the design of scholastic buildings. The JLE School, executed in the Mid-Century style, is a standout in a city noted for its expansive Historic District consisting mainly of 18th- and 19th-century architecture. The city's architectural heritage would be further broadened by having this impressive 20th-century building continue to be of purpose.

Photo: Jonathan Simons

During the discussion of the letter, HPC member Miranda Barry suggested that the building be designated a local landmark. Victoria Polidoro, legal counsel to the HPC, commented that since the building is more than fifty years old it could be given historic designation provided it met the criteria set forth in the city code, Chapter 169-4 A. Those criteria are as follows:

1. Possesses special character or historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the architectural, cultural, political, economic, or social history of the locality, region, state, or nation; or
2. Is identified with historic personages; or
3. Is the work of a builder, architect, or designer whose work has significantly influenced an age.

A property only has to meet one of these criteria to merit historic designation. It could be argued that this midcentury school building, named for local notable Dr. John Lounsbery Edwards, meets all three requirements.

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