The proposal to build seventy units of affordable housing on the cul-de-sac that is Mill Street, on the site of a former deed-restricted recreation area, has been before the Planning Board since July. At Tuesday's meeting of the Planning Board, the folks from Kearney Realty & Development Group finally presented renderings of what is being proposed: two four-story buildings bordering a parking lot on two sides--the parking lot being in the front, looking barren and huge, although it has fewer spaces than the buildings have units.
The renderings confirm what most people believed all along: the project is woefully out of character with the neighborhood for which it is being proposed. But then it's hard to imagine a location in Hudson where it wouldn't be out of character.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CAROLE OSTERINK
This hideous erection is the perfect reflection of the three ring circus that is the Hudson Planning Board.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteugly, ugly, what is the matter with these architects. Terrible plan
ReplyDeleteLooks like a storage unit for old bicycles and broken tennis rackets and household junk. I'll take one of the spaces for $25 per month.
ReplyDeleteor a VA hospital, prison, dormitory. I want to know how a 2.5 acre paved area in a flood zone will work in the next storm, spring thaw, and torrential rain storm.
DeleteThe mayor just commented on a Mark Allen post about it and looking up the developer online I see a myriad of complaints from their current tenants that seem pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteUsing the word "Lofts" to describe this is cynically funny. It's like putting "Gourmet" on a pack of Twinkies.
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be Kearney‘s nomenclature style. If it’s a cheap “5-over-1” build then it’s “Lofts.” If it’s an assisted living facility then it’s “Commons.”
Delete“Lofts” give the vibe of urban sophistication and ideal over a more blunt name like “tenements” or “hovels.”
Find your inner Don Draper and you’ll understand.
the site design is giving giant middle finger.
ReplyDeletekamal and michelle, demand kearney give even half of what you’re extracting from mill street for your vision of housing.
Below is the letter I sent to the Planning Board back in September. I talked to many of the Mill Street residents, but unfortunately, I do not see this coming in front of the Council again. The land should not have been sold to a large developer, instead, a small non-profit could have built homes that fit the character of the community, similar to the Habitat for Humanity houses that are on Mill Street now - where residents own their homes.
ReplyDeleteThe only people who will profit off of this project are the developers.
https://www.fourthwardhudson.com/2024/09/10/letter-to-the-planning-board-regarding-the-mill-street-project/
There is also no fiscal plan for the cost of additional city services, how much taxes these developments will pay, and the ultimate costs to the City of Hudson property owners.
Rich Volo
4th Ward Councilmember
Have you seen the deed of the sale of the property?
DeleteA neighborhood on a cul-de-sac is normally single family housing. The density proposed seems to be an unusual application for such a street. I mean, what could go wrong in an emergency? Is that even legal?
ReplyDeleteThis seems less like a proposal and more like a threat. Poorly designed and out of place in a city that should pride itself on walkability.
ReplyDeleteIf the Planning Board is actually considering this, it’s pretty clear they are not working in the best interests of the Hudson community.
It really is time for Hudson to seriously rethink its governing structure.
Who would want to live at the bottom of that steep hill with no shoulder and no pedestrian friendly ANYTHING on either side? Why, it would be anyone who prefers to drive a car EVERY TIME they must venture near and far!
ReplyDeleteNO, there won't be any adverse environmental impacts at all with this project. Great idea! Add a few more floors! Bring more automobile dependents to Hudson! What climate disaster?
The Hudson Planning Board has already made two massive mistakes-- the first was permitting the pile of plastic condos known as Vinyl Village on top of Academy Hill and on top of our historic cemetery. The second was permitting a large, noxious gravel dump next to our waterfront park. And it appears that the PB is on track to make a third mistake by allowing the crap project on Mill St. The tragedy here is that Hudson was blessed with a great location and wonderful infrastructure, and had the possibility of creating a great little city, but they pissed it away instead.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been following this development closely. Is it all rentals? It's sort of like Bliss towers with fewer floors. Why isn't the Historical society all over this? Does it have to be so ugly and dysfunction? So inappropriate for the site. This crappy stacking is how industrial meat is produced. I walk my dogs there, it's a very sweet, secret street. Even if you want high density does it have to be so ugly, impractical and punishing for the existing neighborhood and new tenants? We can do better, MUCH better. Does the Mayor weigh in on the final decision on this? Seems as though there are lots of pockets involved here. This is wrong for Hudson, especially for that particular neighborhood. Nasty.
ReplyDeleteNo no no no no no and no no no. Yes it is wrong and nasty. But typical. When a municipality is mired in dysfunction (and may not know or acknowledge it), smart, wealthy and evil developers swoop in while they can. Why do you think Galvan chose Hudson?
DeleteThis project is:
ReplyDelete- in a flood plain
- not supported by the residents on the street
- not architecturally appropriate for the neighborhood
- not consistent with the previous "Comprehensive Plan"
- not supported by the experienced Planning Board members, all of whom resigned in protest
- not lawfully executed (see land sale concerns)
When all is done this will be one of the albatrosses** that permanently ends Kamal's political career in Hudson, and beyond.
** The phrase "an albatross around one’s neck" comes from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, written in 1798. In the poem, a mariner shoots a friendly albatross with a crossbow, which is considered an act of bad luck. As punishment, the crew forces the mariner to wear the dead albatross around his neck. The phrase has since evolved to mean a heavy burden of guilt that becomes an obstacle to success.