At yesterday's Public Works Board meeting, mayor's aide Justin Weaver reported about a problem related to one of the bump-outs that are part of the "Hudson Streetscapes" improvements. The bump-out causing the problem is the one at Warren and Second streets, in front of the Warren Street Market.
People coming to the convenience store to pick up a few things are parking beside the bump-out, in a traffic lane, and making it impossible for cars traveling north on Second Street to make a right turn onto Warren Street. Anyone who lives in that part of the city could have predicted this would happen, but in this aspect of the design, public input was either not sought or not heeded.
The solution to the problem for now is a temporary "No Parking" sign stuck in the soil. The permanent solution being pursued, according to Weaver, is painting the lovely and expensive granite curbing yellow--a solution that will certainly look tacky and may not succeed in solving the problem.
Weaver also reported that the landscapers are no longer on site, so Luizzi will be watering the landscaping until they leave, which is expected to happen at the beginning of August. What remains to be done on the project are the "pedestrian amenities": bike racks, benches, and garbage cans. When the pedestrian amenities have been installed, and Luizzi leaves, the Department of Public Works will assume the responsibility for watering the plantings.
One bit of good news: A tree is going to be planted on Second Street next to Verdigris.
.jpg) |
| Photo: Kim Bach |
Weaver explained the landscapers had made an independent decision, consulting no one, not to plant a tree in this location and to plant two trees in front of the Warren Street Market instead. City Hall has informed the landscaper that they must plant a tree in the location next to Verdigris. Presumably this will happen in the fall, when the landscapers return to plant bulbs.COPYRIGHT 2025 CAROLE OSTERINK
.jpg)
This is precisely what happens when there is no management of a project. Once again, City Hall leads from the rear.
ReplyDeleteYes, the dumb bump-outs at 2nd & Warren have made things more dangerous for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, precisely the opposite of what we were promised. The only thing that will stop bodega customers from parking in front of the store OR DIRECTLY ACROSS Warren or 2nd at those bump--outs, are signs that threaten a fine for parking illegally. They would be the first such signs in the entire city. Yellow curbs, even with regular NO PARKING signs, simply won't stop anyone from doing what they have been doing for years or decades. There is simply not adequate or proper enforcement of parking in downtown Hudson outside of meter violations, and there is far too much disrespect of parking rules and norms from too many drivers.
ReplyDeleteNo one should be surprised if a pedestrian or two are hit by a vehicle at that intersection. It's now a complete mess thanks to DRI and City Hall.
Waiting for Bill's comments on this laughable if not so sad situation. Hudson just becomes more and more of a big joke.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gossips.
ReplyDeleteShared this previously as a comment that the corner is now unsafe due to the parked car blocking fast moving vehicles on Warren, and that pedestrian crossing is used frequently and often by residents in wheelchairs, so this is extra dangerous for them.
Where is 1st Ward Supervisor Randall Martin?
Where is 1st Ward Council member Gary who lives very close to that spot?
Sincere question: let's assume for a second that the mayor and every department head was ferociously competent.... who would ordinarily be in charge of fixing this? Or making the decision to design it better now that the universe showed us the real traffic flow?
Also - has anyone seen Mayor Kamal?
www.kamalforhudson.com is still not updated and features the 2021 Election Dates and #AHOD?
One wonders which of the 4 mayoral candidates might drop out first...
That said.. the new bridge looks lovely, and some long-time residents have shared that it looks better and drives better than the previous one... thank you former Mayor Martin and DPW crew who worked in snow and sun.
Before the bump out it wasn't legal to park there and people did it anyway. They also would double park there to run in and get things, which is the exact same thing. I don't remember anyone complaining about double parking, so is this such a big problem?
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious to anyone that parking in that spot is ridiculous, so I doubt anyone who would park in the middle of the street next to the bump out would be deterred by a yellow curb. In such a small town giving out a few $100 tickets would be more likely to take care of it as word would quickly get around.
Signage will do nothing. Bodega customers habitually double park at this and every other one in Hudson, even if there are adjacent available spots. Heaven forbid you take the effort to parallel park before you pick up some lotto scratchers and a pack of USA Golds 100s. All that the bump out did was make it more prominent. What was supposed to be a pedestrian safety feature has now become a hazard. The only thing that will fix it, like many issues in Hudson, is enforcement. Parking, unpaid tickets, back property taxes, sidewalks, shoveling snow, the list goes on… never have I’ve seen such a culture of non-enforcement. It’s like living in a failed state. I know that some around here believe that if we don’t coddle everyone like children we’re “punching down.” But I think there’s a happy medium somewhere between Singapore’s caning people for littering and the wastelands of Mad Max.
ReplyDeletePainting the granite blocks yellow? They can’t be serious.
ReplyDeleteThe main problem is that there is no one at City Hall who can be relied on to prevent issues like this or to solve issues that are arising (and will arise) out of the DRI street and sidewalk changes. No one is qualified or authorized to. NO ONE! Our police commissioner, Shane Bower, is the only city official who is authorized to make decisions regarding traffic control devices (signs, pavement markings, traffic lights, yellow curbs, etc) -- not Rob Perry, not Mishanda Franklin, not the mayor or his aide. But these people TALK about all these issues and some (at least Justin) are forced to deal with the problems that arise that should have been prevented. Prevented by a police commissioner who doesn't live in Hudson and doesn't have an office at HPD or City Hall. So, what can one expect if no one is paying attention and City Hall is a disorganized, incoherent mess run by a mayor who has no right to be anywhere near the top of any organization? Answer: Crapshows by the barrel full that will waste city employees' time, make the city uglier and less safe, waste money and make us all look bad. And feel bad. And maybe just want to leave town.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to have pride in Hudson when crap like this continues to rear its ugly head and no one at City Hall seems to want to do anything about it. Just the fact that a person as unqualified as Kamal Johnson could be the mayor of Hudson for 6 years (or more) should be enough reason to shift to a city manager structure. Whatever we have now is simply not working at all.
We CAN have nice things, even trees that survive for more than one week. We just DON'T!
ReplyDeleteA bigger problem is the bump outs have made it virtually impossible for a car to navigate the exit onto Warren Street from 2nd coming up the hill when another car is entering 2nd going down, near collisions happen every day as cars either get stuck facing each other or one has to back up, or move into a parking spot off to the side, if one is available, for the other to pass by.
ReplyDeleteA simple fix, like most other side streets, is to make 2nd St a one way street. I made this suggestion to the Aldermen of 1st and 2nd wards, but like most suggestions it was totally ignored, not even worthy of a response.