Among the questions answered is one having to do with community involvement in Bard's plans for "redevelopment and programmatic decisions related to these properties." This is the answer provided:
Beginning in July 2025, Bard College has engaged in a listening tour to learn about the needs and perspectives of the diverse people and communities of Hudson. As we move forward, we are continuing to engage with the public, elected officials, community leaders, business owners, residents, and local organizations to hear their recommendations and concerns.
Gossips has no knowledge of who has been involved in these "listening tours."
The FAQs make it clear that Bard does not intend to use the properties in Hudson to "expand its own campus footprint" or as dormitories.
It's indicated that there are more than eighty properties in the portfolio being given to Bard, but only six are identified. They are:
- The Armory (51 North Fifth Street)
- The Foundry (724-726 Columbia Street)
- Hudson Depot Lofts (76 North Seventh Street)
- The Old Library (400 State Street)--a.k.a. the Hudson Almshouse
- The Tennis Courts (614-620 Columbia Street)--a.k.a. the Community Theater
- The Salvation Army (40 South Third Street)
The response to the oft-heard suggestion that Bard should give the Armory to the Hudson Area Library or to the City of Hudson is this:
Adhering to its fiduciary duties, the College is unable to give away properties. We are in discussions with the Hudson Area Library and city officials to ensure that there is a long-term and sustainable path forward for this building to remain as a center for civic life in Hudson and to continue housing the library and other important public services.
Responding to concerns about the impact this transfer of property will have on Hudson's property tax base, Bard has this to say:
By activating dormant commercial and residential properties, Bard expects to expand the current property tax based in the City of Hudson. The College would like to dispel the common misconception that any property owned or co-owned by not-profit organizations automatically results in tax exemption. Property tax exemptions are determined by usage for qualified organizations, not strictly ownership.
One wonders what these "dormant commercial and residential properties" are. Is Bard planning to carry on the restoration of the Community Theater building or 22-24 Warren Street or 352-354 Warren Street, the former Johnny's Ideal Printing? Presumably, time will tell.
On the subject of Hudson and Bard, the irrepressible Hudson Wail posted this meme on Instagram today.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
As to the Galvan “Fuck you, Hudson” gift, Bard has been, and continues to be, full of shit. Fiduciary duties do not, per se, prevent any not for profit from giving away anything. But being a venal, self-centered tax avoiding societal leech does. Not too hard to understand why the boys from Steely Dan never wanted to return to Barrytown.
ReplyDeleteJohn... respectfully... do you take issue with all well endowed universities who use their university status to avoid taxes, or just Bard?
ReplyDeleteSo far Bard leaders have met in person with City of Hudson elected leaders and residents.
We can't say the same for Galvan.
Bard publishes FAQs... and they are going to maximize the value of the gift for their endowment.
Their endowment, btw, helped fund the Bard Prison Initiative, one of the first "sanctuary" financial aid programs in the nation for undocumented students / DREAMER's long before it was cool and vogue to virtue signal immigration support, and they often have targeted refugee student programs (e.g. Hungarian Revolution in the 50s, and more recently for Afghanistan, Palestinians, and Belorussian students).
Throwback to our piece on "Galvan sinned, Bard pays": https://www.hudsoncommonsense.com/shallot-bardbeef
You are putting us in an awkward situation to defend perhaps one of the most progressive colleges in the nation, with the most leftwing economics institute (MMT and national Job Guarantee proponents). ;-)
If you could wave a magic wand... what would you want Bard to do differently?
I’d like them to be honest. So far, they’ve failed to meet that basic principle. Without honesty, everything else is just noise. You want to defend them, that’s your business. Knock yourself out. For me, I will continue to call “bullshit” where I see, smell or step in it. And so far, Bard smells like a barnyard.
DeleteWe are arguably the biggest fans of your BS radar and drive for honesty. Never change. Honesty in Hudson is rare as water in the Chilean desert.
DeleteSincerely: If you could magically ask the Bard administration any question, and they had to answer, what would it be?
I would ask how it's in Bard's best interest for the municipality where they own hoped-to-be-productive property to be deprived of owning its own cultural (library and senior) center when those services are so key to a healthy municipality? Just because a prior administration wrongly thought it a good idea to allow the old armory to slip through the people's fingers doesn't make it a good model to follow. The City should own the armory so it can ensure that the library and senior center are securely housed. That building also serves as a civic meeting space (because our city hall is such a design wreck viz. its current uses). Neither the library or seniors pay more than a token rent. So there is no financial upside to Bard UNLESS they plan to evict the current tenants at the end of their respective leases. And, if that's their plan, well, then, fuck you very much.
DeleteUnderstood.
DeleteBut Bard leaders said explicitly that they would prefer to sell the library/armory to the City or a similar entity that would continue its current direction. We recall even a quip about a more than reasonable price given the tenant's contract.
What do you think about selling the Youth Center building to buy the library?
The library building already serves as a youth center / community center.
I think Bard is just trying to play the best PR game they have while looking out for their own bests interests first (fiduciary). Obviously Hudson is full of political and cultural landmines and they’re trying to figure out the best way to spin everything. But at least they are communicating, even if not consistent, they’re way beyond Galvan. My guess is that they still don’t know what they’re going to do with it all. I’m not sure they’ll love the property management business.
ReplyDeleteAs John said, the gift was a big FU to Hudson. But we’ll be better off in the end, especially if a lot of these underutilized properties get sold to people with the wherewithal to get them to their best use—more housing stock and more property taxes.
P.S. I’m loving the new “woke” Hudson Common Sense.
Ha Union Jack!
DeleteFirst - you are right. More tax paying parcels, more housing renovated.
Second, on your P.s.
What can we say... it is just all about the 'Community'™.. in these unprecedented times....
We have to make space, and make sure we don't take up space, while also making sure no one else can find a parking space.
Let's solve this problem, and others, and fight the capitalist patriarchy, as voluntary business owners, by not taking credit cards for 1 day. That will show em.
In a town where the main animating issue is cash coins for parking meters... and the survival of small family owned businesses... we are going to stop the federal government... checks notes, by not taking credit cards.
Let's grow the government at all levels to improve equity.... just not Homeland Security...
How can we not turn woke. In these unprecedented times.