Because a classic misconception used to make people fear historic designation is "They're going to tell you what color you can paint your house," the Historic Preservation Commission in Hudson has always stressed that they do not opine on paint colors. When it comes to paint, the only time the HPC wants to be involved is when paint is being removed from masonry or being applied to masonry that has not been painted before, because both actions can damage historic materials. Although this is something the members of the HPC have agreed to among themselves, it doesn't seem to be well communicated to the general public or apparently to our new code enforcement officer.
At some time recently, 534 Warren Street, the location of Vero Handcrafted Coffeehouse & Market, a brick building that was not previously painted, was painted blue-gray. The plan to paint the building never came before the HPC.
If the HPC is serious about wanting to weigh in on the appropriateness of applying paint to formerly unpainted masonry or removing paint from masonry, they need to find a way to get the word out. The HPC typically relies on the code enforcement officer to determine what projects need to go before the HPC, but since painting a building does not require a building permit, painting projects, even those that involve putting paint on brick that has remained unpainted for more than a century, bypasses code enforcement and hence also the HPC.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
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