Promising Future for a Galvan Building

To Gossips' knowledge, no list of the Galvan properties that have been gifted to Bard College has ever been made public. Instead, we are learning little by little which properties are now owned by Bard and which properties continue to be owned by Galvan. We know that the ownership of the new apartment building at 76 North Seventh Street is transferring to Bard. An application that came before the Historic Preservation Commission last Friday suggests that Galvan is retaining ownership of a building across the street. 

That building is 61-63 North Seventh Street, the garage where, legend has it, many of the architectural details removed from Galvan-owned buildings over the years were stored--the porticos from the Brousseau Building, the original French doors from 260 Warren Street, a pair of black marble mantels from 300 Warren Street, to name a few.

This past Friday, architect Chip Bohl and Tony Calderone, co-owner of the Hudson Roastery, appeared before the HPC to present plans for the restoration and reuse of 61-63 North Seventh Street. The application lists Galvan Initiatives Foundation as the owner of the building. The plan is to use the building to house two new coffee roasters for the Hudson Roastery. 

The proposal involves restoring the two windows in the southeast corner of the building, now boarded up, with steel sash windows to match the windows that survive on the north facade of the building. The intention is to use salvaged windows from the same period.

The application also includes installing a sign with the Hudson Roastery logo over the center garage door and penetrating the roof in two places to vent the roasters.

HPC member John Schobel wanted to know what the plans were for the right side of the building, saying he was uncomfortable about approving what was proposed without knowing the full plan for the building. Phil Forman, who chairs the HPC, asked Bohl and Calderone, "Is it possible to show the commission the full concept?"

Calderone, who had earlier told the HPC that he was going to have a long-term relationship with the building, has agreeable to Forman's request.

It was decided that the HPC would authorize the roof penetration to vent the roasters but, for the rest, would "stand pat" until they get more information.

COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK