Mayor Joseph Ferris issued the following statement about the Planning Board's decision on Hudson Housing Authority's redevelopment plan:
Today's Planning Board vote is a win for both the residents of Bliss Towers and the city. Phase One of the redevelopment project ensures that not only will everyone who calls Bliss home be able to have safe, modern housing, it also means that every single one of them will be able to continue to call Hudson home. As a community, we are stronger when those who are at risk of being priced out can be sure that their housing is stable, affordable, and livable.
I also want to applaud the Planning Board for the work they've done on this application. Having watched every meeting and public hearing, it is clear they took a strong eye for what their responsibilities are as [a] Board to the application before them while ensuring the public had extensive opportunities to comment in person and in writing. They are a testament to what it means to be public servants.
FoSS supports safe, affordable homes for every current Bliss resident and their continued place in Hudson. The Mayor’s statement leaves unanswered what commitments make that outcome certain. Site-plan approval is an important authorization; delivering the promised housing still requires financing and construction. What funding commitments and enforceable milestones support his assurance, and what protections will residents have while they wait?
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor says he watched every meeting and hearing. He therefore should also address the Chairman’s acknowledgment that the Board has not secured a mechanism guaranteeing demolition of Bliss Towers independently of Phase 2. What is the City’s plan if that phase does not proceed? And while extensive opportunities for public comment matter, the measure of a review is also how substantive concerns are evaluated and resolved. We would welcome a statement explaining the remaining risks, who is responsible for addressing them, and what the City will do if commitments are not met. Residents and neighbors deserve that accountability alongside the congratulations.
Very well said friends of second street, thoughtful and important question. The residents deserve real answers.
ReplyDeleteI hope the mayors office can deliver.
Without solid leadership from city hall , there is an unpleasantly real scenario where bliss towers never gets demolished and it’s left there vacant for decades.
My fear is not that Bliss Towers will remain vacant for years-my fear is that once Phase one is completed, HHA and Montco will announce that it’s too expensive to demolish in order to allow for low-rise Phase Two and that the refurbished Tower will become Phase Two. Instead. In that case, Hudson will have achieved a lose-lose scenario with one new horizontal Bliss ( Bliss on its side per Peter Spear) and the old Bliss forming an out of scale complex worthy of a large metropolis permanently fixed in our small-scale town. This will not serve either the residents, who deserve decent housing that functions within a human-scaled environment nor the rest of us, who choose to live here because it’s not a large metropolis but offers city amenities at a human scale.
DeleteThis blog, the so-called “digital town square” of Hudson, published four articles in one day about Bliss 2.0. Those articles generated four comments from three people. It doesn’t seem like this is the massive controversy some people would lead their neighbors to believe.
ReplyDeleteWhy talk to you about the project when we can talk to folks in DC and Albany...
DeleteAnd don't worry Michael, there will be plenty of digital ink spilled on Hudson's latest Cement Factory 2.0 fight in the coming years.
Yesterday was theatre... we all knew the vote months ago.
Still waiting for you to offer an original opinion or put a stake in the ground.
Do you think the current Bliss tower will come down before 2035?
Hudson has more than enough “original opinions” to go around. It’s incredible how many people can be experts in so many disciplines.
DeleteI trust that there will be in house management, maintenance and cleaning services.
ReplyDeleteA secured entrance via a pass card.
Apartment inspections.
Just as there is at Providence Hall.
Let’s not have to demolish and rebuild 60 years from now.