Friday Morning with the HPC

Two projects of interest came before the Historic Preservation Commission on Friday morning: Promenade Hill and 241 Columbia Street. 

The plans for Promenade Hill appear not to have changed significantly from what was presented to the Common Council in October. The only change seems to be the addition of picnic tables in the play area and on the historic upper Promenade.  

Gail Wittwer-Laird from Starr Whitehouse, who was presenting the project to the HPC, noted that the budget was inadequate to address the whole site, so Phase I will focus on improvements to the lower plaza, primarily to provide universal access to the promenade, a significant feat in itself, since the grade change from the street to Promenade Hill is 14.5 feet. Wittwer-Laird also noted that the current plaza, with its badly patched paving and maze of meaningless retaining walls, was "not a suitable front door to the historic promenade."

Starr Whitehouse is currently getting cost estimates on stone. Some stone block seating is being proposed, as well as bluestone treads and curbing for the stairs. Wittwer-Laird suggested that concessions may have to be made with the materials for budget reasons, for example, using poured concrete and concrete unit pavers instead of natural stone. The HPC was concerned about the need to make budget concessions to a public space that Wittwer-Laird called "a Hudson piazza," and HPC member John Schobel suggested money might be raised from private sources to ensure the desired materials were used.

Because the materials have not been determined, the HPC could not grant a certificate of appropriateness to the plans for Promenade Hill, but they did give approval to the concept. A public hearing was tentatively scheduled for Friday, January 8, at which time it is expected that the issues of budget and materials will have been resolved, and the HPC will have the specific information needed to grant a certificate of appropriateness.

The proposed restoration of 241 Columbia Street was also before the HPC in Friday. It will be remembered that the owner of the building, Victoria Milne, said she would sell it if it was designated a local landmark, but it would seem she has had a change of heart. Interestingly, although the building was granted historic designation because it was the original house of worship for Shiloh Baptist Church, Milne has chosen to call the project "Columbia Lodge," acknowledging its use as the headquarters of Mount Carmel Lodge after Shiloh Baptist Church moved to the former synagogue on Warren Street in 1967.

As part of a weatherization project approved by the HPC in September, the vestibule, which was rotting and not original to the building, was removed. Now a certificate of appropriateness is being sought to do five things to the building:

1. Lower the front entry door.
2. Move the basement door to the left.
3. Install windows in the cupola in the openings where there are now louvres. 
4. Add a greenhouse at the rear, which will provide ADA access to the building.
5. Cover the stucco base of the building with wood siding.

Of the five things proposed, the HPC seemed to have no problem with greenhouse at the back. Chip Bohl, architect member of the HPC, commented that moving the entry doors "is not respecting the design, but it works." He was concerned, however, about covering the stucco foundation with wood and recommended restoring the stucco, commenting, "The aspiration of verticality is confused by the siding." Bohl was primarily concerned with the windows in the cupola. He suggested that if windows were installed they be covered with louvres. He also suggested that a second basement door be added at the right to maintain symmtery.

Regarding covering the stucco with wood siding, HPC member Miranda Barry commented, "Part of the history of this building is that it is a simple aspirational building build in a kind of impossible spot." The high exposed foundation is testament to that.

Milne admitted that she was "on the fence" about the wood siding over the stucco, noting that "cladding the masonry humanizes the basement and makes it feel less like a clammy basement." She told the HPC that she felt strongly about the glass in the cupola and spoke of "celebrating one big gesture in this humble building." She also noted that louvres were used for temperature control and the windows proposed, which could be opened and closed remotely, would similarly be passive temperature management.

HPC member Hugh Biber spoke in support of the windows in the cupola, saying they would not only bring light into the interior but also emit light at night.

After the presentation, HPC chair Phil Forman allowed comments from three members of the public--Ronald Kopnicki, Matt McGhee, and Christabel Gough, the three people who have been the most outspoken and eloquent advocates for the historic significance of this building. Kopnicki requested that there be a public hearing before the HPC granted a certificate of appropriateness. McGhee protested that moving the basement door violates the original design of the building and suggested there was a window on the side of the building that could be converted into a door to the basement. He called lowering the entry door "an unfortunate move" and argued there was no code requirement that made it necessary to move the door. He suggested the stucco on the foundation be removed to reveal the local stone beneath. He too called for a public hearing. Gough wanted more detailed drawings of the front of the building as proposed.

Bohl raised the question of whether the applicant wanted concept approval or construction approval for the greenhouse. Forman noted that a "higher level of specs" would be needed before the HPC could consider granting a certificate of appropriateness. "We'll figure out the public hearing when they get more specificity." Milne argued that the meeting was a public hearing because members of the public had been permitted to speak. There was some talk of scheduling a public hearing on January 8, but code enforcement officer Craig Haigh said, "I don't know why a public hearing is even being discussed; it is an incomplete application." In the end, it was decided that the project would come back to the HPC at its next meeting on December 18.

COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK

An Event to Know About

After a decade of helping shape the lives of girls in Hudson, Perfect Ten Afterschool is holding its first-ever Virtual Holiday Benefit on Thursday, December 17, at 5 p.m. The hour-long program will include a virtual tour of the clubhouse and showcase staff, programs, and current participants. Alumnae of Perfect Ten will share plans for their professional futures. A live Christmas tree with fifty ornaments specially crafted by local artists will be raffled during the event. Proceeds from the benefit will help sustain the programs and outreach of Perfect Ten. 

“The alumnae are really the embodiment of our values and goals," noted Perfect Ten founder Paula Forman. “At the core of what we do is to help each girl develop the courage and the skills they need for an independent future. The clubhouse is our ground zero in this mission. I’m thrilled that so many people will see it for the first time, on the virtual tour.” 

Philadelphia radio legend Debbi Calton will emcee the event, which combines videos and live “break-aways.” Tommy Stinson, a founding member of The Replacements and long-time member of Guns and Roses, currently with Bash & Pop and Cowboys in the Campfire, who is also a Perfect Ten parent, will perform at this unique event. Mayor Kamal Johnson, a friend and supporter of Perfect Ten as well as a Perfect Ten parent, will share his feelings about the program. 

Tickets for the event and the raffle may be purchased online by clicking here.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been thirteen new cases of COVID-19 and eight recoveries, which would seem to increase the number of active cases by five to 68, but the CCDOH is reporting 67. There are five more county residents hospitalized with the virus today than yesterday, one of whom is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Monday, November 30.   

With thirteen positives out of 523 test results received, the positive percentage rate for today is 2.5 percent. The seven day rolling average, according to Gossips' calculations, is 2.4 percent--that is, 72 positives out of 3,025 test results.

Winning Windows Decorations Announced

Tonight is Winter Walk--much modified this year to ensure everyone's safety during a pandemic. One thing that has not changed is the annual Winter Walk Window Decorating Contest. Last evening, Hudson Hall's team of anonymous judges surveyed the shops along Warren Street, decked out for the festive occasion, and made their award decisions. This morning, they announced the winners, and Gossips is thrilled to be the first to share the news.

Hudson Hall is proud to announce the winners of the 2020 Winter Walk: The Hudson Safe Edition Window Decorating Contest. In an unprecedentedly challenging year for small business, Hudson’s signature creativity and community spirit has shined through in the beautiful window displays on show throughout December. Organized by Hudson Hall since 1997, this year’s Winter Walk takes place from December 5 to 24 with an aim to highlight local businesses and provide COVID-safe holiday joy to the community. To mark the kick-off of Winter Walk this evening, many of Hudson’s unique stores are staying open until 8 p.m. for socially-distanced, capacity-observed late night shopping. For the full list of stores open late, visit hudsonhall.org.

“We are so grateful to Hudson’s local business owners, who have gone above and beyond to keep the Winter Walk spirit alive this year in a safe and responsible way,” said Hudson Hall Executive Director, Tambra Dillon. “There has never been a more important time to support small businesses with shopping and dining local, whether this be by grabbing your mask, sanitizing your hands and visiting stores or dining out in person, or taking advantage of online shopping and delivery or curb side pickup.”

The anonymous judges were given the incredibly difficult task of identifying the winners among the many stunning displays. While Hudson’s long-time favorites like Lili and Loo went above and beyond again this year, the judges welcomed two new stores with the top accolades. The "Best of the Best" prize is awarded to Warren Street newcomer, Poured Candle Bar, whose sumptuous, beautifully styled window wouldn’t be out of place on Fifth Avenue. The judges also gave a special mention to the "Best Living Window" winner The Quiet Botanist. Founded by Australian transplant Rebecca O’Donnell, the window draws inspiration from apothecaries of a bygone era, wild-harvested Australian botanicals, and overgrown European gardens.

The judges awarded Hudson Home’s dramatic, icicle-exploding statue display "Best Visual Fantasy," while AnimalKind’s use of a very cool, calm and collected festive feline was given a "Most Adoptable" nod. 

The judges also gave a "Best Hudson Christmas Past, Present and Future" award to the Hudson Area Library, who have a fascinating selection of historic Hudson area photographs, maps, and home movies on display at 417-419 Warren Street.

2020 Winter Walk Window Decorating Contest Winners List:

Best of the Best  

Poured Candle Bar (711 Warren Street)

Special Mention: Best Living Window  

The Quiet Botanist (455 Warren Street)

In order of geographical location:

Best Magical Mystery Christmas Tour

Kasuri (1 Warren Street)

Best Seasonal Spirit(s)

Lawrence Park (260 Warren Street)

Take a Bough

The Maker (302 Warren Street)

Best Modern Chic

Source Adage (314 Warren Street)

Best Rising Star

Breadfolks (322 Warren Street)

Best Ode to the ‘Burbs

BackBar (347 Warren Street)

Best Visual Fantasy

Hudson Home (366 Warren Street)

Best Christmas Sparkler

The Cascades (407 Warren Street) 

Best Hudson Christmas Past, Present and Future

Hudson Area Library (on display at 417-419 Warren Street)

 

Best Dressed for the Holidays

TK Home & Garden (441 Warren Street)

Best Sock It to Me Christmas

The Second Show (519 Warren Street)

Best Anti-Grinch Goes to Finch

FINCH (555 Warren Street)

Most Adoptable

Animalkind (721 Warren Street)

Most Scrumptious Christmas

Nine Cakes (748 Warren Street)

Best White Christmas

The Rosery (128 Green Street) 

Please note: In light of ongoing safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be NO mass gathering event or street closures on Saturday, December 5. All Winter Walk 2020 activities have been planned with COVID-safety in mind and are outdoor, socially distanced, or virtual. Hudson Hall asks all visitors to Warren Street wear a mask and keep distance from others. For more information about the Hudson Safe campaign, visit the City of Hudson website.

Winter Market Starts Today in New Location

Today is the first Saturday of the Hudson Winter Farmers Market. This year, instead of being at 601 Union Street, which was the Elks Lodge for many decades, the market will be at 201 Harry Howard Avenue, the current Elks Lodge. Twenty vendors will be on hand--some inside the building and others in the parking lot.  

The organizers of the market shared the following information about the protocols for the new location:

When you enter the parking lot, turn right and park along the fence. Parking is clearly marked with signs.

Because the indoor space is limited and the capacity for the indoor part of the market is 50 people, there are a few things we're asking all customers to do to help make this winter market successful.

When you are inside, the flow of customers is in one direction. Just follow the yellow arrows! Please look at the map before you come and make a plan for your shopping. If you forget something, you'll need to exit the market and do another loop. 

The map referenced is reproduced above. Click on the image to enlarge it.

The Hudson Winter Farmers Market will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for three Saturdays in December--December 5, 12, and 19.

Where the New COVID Cases Were This Week

As it does every Friday, the Columbia County Department of Health has released its breakdown of COVID-19 cases by municipality and nursing home. In the past week, there have been 66 new cases.

There were no new cases reported at any of the nursing homes this week. Of the municipalities, Greenport had the greatest number of new cases with twelve. Claverack and Kinderhook each had seven; Copake and Hudson each had six; Hillsdale had five; Ancram and Livingston each had four; Austerlitz, Gallatin, Germantown, and Taghkanic each had two; and Chatham, Clermont, Ghent, New Lebanon, Philmont, Stuyvesant, and Valatie each had one new case of COVID-19.  

As always, in the list below, the first number is the number of cases reported last Friday; the second number is the number of cases reported today. These are total numbers of cases since the first case was reported in Columbia County on March 20. The number of active cases in the county today is 63, the same as it was last Friday.

Austerlitz  1 | 3

Ancram  11 | 15

Canaan  19 | 19

Chatham  41 | 42

Claverack  55 | 62

Clermont  16 | 17

Copake  29 | 35

Craryville  5 | 5

East Chatham  2 | 2

Elizaville  10 | 10

Gallatin  6 | 8

Germantown  19 | 21

Ghent  53 | 54

Greenport  78 | 90

 Hillsdale  24 | 29

Hudson  88 | 94

Kinderhook  78 | 85

Livingston  37 | 41

New Lebanon  20 | 21

Philmont  13 | 14

  Niverville  5 | 5

Stockport  19 | 19

Stottville  5 | 5

Stuyvesant  37 | 38

Taghkanic  11 | 13

Valatie  37 | 38

 Nursing Homes

Barnwell  144 | 144

Firemen's Home  1 | 1

Ghent Assisted Living  46 | 46

Ghent Rehab & Nursing  1 | 1

Livingston Hills  6 | 6

Pine Haven  51 | 51

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been eleven new cases of COVID-19 and eleven recoveries, so the number of active cases remains the same at 63. The number of county residents hospitalized with the virus and in the ICU also remains the same as yesterday, and there has not been another death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Monday, November 30.

With eleven positives out of 492 test results received, the positive percentage rate for today is 2.2 percent. The seven day rolling average, according to Gossips' calculations, is 2.2 percent--this is, 66 positives out of 2,941 test results.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been seven new cases of COVID-19 and nine recoveries, reducing the number of active cases by two to 63. There are two fewer county residents hospitalized with the virus today than yesterday, but one remains in the ICU.

With seven positives out of 605 test results received, the positive percentage rate for today is 1.1 percent. The seven day rolling average, according to Gossips' calculations, is 2.2 percent--that is, 73 positives out of 3,314 test results.

Tomorrow, the CCDOH releases its breakdown by municipality and nursing home, and maybe that will provide some insight into the spike in new cases reported yesterday.

Winter Walk 2020: Reimagined, Now Revised

On October 30, Gossips was among the first to announce that, despite the pandemic, there would be a Winter Walk--a special COVID-19 edition, carefully planned to observe all the COVID-19 protocols and keep everyone safe. Warren Street would not be closed as it has been in the past. There would not be indoor events or spectacles that encouraged people to crowd together. Instead, on the first Saturday in December, there would be shop windows decorated for the holiday season, Sax O Claus strolling down the street, and an evening of festive social distancing which culminated, as always, with fireworks over Promenade Hill, which could be viewed from anywhere in the city and from miles around.

Yesterday, Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, issued a press release, which began with a quote from Jack Mabb, director of the Columbia County Department of Health.

“If I tell you I’m having a birthday party and I’m expecting 50 visitors, when in fact I’m expecting hundreds, does that make it okay? No,” said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb on Wednesday in discussing Hudson’s Winter Walk plans for Saturday, December 5.

Under Governor Cuomo’s executive order, up to 50 persons may congregate under the current COVID-19 infectious rate in the Capital Region. The Hudson Opera House, the longtime promoter of Winter Walk, is advertising such events on December 5 as late night shopping, Sax O’Claus, Santa’s Village, and fireworks. Other events are scheduled through December 24.

“What is being outlined by the Opera House is essentially Winter Walk,” said Director Mabb, who noted he has attended many of them over the years. “This has an opportunity to be a significant COVID-19 spreader. Contact tracing would be impossible in this situation. I would really discourage this event from happening.”

Interestingly, Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday identified "living room spread"—small gatherings in people's homes, not people wearing masks and social distancing outdoors on a mile-long street—as the number one cause of the current increase in COVID cases. Nevertheless, today Hudson Hall, the producer of the holiday event, announced there would be no fireworks on Saturday, December 5, but the rest of Winter Walk 2020: The Hudson Safe Edition would proceed as planned.

Hudson Hall, Mayor Kamal Johnson, and Columbia County Department of Health Jack Mabb today announced fireworks planned for Saturday, December 5, have been postponed until 2021. All other activities for Winter Walk: The Hudson Safe Edition to proceed as scheduled.

“Fireworks at Winter Walk have always been something that draws people to city streets. The combination of the shops and restaurants being open coupled with the fireworks made us concerned about the prospects of large gatherings of people and the possible spread of Covid-19 in our community,” said Director Mabb. “Our department has already seen a bump up in positives as a result of Thanksgiving." 

“We respect the Department of Health’s recommendation, and we are happy to work with the City of Hudson to ensure the safety of our community,” said Tambra Dillon, Hudson Hall Executive Director. “Winter Walk has always been about supporting our community and celebrating the creativity of this region, and we encourage everyone to visit Hudson for the twenty days of decorated windows, holiday shopping, festive cheer and community celebration planned from December 5-24 for Winter Walk 2020: The Hudson Safe Edition.” 

Hudson Hall has produced Winter Walk on the first Saturday in December since 1997. The event has since become a beloved start to the holiday shopping season in Hudson by highlighting its creative community. Instead of closing off Warren Street for a large celebration involving tens of thousands people on a single evening, Winter Walk 2020 begins on Saturday, December 5, and continues through the month of December. Many of the things everyone has come to expect from Winter Walk—holiday lights, lavishly decorated shop windows, Santa’s Village in the Seventh Street Park, holiday shopping in unique local shops, and the presence of Santa himself—are a part of Winter Walk 2020, reimagined for the pandemic. For more information about Winter Walk 2020: The Hudson Safe Edition or to make a free reservation to visit Santa, head to hudsonhall.org. 

Food News

Bistro Mashriq, Hudson's first and only Arabian restaurant, is opening today at noon at 136 Warren Street, the former location of Vico. The restaurant will be open for takeout only from noon to 8 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Check out the menu at bistromashriq.com or on their Facebook page. Orders can be placed online or by phone at 518 697-5600.

Put This on Your Christmas Wish List

A new book has recently been released, written by a woman with ties to Hudson about a woman with ties to Hudson: It's a Helluva Town: Joan K. Davidson, the J. M. Kaplan Fund, and the Fight for a Better New York City. The author, Roberta Gratz featured Hudson in her book Cities Back from the Edge, written with Norman Mintz in 2000. The subject, Joan Davidson is well known to Hudsonians. Her philanthropic project Furthermore is headquartered on Warren Street. 

What follows is quoted from the press release about the book received yesterday:

As cities everywhere confront uncertain futures in a post-pandemic era, important lessons can be learned from innovative and committed New Yorkers who, since the end of World War II, have revitalized and returned to prominence many of New York’s iconic landmarks. In her new book It’s A Helluva Town (Bold Type Books, 2020), award-winning journalist and urban critic, lecturer, and author Roberta Brandes Gratz recounts the stories of the transformation of New York’s civic and cultural landscape made possible by the J.M. Kaplan Fund under the leadership of the indomitable preservationist and philanthropist Joan K. Davidson.

Roberta Gratz, who with activist and author Jane Jacobs founded the Center for the Living City, chronicles many of the great urban and rural victories achieved with Kaplan Fund support. As a reporter for the New York Post in the 1970s, she covered many of the battles featured in her book. From the creation of the Westbeth Artists Housing to the birth of the National Resources Defense Council, from the battle to defeat Consolidated Edison’s plan to destroy the Hudson River Valley’s Storm King Mountain to creating the city’s Greenmarket Farmer’s Market and saving Carnegie Hall from destruction, Gratz describes how Joan Davidson strategically raised activist philanthropy to a fine art.

Established in 1945 by Jacob M. Kaplan, the Fund has been a champion of social, civic, and environmental causes since its inception. Over succeeding generations of leadership, it has backed initiatives ranging from historic preservation, saving parks, enhancing libraries, advocating for youth criminal justice reform, and protecting global marine resources. In 2015 the J.M.K. Innovation Prize was launched to support talented social entrepreneurs across the United States in the fields of environment, social justice, and heritage conservation. . . .

DRI Update

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the meetings of the DRI Committee, the group overseeing the planning and execution of the City's projects funded by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, have ceased to be public. Meeting summaries are posted on the City of Hudson website, but it may be days before those summaries appear. 

Ronald Kopnicki has often complained about the lack of transparency surrounding DRI Committee meetings, and he did so again on Tuesday, at the Hudson Development Corporation meeting, after asking what role the DRI Committee would play in the development of the Kaz and Dunn parcels. Council president Tom DePietro, who is part of the DRI Committee, told him the committee had not met recently, but Kopnicki challenged that statement, saying there was a summary of a meeting that took place by conference call on November 18, with all but one member of the committee participating. Yesterday, a DRI Committee meeting appeared on the city calendar, and the phone number and the codes for the conference call were provided. Needless to say, Gossips joined the call, as did Kopnicki. Here's what was learned.

It was reported that Starr Whitehouse is 30 to 60 days away from resolving some SEQR issues surrounding the Promenade Hill renovations, which may push the project back a month. It had been anticipated that the RFP for construction would be issued in January, a construction company selected in February, and work would begin in March or April. It was indicated that "SHPO [State Historic Preservation Office] must be engaged" and the final design would be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission, perhaps at its meeting on Friday, December 4.

The design for the entrance to Promenade Hill, or the "Lower Promenade" as it's now being called, has not been seen by the public since October, when it was presented at the informal Common Council meeting, and it is not known if any changes to the design have been made.

The Complete Streets, or Hudson Connects, project is running "slightly behind" Promenade Hill. Arterial, the firm doing the project, is expected to make a presentation to the Common Council in the next week or so, but Chris Round of Chazen reported today that Arterial was "six to eight months out." According to Round, "They haven't defined it; they haven't designed it."

The Furgary Boat Club, or the Shacks, now being called the Historic Fishing Village, seems now to be in the hands of SHPO. It was reported that SHPO had made recommendations about the site, and Caren LoBrutto of Chazen had questions about the recommendations needing a response from SHPO.

Photo: State Historic Preservation Office

Regarding the Dunn warehouse project, Michael Chameides, the mayor's aide, reported that "HDC has taken us up on the offer to combine [parcels] and create a shared vision." Gossips has learned that representatives of HDC will meet with "the City"--presumably represented by Mayor Kamal Johnson, DePietro, and Chameides--tomorrow, Friday, December 4.

COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 22 new cases of COVID-19, increasing the total number of cases since March to well over a thousand. There have also been ten recoveries, so the total number of active cases has increased by twelve to 65. One more county resident is hospitalized with the virus today than yesterday, and the number in the ICU remains that same at one. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Monday, November 30.  

With 22 positives out of 448 test results received, the positive percentage rate for today is 4.9 percent. The seven day rolling average, according to Gossips' calculations, is 2.4 percent--that is, 66 positives out of 2,709 test results.

Queue the Developers

In December 2010, Gossips reported what then mayor Rick Scalera had said about the recently acquired Kaz warehouses: "There are certainly challenges in taking the buildings down . . . it will be costly, but we have the opportunity as a city now to put in some grant applications to take those down so we can offer [the land] to a developer." Ten years later, two of the three warehouses still stand (and one missing was demolished by Redburn Development, at its own expense, to improve the view from The Wick), and HDC is still talking about offering the site to a developer--only now the site being offered could be considerably larger.

Yesterday's meeting of the Hudson Development Corporation was all about "real estate opportunities": a landlocked parcel owned by HDC on Mt. Merino and the Kaz site, now known as the Montgomery Street parcel. Bob Rasner, president of the HDC Board, defined his goal regarding the Kaz site as wanting the board "to approve the sale of the parcel in a sealed bid." The minimum bid suggested was $2 million.

Rasner opened the discussion by reminding the board, as he has before, of HDC's raison d'etre: 

It is the mission of this corporation to sustain, promote and attract projects that improve economic opportunities for businesses and residents, create jobs and enhance the quality of life in the City of Hudson. Note no mention [of] real estate development, city planning, zoning, etc. Those responsibilities fall to others… public and private entities skilled and invested in those skills.

In his address to the board, Rasner revealed that the scope of the plan being contemplated goes far beyond the five-acre site, which he described as being "bounded by Montgomery Street on the north, Front Street on the west, residential properties on the east, and the City's long-term parking lot and [ADM] rail spur on the south." Rasner told the board:  

It should come as no surprise that prospective purchasers, as long ago as my early days on this board, have always asked if the parcel had actual river frontage, noting that such a feature would add considerable value to the land. Of course, the land [west] of the site, is owned by the City… the Dunn Warehouse parcel. Likewise, early developers saw opportunity to repurpose valuable acreage presently used by the City as long term parking. We have received information to assist us in rethinking parking at the riverfront, suggestions that would . . . up the long term parking area for a more productive use but retain ample parking to accommodate Amtrak passengers and residents and produce a revenue stream for the city

This past summer, the Common Council authorized the mayor to include the three City-owned parcels along Water Street, between the Dunn warehouse and Ferry Street bridge, in the request for expression of interest (REI) in redeveloping the Dunn building. This change was made at the suggestion of Bonacio Construction, the only developer to respond to the original REI for the Dunn building, issued back in March. Now it seems HDC and the City of Hudson are looking to collaborate to offer a significant chunk of the city and its precious waterfront to developers. This is what Rasner proposed yesterday:

Clearly, the KAZ parcel and the Dunn parcel are extremely valuable, and if joined, the two are worth more than the sum of the parts. To that end, I am today asking the Mayor to promptly enter into discussions with this Board to strategize joint sale of these parcels.

Rasner made reference to Council president Tom DePietro's resolve to rebuild the City's depleted fund balance by selling City-owned properties and spoke frequently of a letter he had received from Planning Board chair Betsy Gramkow, which seemed to have played some role in motivating the proposed course of action. The letter, which Gossips requested and received from Gramkow, speaks only of the five-acre Kaz parcel and makes no reference to bundling it together with the Dunn warehouse and the waterfront parcels. It offers the assistance of the Planning Board and outlines a process. The following is quoted from the letter:

As members of the Hudson Planning Board, it is our hope that we can work with you to engage public and private stakeholders in a planning process that will best position Kaz for successful development. 

As you know, the Kaz Warehouse site is one of Hudson's premier development opportunities. Appropriately managed, it promises to produce jobs, housing, cultural and commercial space, adding immeasurably to Hudson's future. This effort would yield a number of tangible benefits:

• Channel citizen energy at the beginning of a design and development process, define public amenities at the site, and generate public support for an urban design for the parcel.
• Create development guidelines that reduce risks for developers, while driving up the parcel's value.
• Set the stage for a dynamic new mixed-use neighborhood in Hudson. The goal would be to tap existing expertise and venues, including but not limited to the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, the Common Council-led Planning Task Force (chaired by John Rosenthal), as well as local interested groups such as Future Hudson and Historic Hudson.

Although Gramkow's letter addressed only the Kaz parcel, Rasner's vision extends beyond that. He stated that the Amtrak parking lot "should also be in play," opining that it was wasteful to have cars parked all on one level," and reiterated his conviction that the Kaz parcel "would be far more valuable if it stretched across the railroad tracks to the river." 

Branda Maholtz, executive director of HDC, asked, "Is it the intent of this administration to sell Dunn or retain ownership?" There was no direct answer to her question, although shortly before she asked the question, Mayor Kamal Johnson expressed his desire to "get the City out of the landlord business." 

Rasner said he wanted "to move the wheels quickly" and asked that the discussion with the City take place in the next two weeks. He also called for a bid package to be developed and ready for board review in two weeks.

When public comment was invited, John Kane, presumably referring to the Dunn warehouse and the adjacent parcels along Water Street, cautioned, "The Hudson waterfront is a valuable community resource, and there will be objection to parceling it off to a developer."

COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been three new cases of COVID-19 and four recoveries, decreasing the number of active cases by one to 53. There are five fewer county residents hospitalized with the virus today than yesterday, but one remains in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since yesterday.

With ten positives over the past two days and 576 test results received, the positive percentage rate for the past two days is 1.7 percent. The seven day rolling average, according to Gossips' calculations, is 1.96 percent--that is 54 positives out of 2,762 test results. The New York Forward dashboard, however, reports that the seven day average for Columbia County is 2.1 percent.

Mark Your Calendars

There are a couple of important meetings coming up in the weeks ahead that everyone should be aware of. 

• On Thursday, December 10, at 6:00 p.m., there will be a public information meeting for the Truck Route Origin and Destination Study.

According to the announcement that appears on the City of Hudson website: "The meeting will review the study project and timeline. M. J. Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C., will present the origin and destination data collected on truck traffic in Hudson. They will also review the anticipated next steps for this study. Afterward, there will be an opportunity to ask questions about the data collected and to share personal experiences about truck traffic in Hudson. The report on existing conditions will be refined based on this feedback."

The entire announcement can be found here. The link to join the meeting will be published on the City of Hudson website prior to the meeting.

• On Monday, December 14, Arterial and Street Plans, the consultants working on the street improvements for the BRIDGE District as part of the DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative), will be presenting their design plans to the Common Council.

According to the summary of a meeting of the DRI Committee, which took place on November 18, "The design plans will include a design approach to intersections and streets that could be applied to intersections and streets beyond this project. The design plan will also include specific proposed improvements to be implemented in the next phase of the project."

The meeting summary states specifically, "The designs will be presented at the December 14, 2020, Common Council meeting." Actually, there is no Common Council meeting on December 14. According to the city calendar, the informal meeting for December is on Monday, December 7, and the regular monthly meeting is on Tuesday, December 15. So either there is going to be a special meeting of the Council to hear this presentation on December 14, or the presentation is actually going to happen at the informal meeting on December 7.

COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK

COVID-19: The Month in Review

In September and October, Gossips maintained bar graphs to show the number of new cases and the number of active cases reported each day by the Columbia County Department of Health, and we have done the same for the month of November. The graph below shows the number of new cases reported each day. The greatest number of new cases were reported on November 4, when there were 23 new cases, but that number was two days of new cases. The highest number of new cases in a single day was on November 19, when there were 21 new cases.

The bar graph below shows the number of active cases reported each day of the CCDOH. It shows a steady increase at the beginning of the month, with the greatest number--120--reported on November 13. We actually ended the month with fewer active cases than there were when the month began--54 at the end as compared with 79 at the beginning. 

What is really stunning is to compare the graphs for the past three months: September, October, and November. The first graphs show the number of new cases.

September

October

November

There were many days in September without a new case, three days in October without a new case, but none in November.

The following graphs show the number of active cases reported in each day.

September

October

November

There was one day in September when no one in Columbia County was suffering from the coronavirus, but in October the number of active cases went from four on October 1 to 75 on October 29, and in November the lowest number of active cases for the entire month was reported yesterday, when there were 54--less than half the highest number reported in November.

Let's be careful out there.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK

Parking Reminder

If you are parking on Warren Street, or at a meter anywhere else, remember your quarters. The need to feed parking meters is NOT being suspended during the month of December this year.