Tonight on State Street

At approximately 10 p.m., Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton shared this information about the police activity that took place tonight in the 500 block of State Street.

Following the recent spate of gun violence in the City of Hudson, the Columbia-Greene Shared Services Team and New York State Police conducted a raid at 537 State Street at 7:43 p.m. tonight. The operation focused on apprehending suspects and gathering further evidence related to the three shootings that have occurred in the City over the past two weeks. The three shootings resulted in the injury of two young children and two adults, and a fatality last night. Numerous people were placed under arrest tonight, and the residence is being searched at this time. Tonight's raid follows the apprehension of three suspects this morning, all of whom remain in custody.

Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton and Police Chief L. Edward Moore issued the following statement:

“We recognize the strain these recent incidents have put on the community, and are focusing every available resource on quickly bringing this investigation to a close and ensuring public safety. All officers are working extended shifts to provide maximum coverage. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Department, New York State Police, and federal law enforcement agencies have provided a tremendous amount of support to the City throughout this rapidly developing situation. We are truly grateful for their assistance.

"These incidents have affected the entire community, and we hope that after today’s actions everyone will have a better sense of the progress that’s being made behind the scenes to end this senseless violence in Hudson. Please know that our thoughts are with the families of each of the victims. HPD will not rest until every person involved is apprehended.”

If you have any information that might be helpful to HPD in this investigation, please call (518) 828-3388.

The Last Shall Be First

Back in the day, when the First Ward was the smallest, least populous ward in the city, no one paid much attention to it. Now that the First Ward comprises most of the south half of the city, it seems things are different. Former Register-Star reporter Roger Hannigan Gilson dedicates a post to the three people vying to represent the First Ward on his blog, The Other Hudson Valley: "Who Will Run the First Ward?" The choice of verb in the title is curious. As an alderman representing the First Ward (2006-2009), I never imagined I ran the First Ward.
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Shooting Update

Bill Williams of 98.5 The Cat is reporting that the suspects in last night's fatal shooting on North Third Street will be arraigned today. 

Outrageous Quotes

This morning, Chris Cillizza of CNN published: "Donald Trump's 57 most outrageous quotes from his Arizona speech." Last night at the Greenport Planning Board meeting, Michael Bucholsky and Ed Stiffler cited two quotes from Hudson's Downtown Revitalization Initiative application that seem outrageous given that the Colarusso haul road in still under review by the Hudson Planning Board: "city officials and neighboring business owners support the expansion of Colarusso" (page 18); and "Key improvements to be considered . . . reduction of truck traffic through residential areas of the BRIDGE District by re-routing Colarusso trucks onto a widened two-way haul road at the City's south border" (page 47).

Here's another outrageous statement from the DRI application--outrageous for its pollyannaish quality: "On any given fair weather Saturday, brides in their gowns might pose for photos at Basilica Hudson, while just outside gravel is delivered by truck from the Colarusso quarry to the deep water port across Front Street" (page 37). That statement is found in a paragraph that begins: "Hudson's BRIDGE District has the look and feel of the post-industrial cityscape that millennials seek in neighborhoods like Brooklyn's Greenpoint and DUMBO . . . except in Hudson, "post" doesn't quite apply. Hudson is an authentic working city with a working waterfront."
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Shooting Now a Homicide

The Register-Star is reporting this morning that the man who was shot last night has died: "Man killed in Hudson shooting." Although there was some confusion in reports last night about whether the incident had occurred on North Third Street or North Fifth Street, it now appears that it happened in the area of North Third and Columbia streets.

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Another Shooting in Hudson

For the past couple of hours there have been reports on Facebook about another shooting in Hudson, this time, it was said, the shooting took place "in the area of Third and Columbia streets." A few minutes ago, Chief Ed Moore posted this statement on Facebook:

At around 8:41 p.m. a shooting occurred on North 5th Street. A 31-year-old man is in Columbia Memorial undergoing emergency surgery. Numerous police agencies are in the city now, working in concert to advance our investigation. Preliminary indications are that this is, once again, a situation where the victim was targeted and not a random incident. Thank you for your patience and understand that every effort will be made, every action will be taken, to put an end to this mindless violence. Chief

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Greenport and the Haul Road

Tonight, the Greenport Planning Board held a public hearing on the proposed Colarusso haul road. Before opening the floor for comments, Ed Stiffler, chair of the Greenport Planning Board, laid the ground rules: comments could have nothing to do with SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) because that was over; comments could not pertain to any part of the haul road that falls within the City of Hudson.

After P. J. Prendergast made a mercifully short presentation of the project, Stiffler called for comments from the public, for or against. When the initial call for comments yielded none, Stiffler repeated the request. It was then that a man, who identified himself as John Heermance, declared, "I think it's a great idea." (Ironically, it was Stephen T. B. Heermance who sold his land to Fred W. Jones in 1873, thus enabling the railroad, whose path the proposed haul road would follow, to be built in the first place.) Then a second man, who seemed to conflate the haul road proposal with the failed St. Lawrence Cement Greenport Project, which he obviously had supported, rose to express the opinion that "it was time it should be settled." A woman who said she had worked at the cement plant stated that A. Colarusso & Son was "a longtime business . . . integral to the growth of Columbia County." She asserted that it was "unconscionable to barricade what they want to do" and concluded by saying she "wholeheartedly endorses" the project. Her statement met with applause. Finally, a man, who said he lived at the corner of Route 23B and Route 66, declared he was "wholeheartedly" in favor of the proposed project because it would eliminate trucks passing his house.

When the public hearing had been closed, Stiffler asked Prendergast about signage and streetlights at the Route 9 crossing and provisions for keeping trucks off the haul road going east from Route 9 when they are blasting in the mine (they will be rerouted along the truck route through Hudson), and Ray Jurkowski, the consulting engineer for the Greenport Planning Board, asked about gates and chains to keep unauthorized vehicles off the haul road. Once those questions were answered, Stiffler spoke of the Columbia County Planning Board's recommendation for approval, saying it contained "many, many valid reasons for approval."

Then, Greenport Planning Board member Michael Bucholsky helpfully quoted Hudson's DRI application, in particular this sentence from page 18: "City officials and neighboring business owners support the expansion of Colarusso." Stiffler offered his own evidence from the DRI application, where on page 47 the following is listed as a "key improvement": "reduction of truck traffic through residential areas of the BRIDGE District by re-routing Colarusso trucks onto a widened two-way haul road at the City's south border."

The board decided to forgo a formal written resolution approving the Greenport section of the haul road in favor of doing a simple motion to approve. In making that motion, Bucholsky spoke of traffic being moved and the environmental benefits and called it a "win-win situation to Greenport, to Hudson, to Columbia County." The motion being made, the board unanimously approved the Greenport section of the haul road in a roll call vote.

After the vote, Stiffler said he wanted to "clarify misconceptions." He explained that he had always looked at the proposal as "an alternative transportation route and not an expansion" and called it a "good project." He acknowledged that the board has been criticized "for doing a less than acceptable job in the SEQR review" and denied that was the case. He said he was pleased to have unanimous approval. That statement was met with applause from the audience. Stiffler then thanked Prendergast and JR Heffner, vice president of operations for Colarusso, "for hanging in."
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Money Is the Reason We Fight

Karl Marx is credited with having said, "I hate money. Money is the reason we fight." According to people who study such things, money is one of the five top issues married couples argue about. (The other four are free time, housework, physical intimacy, and extended family.) It seems, with Hudson's good fortune of winning $10 million in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the people of Hudson are getting ready to argue about money--specifically about the $10 million and how it should be spent. Fueling the contention, the DRI has been linked in rhetoric with white supremacy and seems to be emerging as a campaign issue.

Some trepidation about the DRI $10 million is appropriate. The last time there was a huge infusion of public money into Hudson, it destroyed neighborhoods and altered the city dramatically and irrevocably. But before making a judgment about the impact of the DRI on our city, it's important to understand the purpose and goals of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and what has been proposed in Hudson's application.

One point needs to be stressed: Hudson is not getting $10 million to do with as it pleases. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative, created by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2016, has very specific goals, and those goals are outlined in a booklet published by the Regional Economic Development Councils. (Click here to access that booklet.) The booklet begins by explaining how the Downtown Revitalization Initiative came to be:

Business leaders, young professionals, entrepreneurs and retirees, among others, are increasingly calling New York’s downtown centers home because of the high quality of life and economic opportunity. According to the Brookings Institute, investing in urban centers can improve economic performance, reduce infrastructure costs, and enhance the economic well-being of surrounding areas. Regional investments through New York State’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils have created ripple effects in small-to-midsize downtowns. The result is renewed investments that, overall, will increase the local tax base, and further sustain and build upon regional economic development initiatives in ways that create broader economic and social gains. 

In the spring of 2016, Governor Cuomo introduced a major new initiative--the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI)--which invested $100 million in ten downtown communities to unlock dormant potential in ways that create and propel the resurgence of urban areas throughout the state. Each of the ten Regional Economic Development Councils invited communities to apply to be considered for nomination.  

To guide the use of the $10 million award, the selected communities were required to complete a Strategic Investment Plan, with the assistance of a team of expert planners funded through the program. Each completed strategic investment plan identifies goals and strategies to accomplish a clear vision for revitalization and identifies specific catalytic, implementation-ready projects that align with the community’s vision for the revitalization of their unique downtown area and are consistent with the DRI’s program goals. 

There were eight "desired attributes" for proposals from cities competing for the $10 million--specific criteria on which applications were judged. Hudson's application won on the basis of how well what was proposed embodied those attributes. The attributes were:

1. Well-defined boundaries. The DRI program was seeking "a concentrated, defined area." For Hudson's application, this was the area below Second Street, from the southern border of the city to the northern border.
2. Sufficient catchment area. A catchment area is the geographical area from which a city, service, or institution attracts population that uses its services. A sufficient catchment area is defined as having "a sizable existing or increasing population within easy reach for whom this would be the primary downtown destination."
3. Past investments, future potential. The booklet lists nine things that are evidence of this attribute, among them: the existence of developable properties within the downtown, including properties that can be utilized for varying levels of housing affordability and mixed uses; potential for development of energy-efficient projects and opportunities for green jobs; investments in arts and cultural institutions and activities.
4. Recent or impending job growth. The booklet calls this a "crucial characteristic" for the DRI and stresses the accessibility of new and existing jobs by foot or public transportation and diversity in job opportunities--"with different salaries and entry levels and the potential for mobility between jobs."
5. Attractive physical environment. Some of the things that contribute to an attractive physical environment are housing at different levels of affordability and type; healthy and affordable food markets; accessible recreational amenities; community spaces, institutions, and events that reflect the ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity of the population; broadband accessibility; community design and/or housing that caters to all ages.
6. Quality of Life policies. Among the policies listed are: "Planning and implementation documents that may include but are not limited to economic development, community development, housing affordability, affirmatively furthering fair housing and civic engagement"; "Presence of expansive non-discrimination laws and/or other protections of diverse populations."
7. Support for the local vision. This attribute relates to community engagement and a commitment from local leaders and stakeholders to work together "to advance revitalization efforts."
8. Readiness. The expectation is that "a range of transformative projects . . . will be ready for implementation with an infusion of DRI funds within the first one to two years."

Hudson's complete application, outlining all the projects that were proposed, can be viewed here. A total of seventeen projects are listed in the application, but five have been identified as priorities:

1. Workforce Development Programs in Trades, Arts and Technology
2. Dunn Warehouse & Environs
3. Shovel Ready KAZ
4. Public Pier Project
5. Pedestrian Connectivity, Routes & Lights

What we have to look forward to in the short term is about a year's worth of planning meetings, in which the projects proposed in the application are reviewed and refined through community input. The end product will be the city's Strategic Investment Plan. Glens Falls, the city in the Capital Region that got the $10 million last year, in Round One of the DRI, has only in the past few months gotten approval for its Strategic Investment Plan, which defines the projects that will be implemented with DRI funds.

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Council President Candidates Announce Debate

Steve Dunn and Tom DePietro, who are vying to be the Democratic candidate for Common Council president, have agreed to debate in the run-up to the primary on September 12.

The debate will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, in the auditorium at John L. Edwards Primary School, and is expected to go on for 90 minutes. During the first 30 minutes of the debate, the audience will be invited to submit questions. 

Lynn Sloneker of WGXC will moderate the debate, which is hosted by the Register-Star, represented by Mary Dempsey; Jeffrey Hunt, president and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce; and the Hudson City Democratic Committee, represented by Sarah Sterling. The debate will be broadcast live on WGXC, 90.7 FM or online at wgxc.org.
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Police Commissioner Resigns

There were rumors, but nothing substantial enough for Gossips to report. Tonight, however, Bill Williams of 98.5 The Cat reports on Facebook that Martha Harvey's resignation as police commissioner has been confirmed: "Hudson Police Commissioner steps down."
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The Chairman Regrets

At its July 25 meeting, after making a negative declaration, as lead agency in the SEQR process, on the proposed Colarusso haul road, the Greenport Planning Board announced it would begin its site plan review of the Greenport portion of the haul road with a public hearing, to be held on August 22 at 7:30 p.m. After announcing the public hearing, the chair of the Greenport Planning Board, Ed Stiffler extended an invitation to the Hudson Planning Board to join the Greenport Planning Board "at the table"--"to hear any public comments that may be made by the public and to give your Board a chance to comment on specifics of the details of the project that would be within the Town of Greenport."

Gossips has learned that Stiffler described how the joint hearing would be conducted in the following way:

The meeting would be called to order, the public hearing called to order and after reading of the notice, I would introduce your Board members and outline why you were invited. After all comments from the public have been made, I would turn to your Board for your comments. We will not be discussing any of the SEQRA questions, but I will also allow your Board to ask questions of the applicant concerning the site plan itself. Please remember that the discussions must limit them[selves] to the portion of the project located in the Town of Greenport.

According to information received, Tom DePietro, chair of the Hudson Planning Board, has respectfully declined the invitation on behalf of the board.
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Another Request for a Zoning Change

In March 2016, the Common Council amended the zoning laws to include a hotel as a permitted use in the R-S-C (Residential Special Commercial) district in the First Ward. In November 2016, the Council voted to change the zoning for three parcels on Hudson Avenue from I-1 (Industrial) to R-S-C to allow the construction of four town houses on the parcels. The Common Council Economic Development Committee is currently considering a zoning overlay to accommodate a proposal from Stewart's Shops to expand the gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Green Street and Fairview Avenue. At informal Common Council meeting on August 7, the Council heard another appeal to change the zoning. This time, a zoning change is being sought to allow Basil Nooks to open a restaurant in the building at 61-63 North Third Street, in a building that, although it has been vacant for more than a decade, has a long history of being an eating and drinking establishment.

Folks who have lived in Hudson all their lives remember that decades ago this was Christie's Tavern. Code enforcement officer Craig Haigh told Gossips that in 1979, when Candy Lane burned, it was Joe's Tavern. He remembers that, after battling the inferno Columbia and Second, the fire fighters went to Joe's Tavern for a beer. Gossips remembers the building being the Flying Frog Tavern & Grill. It was the Flying Frog up until October 2004, when there was a fire in the building.

Tax records indicate that Nooks bought the building in July 2007. His intention was to make it a restaurant, and he started the work of repairing the damage to the building caused by the fire and renovating it for its intended use. The minutes of the Zoning Board of Appeals indicate that on August 15, 2007, Nooks applied for a use variance "to restore 61-63 North Third Street to its original use as a restaurant and tavern." A use variance was needed because, although the building had been an eating and drinking establishment for decades, the building is in an R-4 District where that is not a permitted. The ZBA scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for September 20, 2007, but the ZBA minutes for 2007 available online are only for June, July, and August, so there is no readily accessible record of what transpired at the public hearing or the decision made by the ZBA about a use variance. Nooks told Gossips that in 2007, he was thinking of retiring from his job with the Department of Public Works and opening a restaurant, but he decided to postpone his retirement and consequently did not pursue the use variance.

Recently, Nooks decided to resume work on the restaurant and applied for a building permit. Haigh reminded him that the building was in an R-4 District, where a restaurant is not a permitted use. It's not clear why Nooks chose to seek a zoning amendment from the Common Council instead of simply applying for a use variance. Nooks says Haigh advised him to do it; Haigh denies having recommended that course of action.

Back when the Common Council was debating whether or not to amend the zoning law to make a hotel a permitted use in an R-S-C District, city attorney Ken Dow advised that a use variance was an "escape valve . . . to save people from having no use of their property." By that standard, it would seem that applying for a use variance would be the appropriate course of action for Nooks, who purchased a building that had in living memory always been a commercial building, with the expectation that its use as an eating and drinking establishment could continue. New York State municipal law establishes four tests that must be met by a property's owner for a use variance to be issued:

1. the applicant cannot realize a reasonable return, provided that lack of return is substantial as demonstrated by competent financial evidence;
2. the alleged hardship relating to the property in question is unique, and does not apply to a substantial portion of the district or neighborhood;
3. that the requested use variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood;
4. that the alleged hardship has not been self-created.

When Nooks presented his request for a zoning change to the Common Council, Alderman Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward) expressed her support for Nooks' plan, saying that the neighborhood needed a restaurant and suggesting that the restaurants on Warren Street were beyond the means of most people living in that area.

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Scenes from a Rally

The New York Times reported today: "Tens of thousands of demonstrators, emboldened and unnerved by the eruption of fatal violence in Virginia last weekend, surged into the nation's streets and parks on Saturday to denounce racism, white supremacy and Nazism." Part of those tens of thousands were about a hundred people who gathered here in Hudson, in Seventh Street Park. 

 
 

The rally was organized SURJ-Hudson--SURJ being an acronym for "Showing Up for Racial Justice." The invitation to the rally distributed this morning provided a Hudson-specific definition of white supremacy:

On Saturday, August 19, we will stand on Warren Street in the city of Hudson, NY, as a reminder that white supremacy doesn't only express itself in KKK rallies and explicit racism. White supremacy also takes the form of stark segregation along race and class lines that shape our city. White supremacy shows up when our definition of economic development celebrates newness and growth, while producing vast and growing racial and economic inequity. White supremacy shows up when tourist-centered and consumption-based economic development is described as the solution for our communities, when long-term residents are forced out of their homes, and when "revitalization" is defined without meaningful direction from communities of color, poor and working-class people, and youth. And it shows up when we're told that we're unrealistic, or idealistic, for fighting for just and equitable development for all of our city's residents. The white supremacy we see in Charlottesville is intimately connected to the economic injustice we see all around us.

Hudson was recently awarded $10 million to revitalize its downtown, as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The influx of resources into our community and the "revitalization" of previously disinvested neighborhoods has the potential to severely increase inequity and displacement. It also has the potential to address and transform inequity, by centering people of color and low-income people in every step of the process.

Today, we ask that everyone who rejects white supremacy and stands for racial justice joins us in making these demands of the City and Mayor:

l That the DRI Commission, tasked with overseeing the use of funds, does not contain anyone with a project that would benefit from DRI moneys.

l That the DRI Commission hold a majority of representatives from communities of color, low-income, and youth communities in Hudson.

Regarding what SURJ calls the DRI Commission, also known as the Local Planning Commission (LCP), the guidelines for creating this commission are determined by the State of New York, the source of the $10 million. Following the guidelines, Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton recently submitted the names of twenty-five people who meet the requirements outlined by the DRI guidelines. The people who are on that list do not know they are on the list. Those twenty-five people will be vetted at the state level, and the list will be winnowed down to eight to twelve people who will make up Hudson's Local Planning Commission for the DRI.
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A Summer Saturday in Hudson

If you haven't already planned out your afternoon, here's some guidance.

From noon to 1 p.m., a rally observing National Day of Solidarity to Confront White Supremacy takes place in the Public Square, a.k.a. Seventh Street Park.

Meanwhile, down in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Hudson Summerfest will be going on from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

If you don't want to spend all eight hours at the event, here's the schedule of performers, to help you decide when you want to make your appearance. Click on the name of each group to learn more about it. Be aware: There is a $25 admission fee.

• 11 to 12   The Matchstick Architects
• 12 to 1   The Fabulous Versatones
• 1 to 2   Black Mountain Symphony
• 2:30 to 3:30   Too Blue
• 3:30 to 4:30   The Zolla Boys
• 5 to 7   NRBQ

From 2 to 5 p.m., Rob Bujan, candidate for First Ward alderman, is hosting a barbecue at Galvan Field, on Hudson Avenue just off Union Street. Everyone is invited for food, lawn games, face painting, and the chance to meet Bujan and many of your other neighbors and fellow Hudsonians.

Today promises to be a beautiful day, so take advantage of it.

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Confronting the Unknown

It has come to my attention that whenever people opt for "OpenID" as their profile when making a comment on Gossips, the source of the comment is identified as "Unknown." Several people--more than in the past--are now opting for "OpenID." As a consequence, there are many comments from "Unknown," which may or may not be coming from the same person. Because this is confusing and troublesome to people who reveal their names or comment with a consistent nom de plume, Gossips will now require that, if you use "OpenID," you must either reveal your name or a pseudonym you plan to use consistently in the comment. Comments from "Unknown" that have no further identifying information will not be published. Many thanks for your cooperation.
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Now We're the Sixth Borough

Another article about Hudson, which appeared in City Journal, has come to my attention. It stresses Hudson's colorful past and makes me wonder if I was really here for the past twenty-four years: "The Sixth Borough: How Hudson, New York, went from faded industrial town to hipster haven."
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An Arrest Has Been Made

The Register-Star and 98.5 The Cat are reporting that an arrest has been made in connection with the shootings that occurred on State Street last weekend. What follows is the press release issued by the Hudson Police Department as it appeared on 98.5 The Cat's Facebook page:

On August 18, 2017, the City of Hudson Police Department arrested 31 year old, Michael Johnson of Hudson, New York on Criminal Possession of a weapon in the 2nd Degree, a class C felony, Criminal Possession of a weapon 3rd Degree, a class D felony, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree, a class E felony.

On August 18, 2017, at approximately 8:04 am, the City of Hudson Police Department received information and a tip from the local community that a black male all dressed in black, wearing black sun glasses, and a hoodie over his head, was standing in front of a targeted location on the 200 block of Columbia Street reportedly taking pictures of the residence. Police immediately responded to the area and found a male matching the description in the rear of the residence in the 200 block of Long Alley. The subject was subsequently identified by the police as Michael Johnson. Michael Johnson was found to be in possession of a loaded .380 hand gun which had been reported stolen. At this time, police believe this incident to be related to the shootings of this past weekend.

The Hudson Police Department was assisted by the New York State Police, Columbia County Sheriff’s Department and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.

On August 18, 2017, Michael Johnson was arraigned in the Hudson City Criminal Court before Judge Connor. He was remanded to the Columbia County Jail.

About the DRI

Last night, the Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting did not happen for lack of a quorum, but Sheena Salvino, executive director of HDC (Hudson Development Corporation) was there, prepared to report to the committee about the process of implementing the DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) funding. While waiting for a third member of the committee to show up (which never happened), Salvino shared with Gossips the information she intended to present to the committee.

For the DRI implementation process, the State selects the planning firm that will work with the City to determine how the $10 million will be invested. At this point, the identity of this planning firm has not been revealed. The City creates a Local Planning Commission to work with that planning firm. The members of the LPC are appointed by the mayor, and so far there has been no information about those appointments--if they have been made or who has been appointed.

Salvino enumerated the responsibilities of the LPC:

• Approve the downtown vision and strategies and the final DRI Strategic Investment Plan.
• Agree to a Code of Conduct as a reminder that they must always act in the public interest in their role as Local Planning Committee members.
• Attend a variety of meeting at which they will participate in brainstorming ideas; provide direction to consultants; review planning products; evaluate projects proposed in the application; gather input from members of the community including private citizens, businesses and associations; prioritize actions and projects to advance downtown revitalization.
• Participate in community outreach by making presentations to other groups, distributing information, reaching out to their networks, or other public engagement activities.

Salvino went on explain: "The LPC will represent the interests and priorities of the community, while the state agency staff [the two state agencies involved are the Department of State and the Department of Housing & Community Renewal] will ensure that the process and deliverables are consistent with the goals, priorities and requirements of the initiative. LPC meetings shall be public and conducted according to Open Meetings Law."

The services of the as yet unknown planning firm involve the following ten basic tasks:

• Local Planning Committee Coordination
• Create and Implement a Community Engagement Strategy
• Prepare Downtown Profile and Assessment
• Develop Downtown Vision, Goals and Objectives
• Develop Revitalization Strategy Outline
• Develop Revitalization Strategies and Action Plan
• Develop Priority Project Profiles
• Develop an Implementation Strategy
• Propose Performance Indicators/Metrics
• Complete the Final DRI Plan

The entire DRI application can be viewed here, but it's useful to review which of the fifteen projects earmarked for DRI funds have been identified as priorities. There are five of them.

1. Workforce Development Programs in Trades, Arts and Technology--Connect upwardly mobile candidates living in BRIDGE Zone [that is, below Second Street] with readiness training, apprenticeships and trades through partnerships with: Columbia-Greene Community College & Workforce NY Satellite Office; private contractors and trades people; Basilica Hudson Artists Gallery Program
2. Dunn Warehouse & Environs--Adaptive reuse of last remaining waterfront building for year round public/private usage that: leverages public funds for private investments to bring year round jobs; combines site development, curbing sidewalks, lighting and waterfront improvements; incorporates resiliency for sea level change to protect public and private investment
3. Shovel Ready KAZ--Remove KAZ warehouse for redevelopment of mixed uses including: workforce readiness/maker center; housing for multiple income levels; retail/commercial space; professional office space
4. Public Pier Project--Clear and establish public pier for: increased public recreation between slips 1 and 2 for passive and active use by both small and large crafts; connecting people to the waterfront; encourage increased maritime activity
5. Pedestrian Connectivity, Routes & Lights--Comprehensive road, curbing, sidewalks, bikeways & lights connecting downtown recreation, employment, business, and cultural hubs for year round safe and efficient access by every mode of transportation including pedestrian, car/truck, bike, wheelchair and trains. Sites to connect include: small businesses and light industry at The Warehouse [former L&B]; Basilica Hudson; KAZ redevelopment site; Wick Hotel; River House [former Allen Street School]; community gardens; food hubs; A. Colarusso & Sons; Amtrak station; Warren Street business district; parks & community food hub.

The visual below, as well as the one included earlier, comes from Hudson's DRI application. It shows the location of the proposed public pier and envisions future buildings--three of them--on the City-owned property north of the Dunn warehouse.

A point that sometimes seems to be overlooked when discussing the DRI and the proposed projects is that BRIDGE is an acronym. It stands for Built Renew Invent Develop Grow Empower. 

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Ten-Digit Phone Numbers Starting Tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, August 19, if you want to call a friend, call the police, call to make a dinner reservation, call to order a pizza, call anyone within the 518 area code, you will have to press ten digits--the area code 518 and the phone number. If you don't dial 518 before the number, you will get a recording informing you that you must. 

This is in preparation for an area code overlay. The part of New York that now has the area code 518 will soon have two area codes: 518 and 838. Starting on September 19, new numbers issued will have the 838 area code. 

There is no need to dial 1 when calling numbers with the area code 518 or 838. However, for every other area code--917 being a frequent one--you must dial 1.
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Shall We Gather at the River?

Two weeks from today, on September 1, Historic Hudson holds its fundraising event, Drinks on the Waterfront, at the 1850 Dunn building, one of the last surviving industrial buildings on Hudson's waterfront. Earlier this week, Rural Intelligence published an article by Jamie Larson, in which he talks about the event and then segues into a discussion of Hudson's recent success in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI): "Historic Hudson Has 10 Million Reasons to Celebrate." It's recommended reading on both topics.

Photo: Saratoga Associates

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