Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

Remarkable as it may seem, we are more than halfway through September. The week ends with the autumnal equinox on Saturday at 2:49 a.m. In the meantime, here is what's happening.

• On Monday, September 18, the Housing Trust Fund Board of Directors meets at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Bliss Towers, 41 North Second Street. At this point, it is not known if the meeting will be in person only or a hybrid.  
• At 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 18, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners holds its monthly meeting. At the board's July meeting, Mountco, HHA's development partner, said that the results of various soil and topographical studies, as well as more specific drawings of what is being proposed, would be presented at the September meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers, 41 North Second Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Tuesday, September 19, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting. Included on the agenda for the meeting are a resolution authorizing a transfer of $140,500 from the fund balance to pay for the new comprehensive plan, the law establishing an amnesty program for parking ticket scofflaws, and the law expanding the number of public places where the consumption of beer and wine can be permitted at events. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Wednesday, September 20, the Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6:00 p.m. No agenda for the meeting is yet available. The meeting takes place in person only at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street.
• On Friday, September 22, the Historic Preservation Commission holds its second meeting of the month at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

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Hudson and Its Whaling Roots

For those who missed Carl Whitbeck's well-attended lecture at the library on Thursday about Hudson's whaling heritage, Lance Wheeler's videotape of the event can now be viewed on YouTube. 

This Week at Stair Galleries

On Thursday, September 21, at 10:00 a.m., an auction of the Collection of André Leon Talley will take place at Stair Galleries. The collection reflects all the facets of this life and is the legacy he leaves behind for all those who knew, admired, and championed him.

Photo: Seth Wenig | AP

"We keep hearing from colleagues, friends, and family that this is their last chance to own a piece of this trailblazer's life!" Muffie Cunningham, Director of Decorative Arts at Stair, said. "This auction is very unique as it is an in-depth and personal look at this pioneering American icon."

With taste and grace, André Leon Talley rose from this childhood in the Jim Crow South to the pinnacle of the fashion world with his unerring sense of style, his intelligence, and his quick wit. As the first Black man to hold the title of Creative Director at American Vogue, Talley's rarified status in the fashion industry allowed him to pursue what was personally important to him, establishing decades-long relationships with icons in the industry and supporting young designers and their nascent talent.

Highlights in this single-owner sale include clothing, handbags, shoes from the 1980s until today, furniture, literature, and decorations from both the White Plains and Durham, North Carolina, homes, including a Victorian mahogany throne chair, numerous giltwood mirrors, a chintz upholstered corner sofa, a pair of large wicker armchairs, Christian Lacroix jewelry, two pieces of Bottega Veneta luggage, stemware, porcelain, mohair throws, numerous hats and books. His personal friendships with iconic fashion designers such as Manolo Blahnik, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, and Diane von Furstenberg are reflected in Talley's collection of haute couture as well as pieces from designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermes, Ralph Rucci, Balenciaga, Todd Oldham, Christian Dior, Tom Ford, and Gianni Versace. Selection of artwork by Bruce Weber, Beatrice, Caracciolo, Arthur Elgort, and Sylvester Stallone are also included. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York and Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Durham.

Apartments of Distinction: Update

This week, work on the storefront is progressing, but the brick, after an apparent attempt last Saturday to remove the limewash, remains a blotchy white. This is how the building appeared this morning.

Here's the rendering of the building that was granted a certificate of appropriateness by the Historic Preservation Commission.

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Preserving Hudson's Landmark Church

Twenty-first century technology is being employed to help preserve the 19th-century First Presbyterian Church thanks to a donation by Taconic Engineering, DPC, of Chatham. The engineering firm is laser scanning the entire building–from the basement to the tops of its two towers. The scans will be used to create a three-dimensional electronic model of the building that can be used in the future by architects, engineers, and construction companies working on the church. Taconic Engineering is donating these services to the church. 

First Presbyterian Church is an important historic, religious, and architectural landmark with a soaring east tower that dominates the skyline of Warren Street, Hudson’s main thoroughfare. The 186-year-old church is located at Fourth and Warren streets and houses the city’s official clock, a tradition that started in 1801. 

“The data collected by Taconic Engineering will provide us a digital representation of First Presbyterian Church that can be used in future preservation work,” said Gary Sheffer, president of the Friends of First Presbyterian Church, a secular non-profit dedicated to the preservation of the church. “It gives us the ability to see the church from all perspectives. We are extremely grateful to Taconic Engineering for this generous donation.” 

"We are honored to be able to help the church take this important first step. This partnership represents our commitment to preserving history and regional landmarks,” said Chad Lindberg, president and founder of Taconic Engineering. “Being a part of this project is a reflection of our dedication to honoring the past while embracing the future of our community." 

Digital scanning of the church should be completed in September. 

The Friends recently completed a project to install a new roof on the rear, original section of the church. Additional repairs are needed, among them masonry restoration, repairs to the towers, improving accessibility, and electrical work. 

The church’s principal stained glass window and its soaring Gothic steeple are well-known to city residents and passersby. A clocks in the tower of the First Presbyterian Church has been telling Hudsonians the time since 1802. Thousands have worshipped in the church, including Martin Van Buren, 8th President of the United States, and Hudson River School painter Frederic Church and his family.

Today, in addition to being a place of worship, the building is home to community groups that support performance, art, learning, civic gatherings, feeding the hungry. and other ministries, such as Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood and radio station WGXC. 

Following the completion of the roof project, the Friends group is turning its attention to developing a comprehensive preservation plan for the church, with a focus on the north facade of the building. If you are interested in joining the Friends or donating to the preservation campaign, please visit the Friends’ website.

Latinx Festival This Sunday

On Sunday, September 17, the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement presents the third annual Latinx Parade and Festival, celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture.

The event begins at 1:00 p.m. with representatives of the area's Latinx communities parading down Warren Street, from the Public Square to the river, carrying their country's flags and wearing their national colors. At 2:00 p.m., the festival begins at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. Performers at the festival include Hip Hop Jibarito, Andes Manta, Mariachi Mexico Tradicional, Triqui Sin Fronteras, Alessandra Gonzales, DJ Ghetto, and JZ Martinez. Food vendors at the festival will be Ja Style, Magdalena's Mexican Restaurant, Peta's Pocket, Robert's Restaurant, Sandra's Pupusas, Tequila Sunrise, and Yeni's Pupusas.

Following the event, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., there will be an afterparty at the Hudson Brewing Company, featuring DJ Rymba. Proceeds from the afterparty will support future cultural celebrations for immigrants and their allies.

For more information about the performers and vendors, visit sanctuarycolumbiacounty.org.

Hudson's New Comprehensive Plan

In June, the City issued an RFP (request for proposal) for a new comprehensive plan. The responses were due on July 14, 2023, but since then there has been no news about how many proposals were received or who submitted proposals. 

At the informal meeting of the Common Council on Monday, in the process of the introducing Celeste Frye, who was about to, in his words, "describe what they are going to be doing for us in the comprehensive plan," Council president Tom DePietro told the Council, "The committee selected Public Works Partners." Frye, who is the CEO of Public Works Partners, told the Council that her group would be teaming up with SLR Consulting, a group that specializes in sustainability, on Hudson's comprehensive plan. 

In her presentation, which can be viewed here (beginning at 2:44), Frye said they would start with all of the work already done, e.g. the Strategic Housing Action Plan, the Natural Resource and Open Space Inventory, the LWRP, etc., and would build on that. She presented this schematic to show their process.

She anticipated the process would take from 12 to 16 months.

When Councilmember Vicky Daskaloudi (Fifth Ward) asked about the fee, the answer came that it was $208,000. DePietro noted that a third of the amount was covered by a grant. Presumably the rest is coming from the general fund.

The committee that reviewed the proposals and chose the winning proposal was made up of Kamal Johnson, mayor; Michael Hofmann, mayor's aide; DePietro; Margaret Morris, First Ward councilmember; Michelle Tullo, Housing Justice Director; Peter Bujanow, Commissioner of Public Works; Heather Campbell, city treasurer. 

Gossips has learned that there were five responses to the RFP, and three of the respondents were invited to an interview with the committee. Among the three interviewed was a group headed up by Kaja Kühl, well known to Hudsonians for her work on plans to revitalize Oakdale, conceptualizing Shared Streets during the pandemic, and creating climate adaptive redesigns for Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. Kühl's urban research, design, and planning practice is called youarethecity.

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What Wasn't Shared at the Town Hall

Gossips reported about the virtual "Town Hall on Environmental Justice in Black Neighborhoods," held by Lukee Forbes of the Hudson Catskill Housing Coalition, before it took place but not after it happened. Jamel Cutler, however, wrote about the town hall for the Register-Star: "Panel: City truck route 'a nightmare.'" 

Two of the four announced panelists were not present, and the two that were--Linda Mussmann and Kayah Payton--talked mostly about how awful it was to have heavy trucks passing through the city. One of the absent panelists, Peter Jung, submitted a video, which was not shared during the town hall but was sent to attendees afterward. Jung is one of the cofounders of The Valley Alliance, and his presentation in the video speaks about one aspect of Hudson's truck problem: the Colarusso gravel trucks. The video, which can be viewed here, provides a good summary of the current situation, but the last minute of the video is particularly interesting. Gossips recommends it. 

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New Partnership to Produce Winter Walk

For many years, it seemed my dear friend Ellen Thurston, as a member of the Hudson Opera House Board of Directors, worked single-handedly to produce Winter Walk. Those days, alas, are over. Today at noon, Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House announced that it will join with the City of Hudson, Hudson Development Corporation, and the Hudson Business Coalition to produce Winter Walk 2023 on Saturday, December 2.

The following is quoted from the press release announcing the collaboration:

Now in its 27th year, Winter Walk offers a magical evening of family friendly attractions, performances, beautifully decorated shop windows, unique holiday shopping, delicious local food, and spectacular fireworks along Hudson's main street. Joining together for the first time to produce the event, the partnership unites Hudson's local government, business, and cultural community to usher in a new and exciting era of the beloved citywide winter festival.

"Over the past 26 years, Hudson Hall has nurtured Winter Walk from its humble beginnings into Columbia County's largest, liveliest, and most colorful event of the year," says Hudson Hall Executive Director, Tambra Dillon. "The success of the event heralds a new partnership with the City of Hudson, Hudson Development Corporation, and Hudson Business Coalition, and we are thrilled to welcome them as official Winter Walk co-producers this year. Their knowledge and experience of the event, combined with a shared commitment to the entrepreneurial and creative spirit that defines Hudson, make them the perfect partners to support the continued success of Winter Walk."

"My family and I look forward to Winter Walk every single year--it's a truly special community event where everyone feels welcome on Warren Street," says Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson. "My administration is excited to join Hudson Hall, Hudson Business Coalition, and the Hudson Development Corporation, and many others to make this year's Winter Walk a huge success."

"Over the past twenty-six years, Winter Walk has become a beloved part of the rich tapestry of art, commerce, and community that is Hudson," says Alexandre J. Petraglia, Hudson Business Coalition president. "Whether you're a long-time resident of Hudson, or visiting us for the first time on the night of Winter Walk, your experience will be nothing short of magical. We're so encouraged by the business community's participation in Winter Walk each year--the work that business owners do to enliven Warren Street, welcome guests inside their shops, galleries, and restaurants, and share in the spirit of the holiday season. There is simply no other event like it--certainly not in the Hudson Valley, perhaps not in the entire world!"

"Winter Walk is magic!" says Christine Jones, Hudson Development Corporation president. "Walking down Warren Street, meeting friends and neighbors and getting in the holiday spirit is one of my favorite nights in the Hudson Valley. Strolling into the many shops with decorated windows, some with performers and music, seeing dancers and musicians mingling with the crowd, watching kids' eyes twinkle at all that is happening around them, and tasting the many delicious foods offered along the way makes Winter Walk a holiday experience second to none.". . .

"There was so much anticipation the evening of the first Winter Walk in 1997," says Sarah Lipsky, Hudson Hall Board Member and Winter Walk founder. "After months of work and planning, we didn't know if people would come, but they did! The Hudson Opera House was not even open, but we wanted to bring people to Hudson to celebrate the ongoing transformation of Warren Street. It is thrilling to be a part of the 27th Winter Walk and see how it has endured and become a lasting community event for all people and all ages." . . .

Vendors, performers, artists, or community groups wishing to participate in Winter Walk may apply by visiting winterwalkhudson.org. . . .

A Bridge for Crossing

Rob Perry, Superintendent of Public Works, opened the bids this morning for the construction of the new Ferry Street Bridge. There were just two: one from A. Colarusso & Son; the other from J. H. Maloy, Inc., of Loudonville. The bid from Colarusso was for $4,595,649. The bid from Maloy was for $4,069,000. [PLEASE NOTE: The amounts originally published were incorrect; these are the correct amounts.]

Failing any unforeseen problems, the new bridge will be constructed by J. H. Maloy, Inc.

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Highlights of the Planning Board Meeting

One of the projects discussed at last night's Planning Board meeting was the hotel proposed by the Casetta Group for 601 Union Street, the former Elks Lodge. The project required a use variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and during the ZBA's review of the project, Walter Brett, who owns the historic house at 611 Union Street, expressed concern about the negative impact the additional buildings to be constructed behind the municipal parking lot and his house would have on his quality of life.

At their August meeting, the Planning Board decided to make a site visit to Brett's backyard. They also asked that the applicant to create a rendering of the proposed building from the vantage point of the rear of 611 Union Street. The site visit took place on August 19, and at last night's meeting Kristal Heinz, attorney for the applicant, presented the rendering (below) showing the view of the proposed buildings from Brett's backyard. 

It was suggested that a row of trees might be planted along the hotel's property line to further screen the buildings from view. Gary Mead of the Casetta Group suggested that the trees might interfere with the fire lane, and he needed to consult with code enforcement and the fire department. The applicant also presented a new aerial view of the site map.

It appears that Brett is now in discussion with Casetta in an effort to solve the problem. A public hearing on the project has been scheduled for November 14.

Amendments to the site plan for the hotel proposed by the Galvan Foundation for North Fourth and Warren streets were also presented at last night's Planning Board meeting. As it turns out, the amendments consist of changes to the site plan resulting from alterations in the design agreed to during the review of the project by the Historic Preservation Commission. The biggest change seems to be the decrease in the number of hotel rooms--from 32 to 30--that happened because Galvan agreed not to add a floor to the townhouses on North Fourth Street and a change in the square footage of the restaurant space. The renderings below compare the design that existed when the Planning Board granted site plan approval in September 2022 and the design that evolved during the HPC review.

Although the Planning Board has already held a public hearing on the project, it was decided there would be another public hearing on the amended site plan. The hearing will take place at the Planning Board's October meeting, scheduled for October 11.

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Galvan in Savannah

Galvan's acquisition of Hudson hasn't stopped. Over the summer, Galvan purchased Helsinki Hudson, and there is the persistent rumor that Galvan may be acquiring Crosswinds. 

Galvan's acquisition of Savannah continues as well. On September 1, Galvan Center for the Common Good announced on Facebook its plans to restore the Kiah House, a historic house in Savannah that was retrofitted in 1959 by the late artist and educator Virginia Jackson Kiah and her husband, Calvin Kiah, a former Dean of Education at Savannah State College, to establish the first African American-founded museum in Savannah.

Photo: Eric Curl | Savannah Agenda

Today, on Savannah Agenda, Eric Curl provides more information about the Kiah House purchase and an update on the Galvan Foundation's activities in Savannah: "With downtown acquisition, New York nonprofit's local presence grows ahead of Kiah House purchase."

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Update: This evening, Wednesday, September 13, Galvan Center for the Common Good posted the following on its Facebook page.

What Lies Beneath

If you Google "sewers of NYC," you will find pictures like these.

The sewers of Paris are so remarkable that part of sewer system has been turned into a museum--Le Musée des Égouts de Paris.

We here in Hudson have often heard about our city's 19th-century stone sewers, but we never get to see them. In his report at the informal Common Council meeting on Monday, Rob Perry, DPW superintendent, shared this image of one of the sewers in Hudson, taken by a camera sent into the sewer in an effort to detect a suspected obstruction.

This is workmanship that has served us for way more than a century.

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Honorary Street Naming

In 2021, Tiffany Garriga, then a Second Ward alderman, introduced legislation to create an "honorary street naming dedication program." On December 21, 2021, the members of the Common Council at the time (Rebecca Wolff and Jane Trombley [First Ward], Garriga and Dewan Sarowar [Second Ward], Shershah Mizan and Ryan Wallace [Third Ward], John Rosenthal and Malachi Walker [Fourth Ward], Dominic Merante and Eileen Halloran [Fifth Ward]) and Council president Tom DePietro voted unanimously to enact the law.

Garriga had some specific people and streets in mind. North Second Street was to be "Joette Bell Way," in honor of the first African-American woman to be elected to the Common Council. The corner of North Third and Robinson streets was to be "Rev. Ed Cross Way," to recognize the man who served as Second Ward supervisor for two decades and lives on Robinson Street. Glenwood Boulevard was to be "Robert Doc Donahue Way," in honor of the man who served for twelve consecutive terms as Fifth Ward alderman and lived on Glenwood Boulevard. The law that was passed, however, was enabling legislation and did not actually bestow any honorary names on streets. 

On the agenda for last night's informal Common Council meeting was a request from Greg Mosley, representing Operation Unite, to give the 200 block of Warren Street the honorary name "Jacob and Barbara Walthour Way." Mosley and his wife, Elena, were at the meeting to speak in support of the honorary street naming, as were two of the Walthours' three children, Jacob, Jr., and Nona. Mosley called the Walthours "a piece of the fabric of what Hudson is about." Walthour asserted his parents' business in Hudson was "one of the most successful black-owned businesses in New York State," noting that they "consistently recycled dollars they made back into the community."

For thirty-five years, from 1982 to 2017, the Walthours owned a bar called the Savoia, located in the 200 block of Warren Street. It was first located at 255 Warren Street. 

255 Warren Street as it was when Savoia was located there

255 Warren Street today

Sometime around 2008, the Walthours retired and sold the building at 255 Warren Street, but they came out of retirement to reopen their bar at 216 Warren Street, a building their son Jacob, Jr., had purchased and renovated in 2002 to create the short-lived Cajun restaurant called Jubilee. The Savoia continued at that address until 2017.

The building is now the location of Ca' Mea and the Howard Hotel.

In 2015, the 200 block of Warren Street was closed for six hours on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend for a block party to celebrate Jake Walthour's 74th birthday. At that time, Mayor William Hallenbeck honored Walthour with a Life Time Achievement Award.

Jacob Walthour died in December 2020. His wife, Barbara, died in January 2022.

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Long-Awaited News

Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works, reported this evening at the informal Common Council meeting that the bids for the construction of the new Ferry Street Bridge will be opened on Thursday, September 14, at 10:00 a.m., at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street. This is an important moment for Hudson. The bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic since early October 2014. Funds for rebuilding the bridge were secured in April 2016. At that time, it was projected that, according to the timeline determined by the DOT, construction of the new bridge would begin in 2020.

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Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

In the second full week of September, here is what's happening.

• On Monday, September 11, the Common Council holds its informal meeting at 6:00 p.m. Among the agenda items is a proposed local law amending Chapter 65 of the city code. Currently, the consumption of beer and wine at events on City property is only allowed, with the proper permits, in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. The proposed amendment would allow alcoholic beverages to be served at events at the public boat launch, Seventh Street Park, Promenade Hill, and on any public street or City property, with a permit issued at the discretion of the mayor. This proposed law did not come through the Legal Committee, which was the process in the past, so it is not clear by whom it was initiated or what motivated it. The informal Council meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
• On Tuesday, September 12, the Planning Board meets at 6:00 p.m. The agenda includes several projects that have been before the Planning Board for a while--the new location of Lil' Deb's Oasis, the subdivision proposed for Hudson Avenue, and boutique hotel proposed for 601 Union Street. New on the agenda are site plan amendments to the hotel project proposed by the Galvan Foundation for the buildings at the corner of Warren and North Fourth streets. The meeting is hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Thursday, September 14, at 6:00 p.m., the Hudson Area Library and the Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the DAR present "Hudson and Its Whaling Roots," a local history talk by Carl Whitbeck. The talk takes place in person in the Community Room of the library, 51 North Fifth Street.

• On Sunday, September 17, at 4:00 p.m., there is a celebration of Rosh Hashanah at Promenade Hill. Click here for more information.

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Update on the Apartments of Distinction

Yesterday, it appeared that some attempt was being made to remove the limewash from 501 Union Street, but the efforts appear to have had little effect. This picture was taken in the early afternoon on Friday, September 8.

This picture was taken this morning, Sunday, September 10.

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The Time Has Come

After COVID and many other construction complications, the meticulously restored red barn across Front Street from the train station, now known as The Caboose, is celebrating its opening on Tuesday, September 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will include a ribbon cutting, brief remarks, a tour of the new space, and refreshments. 

This is the final step in the adaptive reuse of the buildings at the corner of South Front and Cross streets. Kitty's Market opened in Fall 2020, and Kitty's Restaurant in Spring 2022. Now the updated, 100 percent carbon neutral barn building, which houses an event space, wine store, and spaces for other community activities, will be open, too.

The project received a Market NY grant in 2019, and a NYSERDA Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development program award in 2021 for the mechanical and energy systems. Representatives of NYSERDA and Empire State Development will be present for the event, and there's a chance Governor Kathy Hochul may be there as well to celebrate this exciting adaptive reuse project that will be a model for the region and the state.

Surveying the Devastation

Thursday night's storm took a grim toll on the trees and monuments on Hudson's cemeteries: Hudson City Cemetery and Cedar Park Cemetery. Yesterday, an intrepid reader defied the warning that the cemeteries were closed to the public for safety's sake and toured the cemeteries to document the destruction to the trees and monuments. Here is a selection of the photographs provided to Gossips by that reader.

The Department of Public Works will remove the fallen trees and clean up the debris, but who will repair the damage to the gravestones and monuments?

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