The Gossips of Rivertown

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

This week, which started with the observance of Martin Luther King Day, includes more than one meeting of interest.

On Tuesday, January 20, at 6:00 p.m., the Common Council holds its first regular meeting 2026. The agenda for the meeting, which can be found here, includes a resolution for the honorary naming of the 500 block of Warren Street "Wheeler Way" for Fred Wheeler and Sam Wheeler, father and son, who both were mayors of Hudson, Fred during the latter part of the Great Depression and Sam during the early years of Urban Renewal, and a resolution appointing Jonathan Spampinato to the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), replacing the Charles Millar as the only non ex officio member. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
On Wednesday, January 21, the Public Works Committee of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors meets at 5:00 p.m. At the meeting, a resolution to hire an exterior design consultant for 11 Warren Street will be proposed. The meeting takes place in person in the Committee Room at 401 State Street.

On Wednesday, January 21, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meets at 6:00 p.m. At the November meeting of the HHA Board, John Mateo of Mountco, HHA's development partner, said the redevelopment project was in "full architectural design mode" and predicted the project, it is hoped with renderings to show what the proposed new buildings will look like, would happen at the Planning Board's January meeting. That didn't happen, but some information about the actual design of the buildings might be shared at the HHA meeting on Wednesday. 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.

At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, the Zoning Board of Appeals holds its regular monthly meeting. The agenda for the meeting includes two applications for area variances: one for an elevator addition to 346 Union Street, and the other for an addition to 512 Clinton Street. The meeting takes place in person only at City Hall.
On Thursday, January 22, the Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) meets at 5:00 p.m. HCDPA is made up entirely of ex officio members: the chair of the HHA Board of Commissioners, the mayor, the chair of the Planning Board, and the Common Council majority and minority leaders. With three of the five members being different this year, the meeting promises to be interesting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
Also on Thursday, January 22, the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History, in collaboration with the History Room at the Hudson Area Library, presents "Freedom of Speech in New York: The Peter Zenger Trial," a lecture by Albert M. Rosenblatt. The event takes place in person in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street. Click here for more information.

On Friday, January 23, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. No agenda is as yet available for the meeting, but it is possible that some new plan for 14 and 16 North Fourth Street may be presented. It seems that learning the houses are in a locally designated historic district (and possibly also the recommendation from SHPO) may have persuaded the Galvan Foundation to change course in its plans for these houses and to abandon its plan to demolish them. The meeting takes place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.

Monday, January 19, 2026

News of Our Waterfront

Last month, Gossips reported that an Article 78 petition had been filed "for a judgment to annul, vacate, and in all respects void the City of Hudson Planning Board resolution to grant site plan and conditional use permit approval" for Colarusso's dock operations.

Today, an article about the lawsuit by Donna Streitz of Our Hudson Waterfront is featured on imby.com: "Our Hudson Waterfront files Article 78 lawsuit against Hudson Planning Board." It is recommended reading.

More Demolition

Columbia County Morning News reports the demolition of the Colonial Revival house at 117 Fairview and the outbuildings on the site has begun. Click here to view a video clip.

Below are the most up-to-date renderings in Gossips' files of the apartment buildings that will be constructed on the site.

The project, which will provide twenty-six market rate units, was granted site plan approval by the Hudson Planning Board in May 2025, two years after the application was first presented in June 2023.

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Parking Advisory

A reader contacted me earlier today to ask if Martin Luther King, Jr., Day was one of the holidays for which alternate side of the street parking was suspended. I responded that it was. For everyone's reference, these are the eight holidays for which the alternate side rules are suspended:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas

It occurred to me to wonder, however, how the snow might impact the suspension of parking rules.

Seeking answers, I contacted Rob Perry, DPW superintendent, who told me that because the snow was expected to continue overnight, there was a crew coming in at 4:00 a.m. to do plowing.

Given that, Gossips best advice is to follow the alternate side rules tonight and park your car on the odd side of the street. If everyone did that, the plows could clear the middle of the street and the even side without having to plow around parked cars.

Friday, January 16, 2026

Establishing Freedom of Speech

This coming Thursday, January 22, the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History and the History Room at the Hudson Area Library collaborate to present "Freedom of Speech in New York: The Peter Zenger Trial," by Albert M. Rosenblatt, the first of this year's four Leisler Lectures.

The landmark 1735 trial of New York printer John Peter Zenger, which acquitted him of seditious libel in publishing articles critical of New York's colonial governor, established the power of a jury to function as a check on government power and inspired the movement for freedom of the press later enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Its importance today is as great as it was in the 18th century.

Judge Albert M. Rosenblatt served as a judge on New York’s high court, after having served on other New York courts. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School, Rosenblatt has written widely on New York law and culture, including a book, with his wife, Julia, on Dutch New York. He now teaches law at New York University Law School.

The lecture takes place at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, in person at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Latest Word on Parking

The Mayor's Office tonight issued this statement regarding parking on Warren Street and other locations where there once were meters.

With parking enforcement resuming tomorrow, City Hall is sharing the following information about the new parking payment system. These updates reflect the concerns and feedback that have been expressed by the community since the beginning of the new year.

Parking signs are being installed along the length of Warren and will continue to be placed on streets that had previously been metered;
On-street kiosks will be installed in the coming weeks; and
With an eye toward reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, any person with a valid handicap tag or license plate will not be required to pay for on-street parking or short-term municipal lots.

This decision was made in collaboration among the Mayor, the ADA coordinator, the Chief of Police, and the Common Council President. We hope this policy will alleviate the concerns of residents with disabilities who had previously relied on parking meters and previously unmetered stretches of Warren Street for their everyday needs,

A commissioner's order to follow.

Reminder for Paid Parking Options

For those using Text2Park, text ONSTREET to 44989. Parking can also be paid for by using the ParkMobile app or calling 1-877-727-5730.

The Human Story Behind the Lost House

Yesterday, Gossips reported about the demolition of a house on Columbia Street.

Today, Claudia Bruce of Time & Space Limited, located across the street from the house that was demolished, shared this information about the woman who lived in the house--a story that makes the neglect and demolition of the house poignant and indeed heartbreaking for those who knew and loved her.

The house at 425 Columbia was owned by Hazel Murray, a beloved mainstay of our community, who passed away in 2016. Her house was purchased by a neighbor but remained empty and deteriorated over years. Now it's gone, but the memories of Hazel's wonderful spirit live on.

Every Thursday, she would cook your choice of fried chicken or fried fish or BBQ ribs--served with collards and mac & cheese--and dessert. The price was around $10, and her place was hopping on Thursdays when many Hudsonians passed by to pick up their orders.

Bruce sent this picture of Hazel Murray, taken in 2014 by Linda Mussmann, along with an excerpt from her obituary.

Photo: Linda Mussmann

Hazel Martha Murray was born October 8, 1926, to Carrie Fulton and Thomas Wright in Pineville, SC. She received her formal education in Pineville at J. K. Gadine School. She relocated to Hudson, NY, in 1952. She trained as a barber and was employed at the NYS Training School for Girls and the Whitney Young Center in Albany. Hazel was an active member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, where she served in the choir, Women's Ministry, and the Culinary committee.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Another One Lost

In a city that purports to value its architectural heritage and is constantly wringing its collective hands about the shortage of housing, it would seem there might be some serious effort to enact and enforce policies to protect the housing that exists from abandonment, neglect, and deterioration, but such is not the case. Maybe it's part of Hudson's DNA. After all, half a century ago, a report that found Hudson to have the worst housing stock in the State of New York inspired the policy- and decision-makers in Hudson at the time to demolish vast swaths of the city and use federal Urban Renewal money, then flowing freely, to fill the void with subsidized housing.

That rant was inspired by the demolition today of house in the 400 block of Columbia Street.

The house was not located in any historic district, so there was nothing to prevent its being demolished. When it met its end, it was unoccupied and covered with vines. Some sleuthing online and in the assessment rolls found that the house was purchased for $135,000 in 2017 by an LLC (limited liability company) called Four Two Five. (The address of the house was 425 Columbia Street.) At some point during the intervening eight years, there was an effort to sell house. The listing can still be found on Zillow, accompanied by this picture and with an asking price of $309,100.

The Zillow listing indicates the house is now "Off market." Indeed, the house is now is not only off market, it is off the face of the earth.

Every Little Bit Helps

As we move deeper into winter, and the cost of heating our homes rises, energy conservation is (or should be) on all of our minds. In these dark days of winter, the Conservation Advisory Council is providing a bit of relief. The CAC is giving away LED lightbulbs, which use about 85 percent less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent lightbulbs. You can get up to five LED lightbulbs per household, you just need to sign a form attesting that you reside in the City of Hudson (not just in the area covered by the 12534 zip code).

The LED lightbulbs are being distributed at the following locations: City Clerk's Office in City Hall, 520 Warren Street; Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street; The Spark of Hudson, 502 Union Street; and Rolling Grocer 19, 6 South Second Street.

Get your LED lightbulbs while supplies last.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

A New Day Dawns for the Planning Board

The Planning Board held what was described as an organizational meeting tonight. For those who witnessed painful Planning Board meetings in the past, when one member of the Planning Board was rebuked by the chair and fellow members for doing her own research and not blindly accepting the opinion of the board's legal counsel, the statement made tonight by Ron Bogle, the new chair of the Planning Board, was a welcome change. It was similarly heartening for those who wonder where the planning part of the board's function is, when it seems their task is solely to grant or deny site plan approval to whatever projects come before them.

Bogle's statement made at tonight's meeting follows:

I believe that our Board will be at its best when members bring independent thinking, informed opinions, and a willingness to do their homework. It is entirely appropriate and encouraged for Board members to conduct independent research, ask hard questions, and hold differing views.

At the same time, order and professionalism matter. Clear procedures allow independence to flourish without meetings becoming inefficient or unfair. There is no artificial time limit on Board member discussion; our responsibility is to be thorough, but also disciplined and respectful of one another’s time.

Too often, planning conversations default to someone winning and someone losing. I believe this shows a lack of imagination--we can do better. We can be an attractive destination for visitors and at the same time address affordable housing. We can support legacy industries and at the same time create a welcoming environment for new businesses. We can protect neighborhood character and at the same time allow thoughtful, well-designed growth.

Good planning does sometimes require choosing sides. But it can also be about seeking alternative solutions, forging thoughtful compromise, and always about advancing the long-term well-being of the city.

I also see the Planning Board as more than a body that simply reacts to applications as they come before us.

Where appropriate, we should help shape a shared vision for the city; understand and support implementation of the Comprehensive Plan; coordinate with other boards and commissions, including the Conservation Advisory Council, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Historic Preservation Commission. We should also be a thoughtful and supportive partner to institutions like Bard College as they begin to integrate into the life of our community.

Ultimately, the reason we are here is straightforward. Our work should help build a city that supports a better quality of life for the people who live here.

That purpose is reflected in Hudson’s Comprehensive Plan, which represents the community’s collective vision for how the city should grow, change, and sustain itself over time. Our role as a Planning Board is to help translate that vision into fair, thoughtful, and well-reasoned decisions.

Through our actions—and through the physical form and design of the city that result from them—we have an opportunity to elevate, enrich, and strengthen daily life for our neighbors, and to support a sense of dignity, belonging, and worth for everyone. If we keep that purpose in mind, the individual decisions before us become clearer, and the public is better served.

Bogle also addressed the issue of public participation in Planning Board meetings.

Public input is not an obstacle to good planning; it is a core part of it. Members of the public bring lived experience, local knowledge, technical expertise, and information that may not otherwise be part of the record. Our job is not to judge the worthiness of public input based on perceived motives, but to ensure that all community voices are heard, treated with respect, and appropriately considered.

We are here to serve the public. Listening carefully and respectfully is essential to doing that well.

The Planning Board will resume its work of reviewing site plan applications--according to a report presented at tonight's meeting, there are nine projects before the board--at its next meeting, which will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10. That meeting and all subsequent meetings will be hybrid, as was tonight's meeting.

The Planning Board still has one vacancy. It was not revealed tonight who will be legal counsel to the Planning Board or who will be the engineering consultant.

The video of the Planning Board meeting is now on YouTube and can be viewed here.

Preserving the "Accidental Beauty" of Hudson

The alleys of Hudson--Partition Street included among them--are beloved by many Hudsonians for their unique character and the unconventional, "accidental beauty" of the buildings that line these backstreets.

Ten years ago, almost to the day, an exhibition opened at the Hudson Opera House (now Hudson Hall) that celebrated the unique character of Hudson's backstreets. Called No Parking: The Alleys and Garages of Hudson, the exhibition featured the photographs of Lisa Durfee, Peter Spear, and the late William Hellermann. The exhibition was one of Hudson's many memorable events.

Photo: William Hellermann

It has been a goal of the Historic Preservation Commission to preserve the character of Hudson's uniquely charming backstreets, but it has not been an easy task, as more and more proposals come before them to return sagging and crumbling outbuildings to useful purposes, to convert what had been carriage houses and garages into habitable dwellings, and to introduce new structures into the context of historic accessory buildings. At the HPC meeting last Friday, yet another proposal was presented to replace a historic garage with a new structure. The garage in question is on South First Street, behind 30 Union Street.

This is not the first time the demolition of this garage has been proposed. In 2017, the HPC reviewed a similar proposal: to demolish the existing building and replace it with a new structure, build on the same footprint. In the 2017 proposal, the new building was to be a residence, and the design for the new building was meant to replicate the design of the historic building. In 2017, the building to be demolished was in much better shape than it is today. (Apologies for the poor quality of the image showing the elevation drawings for what was proposed in 2017.)

Gossips can find no documentation of what became of the 2017 proposal, but whatever the outcome in terms of getting a certificate of appropriateness from the HPC (and it is possible one was granted), the project proposed in 2017 was never pursued. According to the assessment rolls, the property has changed hands a couple of times since 2017, and now the current owner is again looking to demolish the century-old accessory building.

Reviewing the proposal last Friday, the HPC expressed concern about the increased height of the new building, which at the apex of the roof exceeds 5 feet. They were also concerns about the design of the proposed building. John Schobel observed that what was proposed is "something that is so different in character from what is there" and opined, "It looks a little too modern." Hugh Biber and Miranda Barry noted that the doors are what are distinctive about the original building and suggested that element might be somehow replicated so that the new building might harken back to what was there. (It should be noted that the design proposed in 2017 did have features that were reminiscent of the doors on the existing building.)

It was decided that the applicant would consider the concerns of the HPC and come back with revisions.

Launching a Year of Celebration

This year--2026--marks the 2ooth anniversary of the birth of Frederic Church, To celebrate, The Olana Partnership is launching a special initiative, Frederic Church 200, to extend this important artist's legacy.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., you can learn about the conception of this project and what the coming year will entail during a webinar with Sean E. Sawyer, Washburn & Susan Oberwager President of The Olana Partnership, and Elizabeth Kornhauser, Consulting Senior Curator and Chair of the Church 200 Committee, moderated by Sylia Yount, Lawrence A. Fleischman Curator in charge of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The presentation and conversation will highight Church's legacy as a national and global artist, with paintings in more than seventy public art museums across the United States and in Europe, and also at Olana. Join the discussion to learn more about how to get involved in the celebration and participate in exhibitions and programs celebrating this important artist's work and vision.

To register for the webinar, click here.

The More Things Change . . .

The Common Council held its organizational meeting tonight, at which it reviewed and adopted the rules of order for 2026. Perhaps the biggest change going forward is that Council meetings will be held later in the month than they have been for as long as anyone can remember. The regular monthly meeting will be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month instead of the third Tuesday, and the informal meeting will be held eight days prior to the regular meeting, which usually works out to be the third Monday of the month.

Council president Margaret Morris suggested that the time of the Council meetings might be changed back to 7:00 p.m., which up until 2022 had been the usual time for Council meetings. Morris polled the councilmembers, and the majority of them preferred 6:00 p.m. or had no preference. It appears the meeting time will remain 6:00 p.m., although toward the end of the meeting, Henry Haddad (First Ward), who had stated his preference for 7:00 p.m., argued that the decision about the meeting time should not be made based on what members of the Council wanted but rather on what the community preferred. He opined that meeting at 7:00 p.m. might better serve the community.

The rules of order prescribe that, except in "unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances," all resolutions and proposed laws must be introduced at the informal meeting, and that every resolution or law must have at least one member of the Council as its sponsor, whose responsibility it is to present the legislation and explain its intent and the reason for its consideration. Having the informal meeting be the time for introducing new resolutions and legislation is what the informal meeting was intended for back in 2000 when the practice of having an informal meeting was initiated.

In January 2021, Tom DePietro eliminated all standing committees in favor of having all department heads report to the full Council at the informal meeting. Morris is reversing that and bringing back standing committees, although not the same ones that existed before. Morris has designated five committees:

Finance--Treasurer's office and economic development
Safety--Police Department and Fire Department
Services--Youth Department and Senior Center
Code and Infrastructure--Code Enforcement Office and Department of Public Work
Legal--most resolutions and all proposed laws will pass through this committee

Every councilmember is required to serve on at least one committee. Committee assignments have not yet been determined and will be announced at a later date.

The majority and minority leaders for this year and the next were announced. Dominic Merante (Fifth Ward), who previously served as minority leader, will now be the majority leader. (This is what can happen when all the councilmembers are of the same party.) Mohammed Rony (Second Ward) will be the minority leader. The duties of the majority and minority leaders are serving on the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA).

The Council will meet on January 20 at 6:00 p.m. to vote on paying the bills and on some other matters.

The recording of the meeting can now be viewed on YouTube by clicking here.