By JEANETTE WOLFBERG
HUDSON–Trespassing, evictions, and redevelopment received attention at the Hudson Housing Authority (HHA) Board of Commissioners meeting March 18.
The HHA runs the 135-unit income-restricted Bliss Tower and Columbia Apartments in Hudson. Its governing board has six commissioners, who were all present at the meeting. Two commissioners, Mary Decker and Debra McPherson, live in Bliss.
At the meeting both tenant commissioners expressed concern about people who are forbidden to enter HHA property being seen on it anyway. The HHA has a “trespass list” of individuals who are not allowed on its premises. Reasons for putting people on the list include legal orders, “domestic violence, fighting, threatening behavior, and harassment of residents and staff,” explained HHA Executive Director Jeffrey Dodson. HHA’s security guard gets their names, he said. Nevertheless, Ms. Decker reported, people come to her saying that they notice some specific individuals once on the list in HHA buildings. She does not know whether they are still on the list. Mr. Dodson said he would look into the matter.
Later, Mr. Dodson said that people can get off the trespass list, with his approval, after he reviews their case upon request. When reviewing, he evaluates “the infraction” that got them on the list and the length of time they have been on it.
On another matter at the meeting, the board authorized the executive director to arrange legal services for “pursuing eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent” with John Keenan, Esq. The HHA had sought a lawyer for that purpose and from the responders picked Mr. Keenan.
However, some commissioners asked how this could work with the requirement they made in 2020 that all evictions must come before the board. Mr. Dodson, who started as executive director in 2022, said he was not aware of the resolution making this requirement. Vice Chair Claire Cousin, who is also the supervisor of Hudson’s First Ward and a candidate for the state Assembly, explained, “We did it in Covid” and were going to “revisit it” but had not yet done so.
Board Chair Revonda Smith assured everybody that this legal arrangement would be for only those evictions for non-payment of rent. Evictions for any other cause would still definitely come before the board.
Commissioner Nick Zachos asked whether it was a HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) policy that all evictions from housing authority buildings must come before the pertinent authority’s governing Board. Mr. Dodson answered, “Definitely not.”
Still, five commissioners voted to approve the arrangement with Mr. Keenan. Ms. Cousin abstained, not wanting to commit until the relationship between this agreement and the board’s evictions requirement is clarified.
Meanwhile, the HHA has decided to redevelop its land, and selected Mountco Construction and Development Corporation of Scarsdale as its redevelopment partner. It drew up an ambitious plan that would eventually include 300 units and replace HHA’s existing buildings. But for now it is pursuing Phase 1, which would construct apartment buildings on only land with no buildings on it now. This consists of the HHA property with a basketball court across State Street from the current buildings, plus three parcels the HHA can buy from the City of Hudson at half price.
Mountco’s Executive Vice President John Madeo attended the meeting, and its Development Director Eu Ting-Zambuto participated remotely. Mr. Madeo and Ms. Ting-Zambuto announced that they had just sent New York State the first major set of documents in the application process for approval and financing. This set of documents is called the Technical Assistance Submission (TAS). Mr. Madeo and Ms. Ting-Zambuto thanked HHA officials for their work in helping them reach this milestone. The feedback the TAS generates will include frameworks for modifying the plan, they said.
The project has no financing commitment, the Mountco executives acknowledged, but the HHA-Mountco partnership has been exploring possibilities with the state, the City of Hudson, elected officials, and agencies. Mr. Madeo estimated a “closing” in about a year.
Tenant involvement is a goal, Mr. Madeo added. Once the partnership has agreed on modifications and finalized the building sizes and number of apartments, they can plan apartment layouts. Tenants will get to see pictures and models of these layouts and could have a choice in determining such details as kitchen cabinet color.
In addition, Mr. Madeo reported, Mountco is also helping the HHA look for and acquire funds to improve the current buildings for the “3 years” people will still live there. For example, Mr. Dodson clarified, it is looking for financing to help fix and maintain Bliss’ elevators. At previous meetings, HHA residents advocated paying attention to the quality of life where they live now.
