By JEANETTE WOLFBERG
HUDSON–The Hudson Housing Authority (HHA) has begun to receive feedback from the state on its proposed redevelopment plan and is looking for a housing consultant, HHA Executive Director Jeffrey Dodson announced at HHA’s Board of Commissioners meeting July 22.
At the meeting people also raised concerns about video surveillance.
The HHA runs the 135-unit income-restricted Bliss Tower and Columbia Apartments in Hudson. It is seeking to redevelop its property. With a development partner and architect, it submitted a preliminary redevelopment proposal to the state earlier this year.
Responding to this proposal, New York State expressed concern about a “funding gap” and suggested reconsidering the plan to put much of the parking below-ground, Mr. Dodson reported.
If underground parking does not happen, “what will you do about parking?” Hudson Common Council Member Margaret Morris (First Ward) asked remotely.
Mr. Dodson said he had some ideas of what they might be able to do.
A resident of Hudson’s Fourth Ward asked if erecting new buildings would require closing a street. Mr. Dodson replied that the phase of the proposal the HHA is seeking approvals and funding for does not call for closing any street. It includes only erecting new buildings across State Street from the current buildings and on three plots the City of Hudson has offered to sell to the HHA at half price. This could take about two years after ground breaking, the development partner, Mountco, estimated. Closing a block of State Street would possibly be part of a later phase, which would require its own approvals and funding.
Meanwhile, the HHA has submitted a Request for Qualifications for an “Affordable Housing Consultant,” Mr. Dodson announced. The consultant would “advise the HHA on managing risks and maximizing financial returns in the affordable housing space,” on an “as needed” basis, he later explained. “It is not uncommon to have a consultant advise the executive director.”
On other matters, Bliss residents, both on the board and in the audience, urged that Bliss’ downstairs restrooms, community room, front office and upstairs stairway doors be open for more hours.
Someone also mentioned the free laundry days. Mr. Dodson said that leads to “people who [don’t] live here” getting somebody who does to wash their laundry. Video cameras catch that.
So, “if somebody breaks into your car” the camera does not identify them, “but if somebody is washing your clothes,” it does, remarked Board Chair Revonda Smith.
“Issues with video surveillance keep coming up,” said Board member Nick Zachos. “We need to find out” who watches the videos and who has access to them.
