SAILOR'S COVE: CAN WE TRY THIS AGAIN?

Oh, you should have been there.

The main chambers at City Hall had almost 80 people in attendance this Wednesday evening, all concerned one way or the other, about the Sailor’s Cove housing development down on Kingston’s riverfront property.

About 25 people voiced opinions in favor of the project. Just as many voiced opposition. The developer and the architect were in the audience and got to experience what will be the first of many such hearings.

Several Aldermen had their say as well as notable home and business owners within the city. Each with a different perspective of what the project should offer. What we had on display, didn’t come close.

My take was; how many times do we, as citizens, have to ask developers to reshape the project, just to have a similar model come right back to us?

This has been in the making for years and no-one thought to ask any of the concerned locals for design ideas?

I was thinking... where can I get a magic marker and help them along? Would they stop me?

Imagine using photo-shop on selected buildings from Broadway with rentals, condos and retail, and then crunch them together in the block form they did here. The developer requires a dense public use of the project, I understand, but the layout could look a little more like the character of Kingston.

Scenic Hudson spokesman, Warren Reiss, suggested to the Planning Board that the number of housing units be reduced from the 380 they have offered.


Reiss was quoted in the Freeman: "With fewer units, the massive adult residence buildings can be significantly reduced, visual impacts and traffic impacts can be reduced and additional waterfront open space can be provided,"

He went on to say: "The repetition of the facade throughout the development stands in stark contrast to the fabric of varied architecture and building materials found on city blocks in Kingston's Uptown, Ponckhockie or Rondout districts,"

Now, how to we help the architect understand that the design is killing the project?

Those of us who know that Kingston needs to grow it’s tax base also know we have to grow sensibly. Sailor’s Cove is a needed development and an increase in citizens would be welcomed, but we have to get past the Yonkers Condo theme and take a much needed stroll down some city streets. Puh-Leez!

ACTION AT 672 BROADWAY

Have you noticed? There is a sign of life at 672 Broadway.
After sitting dormant for years and sustaining the negative appearance of midtown, the dumpster is gone and the owners are finally doing something.

Nat Collins, a partner with 672 Broadway Partners LLC, purchased the building from the city in February 2004, with plans for a mix of apartments and commercial space.

I had pushed the planning department to engage the reverter clause on this building back in 2006, after showing no signs of renovation since the demolition. My intent was to offer the building to the LGBTQ Center which has since found a better home on Wall St. This would have been a huge undertaking to renovate from a non-profit perspective, but my pursuit got the current owner back to the table.

In his plea, Nat Collins stated: "Since the demolition job, some work on the exterior of the building, has been completed," he said. "Unfortunately, due to some delays in securing financing, the time allowed under the reverter clause as specified in the deed had expired."

In an old Freeman article: Mayor James Sottile, said “The city must convey a strong message that buyers of surplus city property must act swiftly to complete projects and get the properties back on the tax rolls”. He was so right!

So here we are in 2008, and we finally see some action. Granted it’s nothing spectacular, but keep in mind…Nat Collins is associated with “Sailor’s Cove”, the development on the Hudson River.....What impression does it give to us Councilmen when someone projects this fundamental image of workmanship and timetables on a future development project with 500 homes?