... NOT JUST A SINGLE CORPORATION
Beyond what has already been accomplished on Warren Street, Hudson needs a second major engine for economic growth—one which spreads the wealth and the enjoyment of its status as a “river city” to the whole community.
That second engine is already parked in the City’s garage, but has been sitting idle for decades.
Due to the inaction of politicians and obstruction of a few big corporations, Hudson’s waterfront has not delivered anything close to the recreational, cultural, social and job benefits it could.
This untapped potential is the key to Hudson remaining a genuinely diverse place, allowing everyone to share in its improved features and fortunes. Without it, the City’s possibilities will be stunted.
The possibilities are endless, if it’s done right. But there isn’t enough space at the moment, and much of it is compromised by industrial activity which benefits few but harms many.
Now, after decades of debate and controversy, another public hearing is coming up on the latest shortsighted idea—one which benefits narrow private interest over the public good. Like Holcim and O&G before them, Colarusso is trying to lock up control of the Waterfront for generations to come, at the expense of its neighbors and the wider community.
It’s a move which would prevent even the grandchildren of today’s youngest residents from ever fully enjoying the benefits of Hudson’s unique position on the River.
The impacts of Colarusso’s plans would be far-reaching, harming homes and businesses nearby, spoiling the use of nearby public parks and lands, and impairing the health of the South Bay wetlands and Hudson River. The problem remains that harsh industrial impacts make the rest of the City’s goals all but impossible to achieve. Their proposal includes:
• Up to 284 trucks every day crossing the Amtrak rails at Broad Street, a roughly 400% increase;
• A two-lane paved highway through South Bay;
• Dangerous truck crossings over two major entrances to the City, across both Route 9 and Route 9G;
• An undisclosed number and size of barges idling near the Waterfront park;
• A similarly-undisclosed quantity of stockpiles of dusty materials at the dock.
Trucks backed up at the Broad Street crossing while passengers disembark from Amtrak
Let’s remember: While claiming to be a good neighbor, Colarusso made changes to the Waterfront without seeking permits. An ordinary Hudson homeowner often needs permission to make even small alternations to their home; Colarusso seems to have thought they were above such rules.
Next, Colarusso actually sued the City in to prevent it from reviewing its unpermitted action—and lost in court. And then they tried to refuse to reimburse the Planning Board for the cost of the review, flouting a law on the books since the late 1990s.
Its underhanded legal strategy attempts to blackmail Hudson into caving in to their demands. Starting in 2006, they and their predecessors introduced harsh new truck traffic to the 1st and 2nd Wards, again without permission. They did so without reaching out to the community. And they did so for the express purpose of using this new threat to make demands: Give us what we want, and then we’ll stop putting your streets at risk.
We believe that truck traffic should be eliminated on both the City’s streets and in the South Bay. The City has all the tools necessary to protect both, but for years has failed to exercise them.
Meanwhile, this company has benefited mightily from City, County and State public contracts paid for by taxpayers. It existed for nearly a century without access to the Waterfront, and without running trucks through Hudson and dumping gravel into floating steel hoppers on the River.
The Waterfront is not crucial to Colarusso’s corporate fortunes; but the Waterfront is crucial to Hudson’s future. This underutilized zone of the City has been a regular source of controversy for several generations now. A truly forward-looking and legally-defensible decision by the Planning Board can end this cycle to the benefit of the full Hudson community.