"Welcome to Hudson," Indeed! [with update]

In March, when Hudson City Hall temporarily relocated to the Fire Station on 7th Street, the projected date for City Hall offices to return to Warren Street was stated as "July 2023."  This is no longer the case, according to DPW Commissioner Peter Bujanow and anyone observing the progress at 520 Warren.  Work on the sidewalk and parking spaces in front began in earnest just yesterday.  Bujanow stated at last week's Common Council meeting that the return date has been pushed back one month.

To accommodate the special handicapped parking spaces being installed in front of 520 Warren, it appears that more than half of the width of the sidewalk has been removed.  I would estimate that the sidewalk along the entirety of the building, from the pillars and bottom stair to the curbstones, will be between 5 to 6 feet in total width.  I wouldn't be surprised if it will be no more than 5 feet.  

The City of Hudson's answer to solving its City Hall ADA compliance issues was to remove over half the width of the sidewalk for a pair of handicapped parking spaces that will rarely be occupied.  This was the best or only solution?

This is ludicrous!

These new curbstones will form the outer
edge of the new, much narrower sidewalk
in front of Hudson City Hall

This morning, I asked one of the workers in front if the sidewalk's width were really going to shrink by about half and if there was going to be a zig zag for most pedestrians, which appears to be the case. He nodded his head and said "Yup. But it's no different than other areas here," pointing up the sidewalk. "Welcome to Hudson," were his final words.

Thankfully, when the lovely garbage bag vending machine returns it will not be taking up any of the narrow sidewalk -- it stands next to a pillar and against the wall of the building.  It better not sit in the sidewalk, though it wouldn't surprise me if City Hall figured out a way to make that happen.

Update:  According to my rough measurement, the width of the sidewalk will be no more than 60 inches, and perhaps an inch or two less.  Just 5 friggin' feet!