2027, You Say? Are You Sure?

 

Last Monday afternoon, while walking past the "Work in Progress: Mixed Use" development project at the northwest corner of 8th & Warren, I noticed that there was no noise coming from inside the building with the Work in Progress sign posted to the front. There weren't any of the trucks, machinery, workers and construction activity I had been accustomed to seeing and hearing for the past few months. So, I stopped by on Tuesday around noon to look and listen for activity, for "progress." Nope, none of that there on Tuesday either!

Wednesday.  Nothing. 

Thursday.  Nothing. 

Friday.  Still not a sound, movement or work truck in sight. 

No garbage was added to the full dumpster the entire week; no progress had been made inside the building for the entire week.  Yet the sidewalk from Prison Alley to Warren was still fenced off, forcing pedestrians into a ridiculously narrow caged walkway only fit for one direction of foot traffic.  Each end of the walkway had a large puddle of water during and after a rain late in the week.  The walkway and blocked sidewalk took away at least 6 parking spaces on 8th Street -- for at least two years!  Parking is tight on 8th Street as it is, but particularly so on Monday and Tuesday nights when alternate side parking is in effect.  6 fewer parking spaces only make things worse on Monday nights when parking on the west side of the street is not permitted... While no progress is being made on the building at the end of the street! 

Whose idea was this?  Justin Weaver's, 
the city's ADA coordinator?

ADA compliant?  
Wheelchair accessible?
Respectful of anyone?

Sorry, if you aren't going to be working on your project that has removed the sidewalk and several parking spaces, explain why you are not working and give us our fucking sidewalk and parking spaces back when you don't need them so that taxpaying residents and visitors can use them as they were intended to be used.  The city gave you the sidewalk and those parking spaces for two years so that you can get your important project completed as soon as possible, like in the year 2027!  Not 2028 or 2039! 

I recall several years ago when someone from outside of Hudson had grand plans for that building. (Was it a grocery store and yoga center they were going to create?) That fizzled, never having gotten past the discussion phase, as I recall. Are we experiencing another failed attempt to do something with that building? If there is no work this week, will someone from City Hall approach the developers to find out why progress seems to have come to a halt? Who would that concerned city official even be? Kamal Johnson? Ha, stop with the jokes, will ya'!

As far as I understand, the Hudson Planning Board never imposes deadlines on projects they approve.  If the project at 8th & Warren isn't finished by 2027, the developer won't face any fines for each day, week or month they fail to meet a non-existent deadline.  The project could drag on for years, even with the sidewalk and parking spaces still unavailable, and the developer wouldn't suffer any financial consequences for it.  In other words, the city is essentially saying to them (and all contractors and developers) "take your time, we don't care how long you take.  Do what you have to do."  Or, more likely, saying nothing at all (and not paying attention).

When was the mosque at 3rd & Columbia supposed to be finished?  5 years ago?  Will it ever be finished?  Does the city care if it never gets completed?

Then there is the house near the Post Office whose renovation has been "progressing" at a snail's pace for far too long.  Two or three weeks after I noticed the sidewalk in front of 8 South 4th Street being removed by the contractor who has been working on the house for several years, I took this picture:

That was on Thursday, fucking June 12th, and today the sidewalk in front of 8 South 4th Street is still blocked off as the contractor tries their best to replace it by rarely showing up to the site.  Nothing has changed. 

Monday, October 20th at 2 pm. All quiet, as usual.

The sidewalk has been blocked for at least 5 months, forcing everyone into the street, often between and alongside parked (and moving) vehicles. Do you think ANYONE from Hudson City Hall cares how much longer the contractor takes to replace the fucking sidewalk?  Do you think Kamal Johnson, Craig Haigh, Rob Perry or any other schlump at City Hall cares if that sidewalk remains off-limits to pedestrians through November of 2027?  Do you think any of them -- particularly Rob Perry, whose department issues sidewalk permits! -- are even aware that the sidewalk has been blocked for the past 5 months or more?  Do you think Rob Perry or Craig Haigh care that you are more likely not to see or hear anyone working on the renovation of that house and the replacement of the sidewalk than you are of actual progress made by human beings working and making noise?  

Would the City Hall schlumps allow the same thing to happen around the corner on Warren Street?  For 5 fucking months?   How about 10 months or more to replace a sidewalk?   Do I hear 12? How many people walking to and from the Post Office in the past 5 or 6 months have had to walk in the street in front of 8 South 4th Street?  And how many more people of all ages and walking abilities will be forced to do so in the coming months, perhaps for the entire winter?  (Note to contractor: In case you are new to the area, your window of opportunity to pour concrete properly is quickly coming to an end, only to reappear in, oh, at least 6 months!  Hudson is not located in the State of Florida!)

Now what? (Did DPW issue a sidewalk permit for this?)