Just Another Hoppin' Friday Night At 6th & Prospect, One of the Most Dangerous Intersections in Hudson.

 

It's always a good sign when one of the two NO PARKING ZONES on North 6th Street at the intersection with the end of Prospect Street is occupied by a car.  It's a fairly common sight of late, especially on weekend nights.  But, boy, are things really looking up when both of the NO PARKING ZONES meant to keep the intersection safe are simultaneously occupied -- as they were early this evening -- making the intersection doubly dangerous when drivers exiting Prospect are trying their darndest to see often speedy oncoming 6th Street traffic from the left and right before it's too late.  If I had a nickel for every near miss there, I'd be a rich man.

Make no doubt about it, when both of those clearly signed NO PARKING ZONES are occupied with cars owned by people who don't give a damn about the vehicles, well-being or lives of others, it means that business is booming for the Hudson Pocketbook Hotel & Baths (and market, wellness center, restaurant, bar, night club, and blah blah blah).  When all, or nearly all, of the nearby legal parking spaces are occupied and people are able to convince themselves that it's okay -- even necessary -- to park their vehicles in clearly signed NO PARKING ZONES close to the PBH at a busy intersection, you know that things are looking up for all of Hudson.  If the PBH is doing well, City Hall is happy because tax and Short Term Rental revenue is pouring in.  When the PBH is surrounded by parked cars, even illegally parked ones, this means that commerce is happening, people are working and local people might have a job.  The factory is finally buzzing again, baby!  All night long!  

People visiting the city, including PBH employees, arriving by car in a once sleepy and quiet residential neighborhood already tight with parking?  WONDERFUL! Keep 'em coming!  Let them park wherever they like, even as close as possible to the intersection of 6th & Prospect!  If there happens to be another vehicle collision at that intersection, we'll just have HPD respond and clean up the mess as they always do and do so well.  They'll even call the ambulance to get someone or a few people to the hospital or morgue if necessary.  No problem!  That's what HPD is here for, to keep the city and its residents and visitors safe and secure!

Everyone living in the neighborhood surrounding the Pocketbook factory who owns a car knows that exiting 6th Street at Prospect has always been dangerous at all times of the day and night even when the single-space NO PARKING ZONES to the left and right are unoccupied.  But the intersection seems to be more precarious than ever since the PBH opened for business.  I wonder why that is.

Of course, 4 years ago, Sean Roland and Gabe Katz of the PBH told the Hudson Planning Board that their business complex in the renovated factory would not adversely affect parking in the residential neighborhood surrounding their proposed hotel, spa, restaurant, bar, gallery, market, etc.  And the Planning Board believed them.  "Thank you for spending time and money on this wonderful parking study.  We're convinced. Your project is approved!"

This is one of two such signs on
Washington Street across from the PBH!