This seems to be a train station day! There is some nice news for the Westshore Train Station. Owner Ray Yannone and architect Giovanni Palladino will be receiving an Architecture Award from the Orange County Arts Council. It is awarded for a building, either commercial or residential, that has been restored or new construction within the past three years. Recipients are chosen by a Selection Committee appointed by the Arts Council. The Awards will be presented at a cocktail reception to honor these individuals and organizations on Friday, November 12 at 5:30pm to be held at the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen.
Hopefully more Newburgh buildings and homes can be restored and recognized as well!
With the decrease of river based industries, many cities and towns along the Hudson River faced decline in the 1950’s. Obviously Newburgh was no exception. Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts is the title of a new guide published by Scenic Hudson, an organization that is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Hudson River. They have an interesting statistic on the current development trends in the Hudson Valley:
“Over the last several decades, the Hudson River Valley’s renaissance has turned it into one of the state’s fastest growing regions. Population in the 10 Hudson riverfront counties increased by nearly 15 percent between 1980 and 2006—roughly 50 percent faster than the state as a whole. Looking ahead, the region is projected to add more than 115,000 people over the next decade.”
With an increase in attention of the preservation of the Hudson River, people are seeing the potential of living in Hudson River Valley towns. Since the start of this blog in 2008 I haven’t really mentioned the proposed plan for the Newburgh Waterfront. We are in a recession right now, and that perhaps is one of the greatest factors that has delayed development. There were also rumors that Leyland Alliance, the developer went bankrupt. However, a press release in Forbes shows that Leyland is still very much active, and about to take part in a multimillion dollar project in Connecticut. Leyland is also still at the forefront of the East Parmenter Street project in Newburgh that is now completing phase 2.
I raise these points not to be controversial, but to show that although the waterfront development might not be the most talked about subject on this blog, it hasn’t been forgotten and Leyland is not out of the picture. A lot of people want to see the project through and guides like the one presented by Scenic Hudson give a glimpse of what a developed and environmentally restored waterfront could be like. On page 29 of the book, the Newburgh-Beacon ferry was even shown as an example of a seamless connection between transportation modes (ferry to Metro North). Scenic Hudson is also still trying to work out the kinks of creating a new riverfront park in Newburgh.
If out of the 115,000 projected new residents to the Hudson Valley in the coming decade, 5,000 come to Newburgh, imagine the change that could take place. Imagine the buildings that could be saved and restored. This guide was made to help local officials, planners, developers, citizen activists, and other stakeholders find common ground in a future vision for waterfront development. Take a look and see what you think. You can see the online version here, or request a printed version by emailing Jeffrey Anzevino at janzevino{at}scenichudson.org.
When renovating an old home, many homeowners are tempted to throw out original old windows in exchange for new ones thinking that this is the best option economically and environmentally. Many homeowners in Newburgh could tell you a different story.
Nationwide, historical societies and even development agencies have attested to the durability of historic windows. Looking around Newburgh it’s pretty obvious to see that these buildings and homes were made to last, and so were the windows! Old windows were made to be repaired. New aluminum or vinyl windows have to be thrown out when parts break, which in turn clogs up many landfills. Old wooden windows are repairable with a little elbow grease, and in the end can save you money not only in replacement costs, but can also be just as efficient on heating costs. They also are just as important to the historic aesthetic of a home as any other exterior detail.
The point of this blog posting is to show you that there are more options than just throwing out your old windows. The other point is to show you that you don’t necessarily have to shy away from an old home with old windows because you are scared of the heating costs. If you take the necessary precautions and do the proper work they can be one of the best investments you have made on your home. It’s still a personal choice that each homeowner will have to make. With that said, take a look at some of these links that go into detail about saving historic windows. PS-there are TONS of window restoration websites. This is just a minute sample.
“In its heyday in the 1870’s, Newburgh, New York, home to Thornwillow Press, was known nationally for unequalled scenery, nationally famous residents, and truly extraordinary architecture; quite justifiably the city of Newburgh had pride to spare. Accordingly, when the old town clock needed replacing, Newburgh could only have the very best.” Read the rest of this article on the restoration of Newburgh clock on Thronwillows blog here. Great article.
Downtowns throughout New York State are characterized by two-to five-story buildings constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These commercial rows have endured changing uses and economies and with timely care, they can last for centuries. Many boast special details – from cast iron storefronts to brick cornices – and some buildings are designated landmarks. While street-level businesses may catch our attention first, the upper floors are also integral to the buildings. However, vacant upper stories present challenges for reuse. At this workshop, you will learn from experts in the field about imaginative strategies employed in New York State communities for bringing upper floors back to active and productive use.
Poughkeepsie – Upper Floors Workshop
Monday, October 4, 9:00 a.m.
Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar Street
For more information, call Shelley LaClair at the Preservation League, 518-462-5658 x.13 or email slaclair@preservenys.org .
Spread the word!
Does your historic home need an update? Residents or property owners in the City of Newburgh may soon find it more affordable to make repairs on their older homes, through the New York State Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Tax Credit. Learn more about how you might qualify for historic tax credits at a free workshop, Saturday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m.noon in the Board of Education auditorium at Newburgh Free Library, 124 Grand Street. The workshop is sponsored by the City of Newburgh Department of Planning and Development, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (SHPO), and the Newburgh Free Library.
The workshop will be presented by Sloane Bullough of the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). She will discuss how, for eligible properties, the NYS Historic Residential Properties Tax Credit Program can cover 20% of qualified rehabilitation costs of owneroccupied historic houses up to a credit value of $50,000. “This is a great time to fix a leaking roof, replace drafty windows, or repair the front porch. This tax credit can help homeowners provide safer and healthier homes for their families, and protect their investment for years to come,” said Lynn Eberle, Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Newburgh.
Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Lynn Eberle at (845) 5699400, x 208.
(flickr find)
